Bethesda Game Studios’ Fallout 4 has its fair share of criticisms, but one aspect of the game that seems to be unanimously loved by all players is Dogmeat, the main character’s adorable canine companion. Sadly, former Fallout developer Joel Burgess shared the news today that River, the real-life inspiration behind Dogmeat, has died. In a series of retrospective tweets on Twitter, Burgess explained the level of impact that River had on Fallout 4 and how the developers brought Dogmeat to life with her unique voice and mannerisms. River was ultimately treated as part of the team.
I said goodbye today to River, who most of you know as Fallout 4’s Dogmeat.
— Joel Burgess (@JoelBurgess) June 27, 2021
Heartbroken doesn't cover it, but I won’t eulogize her here. For twitter, I thought it'd be appropriate to look back at her impact on that game.
(plus, writing about game dev hurts less than grieving) pic.twitter.com/ayN1Vd6oqQ
“Dogmeat is a tether,” said Burgess. “He grounds you in the world, will always stand by you, lead you to your family, and anticipate your needs. He wants you to be safe and happy. In other words, he loves you. And if love is River’s legacy, I am contented. Rest in peace, big girl.”
Sources: Joel Burgess, Kotaku