An easter egg tucked away in Fallout 4 might prove to be evidence that the series takes place within the same universe as Bethesda's Elder Scrolls franchise.

In the Western RPG genre, two series stand head and shoulders above the rest, at least in terms of mainstream popularity; Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. Now, an easter egg has revealed that the two franchises might in fact take place within the same universe.

The evidence has come to light thanks to Fallout 4, where this easter egg can be found. If you're still making your way through that game, beware — some mild spoilers from its early acts are required to properly explain how to access the crossover clue.

Once the Brotherhood of Steel has arrived in Boston, players can ally with the faction and gain access to their airship, the Pyrdwen. That floating base boasts a research station to collect and assess samples of local plant life, and there's one particularly interesting specimen being collected in bulk.

While it's referred to simply as an Experimental Plant in-game, anyone who's played either Oblivion or Skyrim will recognize it as Nirnroot. Notes referencing its tendency to grow near water and its restorative powers seem to confirm that this is indeed the same plant that's commonly found around Tamriel.

Given that the Fallout franchise was purchased by Bethesda in 2007, the two series were almost certainly not intended to intermingle when they were originally being conceived. However, now that they're both the property of one studio, the link offers up some interesting opportunities in terms of world building.

For instance, if Nirnroot is an 'experimental' plant, that suggests some kind of engineering on the part of the Brotherhood of Steel. It could well be that the group has created a flower that will eventually become Nirnroot as it evolves over centuries— which turns the assumed sequence of Fallout and The Elder Scrolls on its head.

Games like Skyrim and Oblivion seem to take place in a medieval fantasy setting — but perhaps that's really a far-flung future centuries after a nuclear apocalypse. Races like the Argonians and the Khajiit would certainly make more sense as the results of nuclear radiation.

Of course, it's more likely that the plant was placed in the game as a gag for fans of both series, rather than as an indication that the two franchises will ever cross over in a meaningful way. Still, it's a fun nod — and further proof that there's tons of stuff hidden away in the wasteland of Fallout 4.

Fallout 4 is available now for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

Source: Comic Book