Todd Howard calls Fallout season 2 Power Armor the coolest in franchise history

Fallout season 2 introduced a brand new Power Armor that became an iconic moment not just for the show, but for the entire franchise. According to Todd Howard, Bethesda Game Studios director and franchise steward, this might be the coolest Power Armor variant the studio has ever worked on.

The New California Republic (NCR) Power Armor truly became a significant event – the suit appeared in Fallout canon for the first time, and before making it into the games. Moreover, the armor recontextualizes the NCR's role as a major player in the post-apocalyptic world.

In an interview with IGN, Howard revealed that the idea for new armor emerged during the early stages of working on season 2.

"I sort of said, 'Hey, every game we do a new cool Power Armor. We're doing Deathclaws. What do we think about this like NCR Deathclaw-killer armor?'"

So we worked on that together.

"I'd seen it in sketches, and then going to set and seeing it in person, like, this is the most badass Power Armor I think we've ever done."

The NCR armor recently appeared in Fallout 76, but sparked mixed reactions. You can only get the NCR suit through a paid bundle for Fallout 76 costing $30, which includes mostly cosmetic items. Additionally, the armor's appearance in a prequel game raises logical questions – the NCR didn't exist yet at that time.

But does it really matter in a sandbox game?