Adapting a video-game franchise to the big screen used to be a cursed endeavour – but more recent efforts have hit high scores. Last year’s Super Mario Bros Movie took the second-highest box office receipts of 2023, beaten only by the Barbie Movie.

Meanwhile, on TV, The Last of Us, which earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for its performances and gripping story, surprised many viewers when they found out about its gaming source material.

The appeal of video games to Hollywood studios is obvious. The biggest games have millions of dedicated fans – and a ready-made world for writers and directors to use.

Adaptations can clearly draw viewers. But can the phenomenon work in reverse? Can, for example, the new Fallout TV show convince viewers to try the role-playing games that inspired it?

Since the release of the TV show, Fallout games have seen a huge spike in interest. In Europe, Fallout 4, a 2015 game, was the top seller this week, and the wider series occupied four of the top ten chart slots.

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