An apparent unintended blunder has seemingly resulted in Fallout 76’s Atom Store inadvertently featuring fan art without the explicit consent of its original creator. Zack Finfrock, a fan of the Fallout franchise, created a fan movie that allegedly copied paintings. As a result, he has been removed from his job and Fallout 76’s creative director has even offered him a chance to collaborate with Bethesda on an official project in the future?
For those familiar with the world of Fallout, Zack Finfrock is more than just a casual fan like yourself; he’s actually a prominent force behind several highly acclaimed and widely popular fan-made Fallout films over the years, including his latest project, Fallout: Breaking.
He also created numerous Fallout-inspired artworks in addition to other projects. Noting the latest update to Fallout 76’s Atom Store on June 2, he discovered that the art utilized for one of the new additions – an Independence Day-themed Flag Waving Bundle – looked eerily familiar?
“I’m a fan of #Fallout76, and judging by the artwork team’s response, they share my enthusiasm for Fallout memes. So, @JonathanRush, Creative Director at Fallout 76, can you point me in the right direction?” I don’t personally care about the Vault Boy or similar; however, if you’d like to draw attention to a newer, higher-end model in our Atom Store picture.
The fan allegedly initiated a private message exchange with Rush on Twitter, aiming to resolve the perceived issue amicably. Screenshots appear to show Rush’s response: “We’re getting that mounted.” Partnering with a trusted external provider to revamp our existing infrastructure will undoubtedly streamline processes and enhance overall performance. Thanks for the feedback. I apologize sincerely for the situation. The official artwork for your visually appealing piece has been mistakenly replaced. This change is consistent with the updated visual representation now featured in the Atom Store’s product listing.
Despite initial issues, Frinfrock ultimately leveraged the opportunity to showcase his capabilities and secure official commissions from the developer, stating, “I’m genuinely enthusiastic about collaborating with you.” I might seize this opportunity to push open that doorway.
Rush expressed enthusiasm for the concept, responding: “I’d like to commission some paintings for our daily messages and bundled assets for a future patch. If you’re interested, let’s discuss details.” He then confirmed Finfrock’s agreement, stating: “Sounds good – we’ll be in touch soon.” I’m looking forward to collaborating with you and working together effectively.
We have contacted Bethesda to clarify the misunderstanding and confirm whether they indeed plan to assign Finfrock with contract work on the game’s artwork at a future date, as implied by the exchanged messages.
Don’t miss our exclusive conversation with lead producer Bill LaCoste, exploring the latest expansion, Skyline Valley, which offers intriguing insights into Fallout 5 and a surprising revelation about Phil Spencer’s digital demise.
