Though it launched to scathing criticism and widespread controversy in late 2018 due to lackluster content offerings and severe technical issues, Fallout 76 — Bethesda Game Studios' multiplayer-focused MMO-lite take on the post-apocalyptic RPG series — grew to become fairly popular over time, with the title still enjoying regular content updates and a healthy community eight years later.

In the wake of this week's massive wave of 3,200 Xbox layoffs and four studio divestments, however, there are fears that support for the long-running Appalachian adventure may soon come to an end. Teams under the ZeniMax and Bethesda umbrella have been affected "significantly," including the game's steward, Bethesda Game Studios.

It's been reported that over 50 staffers have been cut from Bethesda across its headquarters in Rockville, Maryland and its office in Dallas, Texas — a reduction in force that has The Elder Scrolls 6 devs fearing crunch on and delays of the long-awaited RPG moving forward. Some also worry that a significant amount of time will have to be spent training contractors to use Bethesda's proprietary tools like the Creation Engine.

Notably, though, one Bethesda developer commented to IGN that they "have no idea how they'll continue updating Fallout 76 without hiring an external studio," which suggests development of the experimental Fallout title could end at some point in the near future.

Another possibility is that Fallout 76 support will ultimately continue, but with its updates and patches being reduced in size and cadence. This appears to be what's happening with The Elder Scrolls Online and ZeniMax Online Studios; content roadmaps for that game are "shifting" after its developer suffered over 200 cuts this week.

We may also see external support for Fallout 76 come, as in a letter sent to staff, Bethesda president Jill Braff emphasized the need for the studio to better support its "strongest franchises" — echoing recent sentiment from Xbox's CEO Asha Sharma that it needs to "move faster" with core IPs like Fallout.

Ending support for the most recent game in the series would arguably go against that goal — especially while the extremely popular Fallout TV show is bringing countless new eyes to the property. With that said, Fallout 76 is now eight years old and isn't massively popular, and with Obsidian now making a new Fallout game, Microsoft may not see much value in continuing to invest resources in the title.

In the end, it's impossible to say what will happen with Fallout 76 moving forward until we hear something official from Microsoft, Xbox, or Bethesda. Based on the aforementioned comment from a developer, though, I do think it's likely that the game's live-service development will change in some way.

Whether it ends up stopping completely or just slowing down remains to be seen, but I can't imagine that this week's cuts won't be reflected in Fallout 76's update cadence somehow.

In the wake of Microsoft's Xbox layoffs, should support for Fallout 76 continue? Or do you think Bethesda should move on from the game? Let me know in the comments, and in the above poll.

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One of the strongest evergreen projects in Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios portfolio is Fallout 76, the popular multiplayer MMO-lite RPG from Bethesda that's been running since 2018 and retains a healthy community of players across Xbox, PC, and PlayStation to this day.

Over the years, the Appalachia-based Fallout title has received well over 60 free content updates that've each brought new stories, quests, locations, enemies, gear, and more to the game — and just recently, Bethesda launched its 68th, Infestations, alongside news that the next-gen version of the RPG is getting public testing in June.

To celebrate, the studio showed off a brand new trailer for the Infestations update during the Xbox Games Showcase that primarily features a song themed after the patch coupled with a nifty rubber hose-style animation that fits right in with Fallout's typical marketing style. It's a fun watch; you can check it out below.

The Infestations update itself brings a huge variety of intense combat encounters to numerous different locations in Appalachia, with players encouraged to team up with one another in these open-world events and cut down hordes of everything from Super Mutants and raiders to rogue military robots and the deadly wildlife that roams the wasteland.

Successfully doing so will net you various rewards, the best of these being pieces of four-star Legendary gear exclusive to Infestation events. I imagine farming them will be a great way for players to get a large arsenal of quality weapons and armor.

Notably, the trailer also revealed that from June 7 (today!) to June 15, players can log in every day for free daily rewards, which could be everything from new cosmetics to useful gameplay items.

On top of that, Fallout 1st — Fallout 76's controversial premium subscription option that gives members access to exclusive cosmetics, unlimited crafting storage, monthly in-game currency for microtransaction purchases, and private servers to play on — also has a free trial running from June 8 to June 15, effectively giving you a week of it for no cost.

Ultimately, these are some nice offers, and the Infestations update itself brings plenty of chaotic action to Fallout 76. I'm always glad to see the game doing well and getting more content, myself.

How about you, though? What do you think of Fallout 76? I'm curious, so let me know below.

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Late last year, Fallout steward Bethesda announced that a next-gen update was coming to its 2018 MMO-lite multiplayer title Fallout 76, promising players on Xbox Series X|S and PS5 systems an elevated version of the game with better visual fidelity.

We haven't heard anything about this update for a while, but in the patch notes for the new Infestations update and the launch of Season 25, we finally got some news about the upcoming patch. Not only have we learned that the next-gen update is coming out this summer and will have public testing in June, but we've also gotten full details about the improvements it's making.

On Xbox Series X|S and PS5 consoles, Bethesda is improving draw distances and shadow quality, with support for 4K resolution on Xbox Series X|S and PS5 Pro and 1440p on PS5. On top of that, all Xbox Series X|S and PS5 versions will also support variable refresh rate (VRR) with compatible displays to prevent screen tearing. The studio is targeting 60 FPS performance for all next-gen (current gen, really) systems.

Certain last-gen consoles will benefit slightly from the update, too. Specifically, Xbox One X will get support for 4K — something that even the PS5 doesn't have — with PS4 Pro getting a bump up to 1440p from 1080p. Notably, Bethesda also left out mention of the Xbox Series S here beyond stating that its targeting 60 FPS performance on the system, which likely means that it's remaining at 1080p.

