Highlights

  • Fallout 76 reportedly used some Vault Boy fan art without its creator's approval.
  • The fan art was originally attached to the Flag Waving Bundle that was added to the Atomic Shop on July 2, but has since been replaced.
  • A senior Bethesda official reportedly apologized for the "mix-up" and offered to commission some artwork from the artist for future Fallout 76 updates.

Fallout 76 has allegedly used some Vault Boy fan art without its creator's permission. But the purported move appears to have been made in error, which the Fallout 76 team has reportedly already taken steps to remedy.

Bethesda's West Virginia-set live-service RPG introduces new artwork on a regular basis. Aside from seasonal content, such art is often added as part of the weekly Atomic Shop rotation, being most frequently attached to Fallout 76 item bundles and other in-game storefront listings.

Fallout 76 Lever-action rifle player standing below game logo on blue background with helmet composite
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Fallout 76 Flag Waving Bundle Reportedly Used Unofficial Vault Boy Artwork

Another such offering debuted on July 2 in the form of the Flag Waving Bundle. As is often the case, the first image in the new item pack's contents gallery was an illustrative icon depicting Fallout's Vault Boy mascot. Except that this particular artwork reportedly wasn't made by Bethesda but was instead created by one Zack Finfrock. That's according to Finfrock himself, who took to Twitter to claim that the illustration was included without his permission shortly after the Flag Waving Bundle debuted in the Atomic Shop.

Bethesda Has Already Replaced the Unofficial Atomic Shop Bundle Icon

The freelance artist acknowledged that he doesn't own the Vault Boy, but that he would have nonetheless welcomed the opportunity to draw a "newer, better version" of his flag-waving artwork if Bethesda contacted him before using the image. Finfrock tagged Fallout 76 Creative Director Jonathan Rush in his tweet, who promptly responded to the message with an apology, stating that the move was made in error. Elaborating on that point, Rush attributed the inclusion of the image to a "mix up [sic] with an external vendor," stating that the developer was already in the process of replacing the image, according to a screengrab of his Twitter DMs shared by Finfrock.

Game ZXC's review of the Fallout 76 Atomic Shop suggests that replacement was completed no later than 3am ET on July 3, as the bundle was already using a crop of one of Bethesda's promo screenshots by that time. Finfrock used this mix-up as an opportunity to offer his services to Bethesda and make an official contribution to the live-service RPG, to which Rush responded positively.

As a result, Finfrock will produce some artwork for the future Fallout 76 bundle assets and at least one of the game's daily messages. Being able to contribute to the franchise in an official capacity may be a dream come true for the LA-based artist, who spent over a decade producing unofficial Fallout works, ranging from memes and other types of artwork to a full-fledged web series called Fallout: Nuka Break.