While PS5 still enjoys a higher framerate — 60 FPS instead of 30 — it is interesting that 2017's Xbox One X is getting support for 4K and Sony's baseline next-gen console isn't, and it shows just how frontloaded the former system's specs are with GPU power. Also, the lack of 1440p support for Xbox Series S is a bit disappointing; evidently Bethesda has chosen to prioritize framerate over fidelity for the more affordable console.

It's unclear when exactly the next-gen update is releasing this summer, or when public testing for it will begin this month. Bethesda says it will announce details as they come on its social channels, though, so keep an eye on those. Note that when they do come, the testing versions of next-gen Fallout 76 will be freely available to all owners of the game on the Xbox and PlayStation marketplaces.

As for the Infestations and Season 25 (dubbed "Appalachia Under Siege") update itself, the patch is live now across Xbox, PC, and PlayStation, and adds combat-focused Infestations activities where you have to "clear out Infestations of challenging enemies for 4-Star Rewards." These rewards include powerful gear, with Season 25's reward path also giving you various outfits, C.A.M.P. items, and other goodies (see those above).

All in all, Infestations and Season 25 seems like a pretty solid update for Fallout 76, though choosing to focus on marketing all the new C.A.M.P. decorations more than its actual gameplay content was certainly a choice. Regardless, it's always nice to see that Bethesda's experimental multiplayer Fallout title is still going strong. You can check out its full patch notes here.

What's your opinion of Fallout 76? Do you plan on checking out the Infestations update? Let me know below.

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While the Fallout and The Elder Scrolls developer Bethesda is renowned in the gaming community for its large, content-dense open-world RPG titles, its latest projects — 2018's Fallout 76 and 2023's Xbox game Starfield — were departures from the studio's norm. The former is a multiplayer MMO-lite take on the post-apocalyptic franchise, while the latter has a significantly grander scale than any Bethesda title before it.

The developer getting more experimental in recent years has made many curious about the reasons why, and in a recent interview, Bethesda game director and executive producer Todd Howard explained that Fallout 76 and Starfield were "creatively different" by design, as the studio wanted to play around with different ideas and directions.

"I think it's true that Fallout 76 and Starfield clearly — they're creatively different than what we had done. And we really wanted to do that. When you're doing a certain type of thing for, in my case, 20 years, we want to try some other things and learn from that. We have ideas that we want to get out there," he told GamesRadar+.

Howard is thankful that these two releases have performed well despite the fact that they veer away from Bethesda's usual style, and that the studio as a whole was able to take some risks with its recent creations.

"We're fortunate those games have found, in the scheme of things, giant audiences that let us keep doing things in them," he added. "Even though they're a bit off the core path of the single-player games that we have been doing, we're just fortunate to have the success that we've had with them."

Indeed, Fallout 76 and Starfield both have passionate fanbases, though both games are undeniably more divisive than more traditional Bethesda titles like, say, Fallout 4 or Skyrim. Howard acknowledges this, though ultimately points out that at one point, people felt the same way about The Elder Scrolls and Fallout compared to other competing RPGs or the old-school '90s Fallout games from Interplay Entertainment.

"If you look back at the beginning of Elder Scrolls, beginning of Fallout, they're a little bit the same. And then, you find an audience that loves that," he commented.

In Fallout 76's case, most criticism of the game was centered around performance and bugs at launch, though many were also frustrated by the lack of NPCs in its world. These issues were ironed out with time, though, and it's grown into a fairly popular live-service game that's quite successful, especially after Amazon's Fallout TV show kicked off a series-wide resurgence.

Starfield, I would argue, has deeper problems. The space exploration RPG may have over 1,000 planets to explore across 100 star systems, sure, but tons of them are bland and empty, only sparsely populated with repetitive and reused structures and landmarks. On the whole, it's painfully shallow compared to Bethesda's other single player titles, and neither the Shattered Space expansion or the new Terran Armada DLC change that.

I'll never say a studio shouldn't take risks or try something new, but with Starfield, I think Bethesda got too far away from what makes their games fun. The magic of a well-crafted open world isn't just its size, but also how all that space is used, and what it's filled with for players to discover. Howard mentioned learning from its experimentative titles; I believe valuing handcrafted content over scale is the lesson to take from Starfield.

The game's lack of depth and engaging experiences has me worried about The Elder Scrolls 6, though my concerns have been assuaged somewhat by Howard saying that it will be a "classic" Bethesda game. I like Fallout 76 and I respect the devs for their ambitions with Starfield, but I've been waiting for Skyrim's sequel for 15 years now, and I'm glad it's not trying to change a winning formula.

How do you feel about experimental Bethesda games like Fallout 76 and Starfield? Are you glad The Elder Scrolls 6 will be more of a traditional RPG? Share your thoughts in the comments, and vote which Bethesda franchise is your favorite in our poll, too.

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This is a bit of an odd one, and frankly continues to be, but at least we've got an update for you now.

Over the past few weeks, I've received a number of DMs from Japanese Xbox Fallout 76 players who noted that, for some reason, the game's premium subscription Fallout 1st became inexplicably removed from their regional version of the game.

Fallout 76 is an MMO-lite from Bethesda, based on the popular post-apocalyptic Fallout franchise. In the game, players battle bosses, build shelters, and collaborate on a variety of activities on quests to improve their gear and power. As a soft-MMORPG, the game also has an optional subscription feature, which comes with some pretty important quality of life benefits.

People playing Fallout 76 without Fallout 1st are honestly playing the game on hard mode (perhaps "annoying mode" would be more appropriate.) Without Fallout 1st, your inventory space becomes quite aggressively limited in Fallout 76, making organizing loot and farming gear quite irritating.

As such, if you're a dedicated Xbox player in Japan, it would've been somewhat alarming to find that your subscription was inexplicably cancelled in December 2025, without warning.

Sadly, we still have no explanation, but at least Microsoft has offered an update: "The Fallout 1st subscription service will be coming to Xbox players in Japan later in 2026. We appreciate the patience and continued support of the Japanese Fallout community and will share more details as soon as possible."

Machine translated into Japanese via Google, it reads: "Fallout 1st サブスクリプション サービスは、2026 年後半に日本の Xbox プレイヤー向けに提供される予定です。日本の Fallout コミュニティの皆様のご理解と継続的なご支援に感謝申し上げます。詳細は近日中にお知らせいたします。"

It's particularly egregious given how little support Xbox has historically given to Japan for its products and services, but doubly so considering Fallout 1st in Japan, a product Microsoft owns, is still available on Steam and PlayStation.

Microsoft has refused to offer an explanation as to why this is happening, but speculation online suggests it could be to do with Xbox's systems straying out of full compliance with Japanese financial regulations on payments.

It would behove Microsoft to be more transparent about this, considering how poorly Xbox is already received in Japan. It's clearly some kind of mistake on their end, and the relatively low priority the firm has given to transparency on this issue is another negative mark against Xbox's report card in the region.

Microsoft has done some good work to win support from Japanese developers and consumers over the past few years, spearheaded in part by outgoing Xbox President Sarah Bond. Xbox finally landed popular franchises like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Yakuza, and Persona — but small issues like this Fallout 76 situation persist. If Microsoft wants its next-gen Xbox Project Helix to be a success in Japan, issues like this need to be ironed out.

We'll be sure to keep you updated on developments on the Fallout 76 situation in Japan. For those who were asking, apologies that it took me so long to get something concrete on this one.

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Despite its extremely rocky start and the fact it launched nearly eight years ago now, Bethesda's experimental multiplayer RPG Fallout 76 has ended up becoming quite a long-lasting success across Xbox, PC, and PlayStation. A huge reason why is the game's frequent, seasonal content updates — and with December's Burning Springs expansion now in the rearview, its developers have revealed the upcoming Season 24 update, along with its release date.

Fallout 76 Season 24 is officially Rip Daring and the Cryptids from Beyond the Cosmos, themed after the in-universe Astoundingly Awesome Tales comic book action hero and an alien invasion of Earth. It's launching alongside a new major update called The Backwoods; both are scheduled to release on March 3 in just a few weeks.

Bethesda first announced The Backwoods with a short teaser on social media (watch it here or below) that shows a hazy, found footage-style recording of Bigfoot (AKA Sasquatch), the mythical ape-like creature of North American folklore. We then see a small effigy made from human bones, along with text that says "Big things are coming to Fallout 76."

Bigfoot will be Fallout 76's next Cryptid — miniboss-like beasts that draw inspiration from mythology. Previous Cryptids have included the Wendigo, Grafton Monsters, the Mothman, and the Sheepsquatch. The series' Zetan aliens are included in this group, too.

Based on the focus on Bigfoot as well as the key art at the end of the trailer that depicts the Fallout mascot Vault Boy with hunting gear and a double-barrel shotgun, it's clear that the overall theme of The Backwoods update will be hunting in the Appalachian forests, and hunting down Bigfoot in particular.

A new Community Calendar shows that Season 24 will run until its end date of April 7, at which point Fallout 76's next season will kick off. The first week of the season, March 3-10, will feature an event called "Bigfoot's Bash," with an Invaders from Beyond event that's likely centered around Zetan aliens set to follow it up from March 10-24.

At the moment, we know next to nothing about specific items and changes coming in The Backwoods update and Season 24...officially, anyway. Datamines and leaks have shown tweaks to armor stats, updated reward pools for activities, the addition of C.A.M.P. titles, and updates for perks, weapons, and gear mods. Bethesda will surely reveal more of what's coming soon.

Notably, The Backwoods and Season 24 are the first major updates coming to Fallout 76 following the conclusion of Season 2 of the Fallout TV show. As its first season did in 2024, the series has given the Fallout games a major player count boost, with Fallout 4, Fallout: New Vegas, and Fallout 76 benefitting seeing the biggest engagement gains.

If you've never played Fallout 76 before or are considering coming back to the game, now seems a great time to do so. It, along with every other Fallout game, is available to play on Microsoft's buffet-style gaming service Xbox Game Pass.

Are you a big fan of Fallout 76? Are you looking forward to The Backwoods update and Season 24? Will you come back to the game to check them out, or start playing it if you haven't before? Let me know in the comments.

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The long-running, fan-favorite post-apocalyptic RPG franchise Fallout is now one year shy of its 30th anniversary, and it's gone through a lot of change and growth throughout its nearly three-decade long history. From humble beginnings at Interplay Entertainment and the 1997 release of the very first game to the blockbuster success of Fallout 4 and the Fallout TV show, the series has become an absolute megahit.

Alongside spinoffs like Fallout Tactics and Fallout Shelter, we've gotten six mainline Fallout RPGs over the years, including Fallout 1, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76. Developer Bethesda is working on Fallout 5, too, though it's a long way off, as the studio's next game will be The Elder Scrolls 6.

The games have always been popular, but there's been a major resurgence in the last few months in particular thanks to Season 2 of the TV show driving player interest. That hype has brought plenty of interesting news and insight about the franchise, including our exclusive report that remasters for Fallout 3 and New Vegas are coming, and Game Informer's wonderful An Oral History of Fallout multi-part interview.

As I've covered the latest on the series these past few weeks, I've been running a poll across all my articles to see which of the main Fallout games you, our readers, think is the best of them all. As I write this, 1,501 of you have given your answer — and it's a clear one, with one RPG far above the rest.

That title, probably to the surprise of very few, is Fallout: New Vegas, Obsidian Entertainment's 2010 entry in the franchise that took players to the Mojave Wasteland. 869 of the folks who voted in the poll — 58% of the group — say New Vegas is their favorite game, with Fallout 4 and Fallout 3 neck and neck below it at roughly 17% with 259 and 248 votes, respectively.

In online discussions about the Fallout games, New Vegas is very often listed as a favorite due to its impressive RPG depth, complete with multiple major and minor factions, countless potential quest outcomes, advanced speech and dialogue systems, and a high degree of reactivity to the player's actions. The overall story and setting are top-notch, too, and allows you to do do pretty much anything you want without putting roadblocks in your way.

Thus, I was hardly surprised to see it take the win by a large margin here. I was surprised to see Fallout 3 so close to Fallout 4's position, though. Fallout 4 is the latest single player entry in the series with the smoothest, most modern gameplay and combat mechanics. On top of that, it's the most stable game for modding, and has gotten a ton of mod content — both free and sold as curated DLC in the Creations store — since its 2015 release.

But Fallout 4 is also often criticized for lacking the RPG "crunch" Interplay's original games and New Vegas had, while Bethesda retained much of it with Fallout 3. So even though Fallout 4 is easier to get into, more polished, and serves as a better foundation for user-generated content, Fallout 3 features a direction that players prefer more overall.

Another unexpected result was Fallout 76 coming in below even Fallout 1 and Fallout 2, both of which are old-school CRPGs from the '90s with rather archaic control schemes that make them difficult to smoothly engage with. The takeaway here seems to be that multiplayer is rarely anyone's favorite way to experience Fallout, even though Fallout 76 still has a healthy player base even eight years post-launch.

No matter which Fallout game is your favorite, it's a great time to be a Fallout fan — especially since every game in the series is available to play on Xbox and/or PC through Xbox Game Pass. Even Fallout 1, 2, and Tactics are on PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

What's your favorite Fallout game? Do you agree with everyone that thinks Fallout: New Vegas is the best, or do you feel differently? Share your thoughts in the comments, and make sure to vote in the poll yourself below.

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Bethesda's long-running 2018 MMO-lite RPG Fallout 76 is still going strong, with the experimental multiplayer spinoff of the beloved post-apocalyptic franchise maintaining a healthy community of players through regular content updates. The latest of these was the Burning Springs expansion that prominently features The Ghoul from the Fallout TV show; another very notable release was the Gleaming Depths update that came in late 2024.

Gleaming Depths featured a special four-player endgame raid of the same name, and challenged a squad of Vault Dwellers to progress through an arduous, lengthy dungeon that requires communication and ends with a climactic boss battle. Compared to everything else in Fallout 76, Gleaming Depths was a huge step up both in terms of difficulty and rewards, with players able to walk away from completions with 4-star Legendary gear, unique crafting blueprints, tons of XP and materials, and more.

In several ways, it's reminiscent of a raid from Bungie's Destiny 2, one of Fallout 76's live-service rivals — and it got a strong reception from fans, prompting Bethesda to consider how it might improve the experience if a second raid was to come. One idea is "encouraging players to play through the whole raid, or maybe dispersing the rewards across bosses a little more evenly, so it's not so concentrated on one boss or another," creative director Jon Rush told PCGamesN in a recent interview.

But ultimately, what matters most to Rush is that any new raid content is challenging, drives players to team up and work together, and sufficiently rewards them for the effort required to properly gear up for, learn, and successfully complete encounters. "As long as players are challenged, and they're encouraged to play with their friends or in a group, and that they are greatly rewarded for being successful," he said.

Notably, one thing Bethesda wants to avoid is having too much of a meta for the raid, and specific types of builds feeling required in order for you to efficiently make progress. "I'd hate to set something up where it's like, you have to be this [build], or else you'll just fall flat on your face. I'd rather let people see a new problem or something they need to overcome and let them choose how they want to do it," Rush explained.

That desire for many different kinds of setups to be viable, however, shines light on one of Fallout 76's biggest issues: the amount of time you have to spend in menus if you want to swap your build. Though the RPG is actually the first in Fallout history to support full and unlimited respecs, there's no way to quickly switch between loadouts. Thankfully, Bethesda is exploring ways to address this.

"We also want to figure out ways to make changing out loadouts — and changing full loadouts, meaning armor and things like that — a little bit easier for players, so you can do that without the time sink that is required for it," lead producer Bill LaCoste commented. "I really do want people to have multiple loadouts and outfits that go along with the content they're trying to engage in."

"We need to make it a little bit easier and make some adjustments, either on the job board side, or maybe some other tools that we can add for players too," he continued. The studio's overall goal is "to give people more time playing the game rather than dealing with their inventory," because the developer is "very much against 'playing the UI,' we want to play the game."

Be that as it may, though, it's important to note that Bethesda may still explore nudging people towards trying out new setups or tweaking their builds with future gameplay obstacles. "With that said, you know, hypothetically, if there was another raid, maybe the challenges would be skewed a bit differently so that people would need to think of other ways to play through it or gear up for it, you know?" Rush added.

Whether you're interested in new Fallout 76 raids or not, it's great to hear that the developers want to make changing builds easier. A system they should look to to try and emulate, in my opinion, is Destiny 2's Loadout mechanic; it allows you to save and swap between builds with the click of a button, automatically changing everything from your chosen subclass abilities and modifiers to your gear and all the mods you've equipped on them.

Are you a fan of Fallout 76? Would you be excited to see another raid similar to Gleaming Depths come to Bethesda's multiplayer RPG? Let me know in the comments.

Bethesda's bold and experimental multiplayer take on Fallout, Fallout 76, launched in 2018 to extremely negative reviews, with many taking the game to task over its severe technical bugs and lack of engaging gameplay content, among other issues. Both of these pain points were addressed over time with performance-focused patches and big updates like the Wastelanders expansion, though notably, one feature fans have been asking for since the game's release still hasn't been added.

That feature is crossplay — the ability to play and party up with players on platforms other than your own. Though Fallout 76 supports crossplay between players that share a console family (Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, for example), Xbox and PlayStation players can't explore the Wasteland together, and folks on Steam can't play with console users, either.

Games like Fallout 76 with a strong co-op focus benefit hugely from crossplay since it reduces the impact of low player counts on any one platform in particular, helping to make sure that servers feel populated. It's also simply a great quality-of-life feature to have, as it breaks down barriers between players and brings everyone together.

Because of that, it's a real shame that Bethesda's open-world Fallout MMO-lite hasn't gotten support for crossplay in the almost eight years it's been active. But the good news is that the studio is "looking into it," and hears fans clamoring for it loud and clear. The bad news, however, is that if it does come, it won't be anytime soon.

"We are looking into it, and we have plans to try to scope out what that work is going to entail for us," creative director Jon Rush told Polygon in a recent interview. "It's just not in the immediate plans for us. We know players want it."

But why is that, exactly? Well, according to production director Bill LaCoste, the foundation for crossplay is something that's typically established ahead of a game's launch. Because Bethesda didn't do that with Fallout 76, going back and adding it now would be an arduous and time-consuming task for the developer.

"It's just huge technical hurdles that are things that you tackle before release, during your actual development of the product," LaCoste noted. "So going back and retrofitting it to do that, when you have different places that players are pointing into, and now you're having to worry about entitlements and account purchases and currency."

It's important to establish that doesn't mean the studio won't add it, however. It just means that if Bethesda determines it's realistically possible and decides to commit to bringing crossplay to Fallout 76, it will be a while before it's implemented, as doing so won't be a quick or easy process.

"What we can promise players is that we will continue to investigate, we will continue to try to establish plans to make that a thing in the future, just not in the short term," LaCoste added.

Ultimately, it's unfortunate that the game still doesn't have crossplay — especially since with Season 2 of the Fallout TV show fresh in everyone's mind and the Fallout games enjoying boosted player counts as a result, it would be great if fans of the post-apocalyptic RPG franchise across all platforms could enjoy the series' renaissance together. With that said, at least Bethesda has promised it's looking into it, and will bring the feature to Fallout 76 if it can.

How do you feel about Fallout 76? Would you be excited to see crossplay finally come to Bethesda's multiplayer take on Fallout, or do you not really care? Hit me with your thoughts down below in the comments.

Xbox and Bethesda's beloved post-apocalyptic RPG franchise Fallout is all the rage right now, with Season 2 of the TV show doubling its player counts on Steam, several free DLC add-ons hitting Fallout 4 recently, and more. Indeed, the last few months have been a great time to be a fan of the series — and in the days leading up to Season 2's finale episode, Bethesda has a treat for those who may not have played one of its biggest games.

From now until February 4 — one day after the finale of Season 2 of the Fallout TV show — you can play Fallout 76 for free across all of its platforms, including Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC (Steam, Xbox on PC), PS5, and PS4. Any characters and progress you make in the game will carry forward if you choose to purchase it after the free-to-play period ends (it's only $7.99 right now; it's usually $39.99).

Fallout 76 is one of the largest modern Fallout titles you can play right now, both in terms of available content and in terms of player count. As recent SteamDB data shows, the game has had, on average, around 20K-30K players on Valve's PC gaming platform at any given time.

That's not quite as large as Fallout 4's 30K-50K average, but it's above Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. Ultimately, these are healthy, respectable numbers — and they're in addition to all the players on Xbox and PlayStation consoles that can't be tracked due to the lack of publicly available metrics.

As the first multiplayer RPG in the series with live-service patches and MMO-like elements, Fallout 76 was (and for some, still is) quite controversial, and got off to an extremely rocky start in late 2018. Bethesda stuck with it and has routinely improved it with major content updates, though, transforming it into a game that many love and play regularly. Burning Springs, its latest expansion, is its largest in years, and features The Ghoul from the TV show.

Fallout 76 becoming free to play for a week is pretty awesome, though the way Bethesda chose to announce and advertise that is a little...odd. The studio revealed the news alongside a new commercial for its Fallout games that stars Michael Grzesiek, AKA Shroud, one of the biggest streamers on Twitch and a competitive FPS player that used to compete in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (now Counter-Strike 2).

Getting a former pro player that specializes in PvP games to advertise your mostly singleplayer RPG franchise is certainly a choice, but I suppose he's still a very recognizable figure in gaming and may drive some PvP players to give Fallout a shot. Plus, Shroud says he's a huge fan of the series.

"Honestly still shocked I got to be apart of this commercial," he wrote in a post on social media. "As you all know fallout is one of my favorite video game franchises and to see myself in this video is incredibly heartwarming!!"

The commercial itself features Shroud clad in an up-armored Vault suit as he and several "Dogmeat" friends — referencing the canine companions you can find in most of the Fallout games — investigate a gas station for treasure, with a few amusing references to Fallout 4 thrown in. "Have any of you guys seen my son?" he asks the dogs.

Note that while Fallout 76 is the only game that's free to play for a limited time, all of the Fallout games are available to play across Xbox and PC with Xbox Game Pass. They're accessible through Xbox Cloud Gaming as well, with Fallout 4 also supporting Xbox Play Anywhere cross-save.

Do you plan on checking out Fallout 76 while it's free to play? If you've already played it, how do you like it compared to the mainstream singleplayer Fallout titles? Hit me with your take in the comments.

I hate to be a buzz kill, but cool your jets internet (and put down the jet). The long-rumored Fallout remakes aren't around the corner.

A couple of weeks ago I put out a report describing what Xbox's 2026 would look like, and I mentioned that Fallout 3 and New Vegas are getting remakes. We already knew about the Fallout 3 Remake from the Activision-Blizzard FTC documentation leaks, but New Vegas getting a remake was a relatively new piece of information I received from my sources recently.

Although, I can hardly claim to be sharing a revelation here. The Fallout TV show is a run away success story, and Season 2 is heavily based in and around New Vegas and the Mojave Wasteland. I've been told that Bethesda's other remake project, Oblivion Remastered, was a huge hit for the studio internally too, exceeding internal goals and expectations.

As such, Fallout 3 and New Vegas remakes are a no brainer, leaks or no. But, how soon are we getting them?

Recently, Fallout fans noticed that the Steam entries for Fallout 3 and New Vegas had seen some activity, with some users reporting errors as if game packages were missing. Speculation began to snowball about the possibilities of remakes or remasters being "shadow dropped" in similar fashion to the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remaster. We are getting an Xbox Developer_Direct this week too, which has precedent for announcing new games from the company's subsidiary teams.

In addition, Amazon's Fallout TV show website has mysterious countdown timers, which compounded the hopes and speculation for a mysterious Fallout 3, New Vegas shadow drop. I can confirm emphatically that this timer has nothing to do with any Fallout games, however.

On top of that, I'm told that the Steam listings for Fallout 3 and New Vegas are showing some "activity" due to updates for localized versions of the existing games, and aren't to do with any impending "shadow drop" for Fallout 3 and New Vegas remakes / remasters.

Indeed, I'm told Fallout 3 and New Vegas remakes aren't exactly "imminent," and you shouldn't expect them in the near term. I'm still trying to lock down more detailed timings on when we should see them appear, but the impression I'm getting is that we'll see Fallout 3 remastered before New Vegas.

Microsoft and Bethesda seem to have both been caught a little unawares with regards to Fallout's explosive renewed interest and popularity. The Fallout TV show, Fallout 76 updates, and the Fallout 4 anniversary edition, coupled with its Xbox Play Anywhere tag, has led to a surge in players across all versions of the game.

As we all know, Bethesda has been pretty stretched. The studio is working on Elder Scrolls VI, which has an absolutely immense amount of hype and anticipation behind it. The team is also working on major updates for Starfield, too.

After Starfield, which arguably failed to meet some of the astronomical expectations set by games like Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, I imagine Bethesda is keen to avoid similar criticisms. Fallout 4 itself also received a fair share of critique for its shift away from the franchise's gritty roleplaying roots, doubling down instead on its open world sandbox gameplay instead. And we all know what happened with Fallout 76's launch, even if it's rather awesome in its current state.

Bethesda lead Todd Howard noted that the studio is investing more than ever into the Fallout franchise in recent interviews, and also expressed support for the "shadow drop" marketing method for "smaller" projects like Oblivion. Parent subsidiary ZeniMax also shadow dropped Hi-Fi Rush and called it a success at the time too, although the studio and IP was eventually spun out to Krafton Inc. The gap between announcement and launch for Fallout 4 was quite short too, although the gap between announcement and launch for Starfield and Elder Scrolls VI has been notoriously long (and painful).

It's with that in mind that Fallout 5 is likely even further afield. I'm told that Starfield's big update this year represents a lot of technological upgrades for Bethesda's Creation Engine, many of which could also hint at capabilities we'll see in Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout 5.

In the short-term, though, Fallout fans will have to make do with the Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition, big ticket overhaul mods like Fallout London, ongoing updates to Fallout 76, and a bit later, remasters for Fallout 3 and New Vegas. Which to be fair, is quite a lot really.

If I had to guess (emphasis on guess), I think we could see the Fallout 3 remaster at least this year. I imagine it will be similar to Virtuous' Oblivion remaster, with an Unreal Engine coat of fresh paint on top of the classic Creation Engine experience, albeit with tweaks and combat modernizations, potentially.

I'm still digging into details regarding a lot of this, locking down exact timings and the scope of the remasters, but I'm told emphatically not to expect them to shadow drop imminently. Could we see them around Xbox's annual June games showcase this year? Time will tell.

Fallout Season 2 began airing in December 2025 and was met with a wave of positive reviews from critics. Alongside that reception, players have been returning to the Fallout games in large numbers.

This is the same pattern we saw during Season 1, reinforcing the idea that a strong video game adaptation can drive renewed interest in the games it is based on. Fallout has benefited from this before with season 01, while other franchises like Halo failed to see the same effect after a far weaker adaptation.

It highlights how important it is for TV adaptations to respect the source material rather than alienate the existing fanbase.

Which Fallout games saw player spikes on Steam

• Fallout: around 150 concurrent players to over 800
• Fallout 2: roughly 130 to more than 600
• Fallout 3: about 400 to over 1,200
• Fallout: New Vegas: approximately 7,000 to more than 19,000
• Fallout 4: around 16,000 to over 43,000
• Fallout 76: roughly 16,000 to a peak of more than 27,000

This comes alongside the recent Steam Winter Sale, which did put the Fallout games on sale and likely contributed to some of the player increase. However, the same pattern played out last year during Season 1, suggesting the TV series is once again the main driver. With Season 2 already proving popular, it seems many players are returning for another Fallout fix.

For those using Amazon’s Luna platform, Fallout 1 and Fallout 2 are currently available through Prime Gaming until January 26, 2026, to claim and redeem via GoG. If you run into issues getting those games to launch, I have already put together a guide that walks through how to get them working properly.

Has Fallout Season 2 pushed you to reinstall a Fallout game, or were you already playing before it aired? If so, let us know which Fallout and if not let us know why in the comments!

Everything Fallout is exploding in popularity lately, and for good reason.

The new season of the Fallout TV show hit 100% on Rotten Tomatoes after a couple of dozen reviews, showing that the first season wasn't just a one-off. The Fallout TV show is arguably the best ever video game adaptation for TV. Instead of replacing the original Fallout video game lore, the TV show intersects with it, delivering new canonical stories for fans of the games, while offering something completely new for non-gamers.

It's a rare event in history that a TV show can appeal to both gamers and non-gamers alike, and games like Fallout 4, Fallout 76, and Fallout Shelter on mobile have all seen huge boosts in users as a result of the show.

To celebrate, we decided to put together a quick quiz to test your general Fallout lore knowledge. This is focused primarily on the games, but if this one is too easy... let us know, and we'll loop back around with a truly hard mode version next time.

Every single Fallout game is available now on Xbox Game Pass.

Even more Fallout is yet to come

Fallout as a franchise is going from strength to strength, although it could be argued Xbox hasn't done enough with it since the acquisition. Bethesda has been very preoccupied with Starfield and Elder Scrolls 6, but studio lead Todd Howard recently suggested that most of its future resources are heading straight to the wasteland.

Fallout 4 just got an Xbox Play Anywhere edition for Xbox PC, Xbox Ally, and Xbox Series X|S. Fallout 76 just got a new season, complete with recent updates that lets you play as a ghoul.

And Fallout Shelter is also getting regular new content for the first time in years as well. There are strong and compelling rumors that Fallout 3 could also be getting an Oblivion-style remake as well, and perhaps even Fallout New Vegas if we're lucky too.

How well did you do in the quiz? Should we have made it harder? Hit the comments, let us know!

Back in the summer of 2018, I was sitting in a friend's apartment watching the Bethesda showcase. I was blown away by the concept of Fallout 76, and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. We both joked about how we were going to nuke every single player who even shot at us.

Months later, Fallout 76 launched, and it was a far cry from the game I had initially imagined it to be. At least, that's how I felt in 2018. Even later, the Fallout TV series launched, and it would go on to become one of the best video game adaptations of all time, causing a massive resurgence in all things Fallout.

Most surprisingly, Fallout 76 was suddenly popular. A game I had chalked up as "washed" the moment it launched had broken its own launch record. What? I had to check it out for myself.

Twelve hours later, I realized the sun was starting to rise. I was officially hooked on Fallout 76, rad-dicted and glowing with obsession.

Some 500 hours of game time later, Fallout 76 has become one of my favorite games. Be it quests, events, or just player-built homes, everything in Fallout 76 is as it should be, fun to do – or should I say, rad-iating pure joy.

I am now a staunch Fallout 76 player and spokesperson. I ask each and every friend I have to play the game with me.

Thanks to a wasteland-shaking amount of content, I have another reason to continue begging friends to give it a try. In comes Fallout 76: Burning Springs, the largest update in over five years!

Not to mention Walton Goggins. He's reprising his role in the game just in time for the second season of the Amazon Fallout TV series, which is set to release on December 17, 2025. Which is around the time we'll get full access to the Burning Springs expansion. Don't worry, it'll hit PTS tomorrow on October 2!

The Burning Springs of Ohio

Starting us off, we enter the area of Burning Springs, a post-nuclear Ohio that's crawling in devious NPCs, new quests, collectibles, events, and the all-new Bounty system carried by none other than The Ghoul. Yes, The Ghoul is here nearly 200 years before the events of the Fallout television show.

My time with the map was frantic, as we were only given a couple of hours to explore the wastes. Tucked away in Ohio, you'll find Highway Town, a village centered around a once massive concrete highway bridge that's fallen into disrepair.

I first took the elevator down, which centers itself neatly next to where all the preview event attendees spawned in. In my ghoulish curiosity, I first tried out the ever-wonderful bounty system.

Walton Goggins, baby!

First, I want to mention that we were unable to catch his voiced character; we only had text-to-speech audio at the time of this alpha build. However, after watching some new footage featuring his voice, I can say with almost certainty that they nailed it. I'll obviously check him out once he goes live on the PTS.

The system itself is a hell of a time as well. With endless missions coming in as a stack of papers that The Ghoul deems unfit for himself to carry out, you'll get paid your fair share for the effort you put in to bringing down the targets.

I took out a couple with decent ease, although it wasn't the same as my stealth commando build (I know you hate me). I made do anyway. Slapping targets mindlessly, I got my loot and made my way back to Highway Town.

Somehow, someway, I'm told you'll eventually get The Ghoul's gun for yourself. I was pretty disappointed to leave this system, since, as I mentioned earlier, I only had two hours to test the rest.

The Rust King's land

As I dove into the campaign missions, I started hearing about this guy called the Rust King. Something, something, I need to work with him, etc. Getting to him was met with a dance of wild circumstances that I won't spoil in the least, but I'll just say people of the wasteland suck; they're terrible people.

The Rust Kind is the highly intelligent Super Mutant, which reminded me of my time with Virgil from Fallout 4. Except, this guy was like the Mad Max version of that.

"You look out at this wasteland, it looks like chaos. But there's always somebody behind the wheel," The Ghoul said. The Rust King just so happens to be the wheel of Ohio.

In between, I had to test out the new events. I dove headfirst, like any self-respecting Wastelander would, you have to know what the next big grind is gonna be about, right? Luckily, I was able to try four of them, and damn, were they a blast.

The first one centered around this pocket zone, filled to the brim with rad scorpions. Defending the area, you'll need more than yourself if you're going to fight off the hordes ahead; I watched one poor soul charge in alone, only to end up as scorpion chow.

My first group stuck together and rotated around the area like robots with our heads cut off. As I did my best to recall the PC controls as an Xbox console main, I fat-fingered melee multiple times before remembering the V.A.T.S. button.

We, I like to say we, because it makes me feel better, fumbled our way to the final waves, featuring some badass legendary creatures. That's when the pocket rockets started to fly and the Ohio landscape started to light up.

I grabbed quite a few legendary pieces over these events that I hauled off to turn in for Legendary Script out of habit. I didn't need to, but come on, Legendary Script is Legendary Script. That, and I couldn't bring myself to drop them.

The next was an escort mission that I didn't think really needed an escort since it's a Deathclaw, but it dies pretty easily if the group doesn't pay attention. Pro tip: Stick with the Deathclaw or miss out on loot. You heard it here first.

I'll leave the other two for your eagerly exploring characters to discover on their own, or someone else's gameplay video. I'm not going to be the guy to let it out.

Once I had my fill of quests, it was time to do a little scouting ala Bethesda style.

Exploring Burning Springs

Most of the area I had time to explore featured small remote towns or pole barn-style buildings. Picking up tape, screws, and other random lootable items that I had no business needing for a character at a preview event. Again, habit can be a bitch.

What was it The Ghoul said, "Thou shalt get sidetracked by bullshit every goddamm time," or something like that? Yeah, I might have a problem.

What I did notice was an overwhelming love for the areas I came across. If you looked closely enough, you could dig out narratives from dropped notes, environmental clues, and even the way a corpse lay across the ground.

If a story is worth a thousand words and a story comes once every minute, you'll find yourself enveloped by the world if you so choose to let it. Environmental storytelling has always been one of my favorites, and Fallout 76, despite being an MMO, still finds a way to squeeze that Bethesda magic in there.

On top of that, I came across a new collectible that sent me on a goose hunt for a door in a random town. Multiple people at the event had trouble finding what I'll call "The Fallout 76 Ninroot quest" location. I even had to help someone out (it was Danny Peña) with the building's spot.

That started a bromance fight over who could find the most collectibles, and since I'm one of those action-oriented players, I didn't catch quite as many as I hoped I would. So, I'll say it was a draw. Danny would completely agree, I'm sure.

I'm Deathclawing to jump back in

Other than the horrible pun I made, what captured me the most about Burning Springs is the noticeable impact it left on my gaming tastes. For the last month or so, I've been grinding away at both Rainbow Six Siege X and Borderlands 4 in an attempt to become some form of pro player in one and a split-second boss killer in the other.

Fallout 76 reminded me of the good times, those filled with pleasure rather than the burning amount of stress you get over dropping elo or MMR. A quintessential escape from all things rage-inducing, and instead, a kicked back lounge chair of questing and explorative friendship in the people you encounter.

Everyone at the event shared at least one thing, and that was their love for a game that I once thought was on the brink of death. The nicest community I've ever come across has been that of Fallout 76, and the people, players, and developers I met reflected all the same.

Burning Springs isn't just another expansion, but a tender beacon that calls for me and every kindred spirit who relishes adventure to jump back into the radiant and unforgiving embrace of Fallout 76.

To top it off, it just so happens that this new world aligns with the expression of the players it represents, and has gifted us another wonderful world to call home for a few hundred more hours.

Not to mention, you get more Walter Goggins.

Fallout 76 Burning Springs launches into PTS on October 2, 2025. Players will be able to check out the current build until it goes live, later this year on the main servers.

Bethesda Game Studios' long-awaited fishing update for Fallout 76 is on the way, and now has an official release date — and the good news for all you post-apocalyptic fishermen out there is that it's less than two weeks away.

Specifically, the patch — dubbed "Gone Fission" with what is an incredibly cheesy, but admittedly clever pun — is scheduled to launch on June 3, 2025 across all of the multiplayer live-service RPG's platforms, including Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PS5, and PS4.

The news comes from a new trailer for the game that shows some of what players can expect when they start hauling in irradiated river-dwellers in West Virginia. You can either give it a watch by clicking the link here or by checking out the video embed of the trailer below:

Most of what the trailer showcases are new fishing-themed items that you'll be able to place in your C.A.M.P. bases, including a boat-shaped display for fishing rods, hanging buoys, a spooky-looking boiled octopus stuffed into a large beaker, and a Gone Fission neon sign, among others. There's even boat that's been converted into a home you can place on the water, a new Cannery workbench where you'll presumably be able to craft consumables with the fish you reel in, and an interactable Poseidon Arm Wrestle machine.

Beyond that, there are also a few new apparels and weapon skins on the way. Vault Dwellers up for a little deep diving can put on Snorkel Goggles and an Oxygen Tank Backpack, and when things come to blows, you can battle the dangers of post-nuclear Appalachia in style with Spitfire paints for the Chainsaw and Pepper Shaker. On top of that, Bethesda is also adding a new heavy weapon called the Icebreaker; based on the way it shredded a mirelurk in the trailer, it seems to be a lethal shotgun-style weapon that'll excel in close-to-medium range.

It's important to note that a sizable chunk of these new items will be exclusive to subscribers to Fallout 76's premium Fallout 1st membership. Something coming for everyone, though, is a "Casting Off" questline in which you'll head to a new location in the Mire called Fishermen's Rest and acquire your first fishing rod.

The quest will introduce three new characters, including Captain Raymond Clark, an enigmatic NPC called The Fisherman, and Linda-Lee — a colossal hermit crab domesticated by The Fishermen that's made the Captain's boat its shelter. Linda-Lee in particular is sure to make Fallout 4 fans nostalgic, as she's reminiscent of the huge hermit crabs you could find in the Far Harbor expansion.

• DEAL: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 1-month memberships are $17.39 at CDKeys, giving you access to Microsoft's service for a cool discount

It's a little unfortunate that you won't be able to get everything from Gone Fission if you're not a Fallout 1st subscriber, but there's still quite a bit to enjoy if you're a regular player — and everything, 1st-exclusive or not, looks great. All in all, Season 21 looks to be another strong patch in a long series of updates that, together with all the hype surrounding the Fallout TV show, have brought lots of attention back to Bethesda's live-service title. And with Fallout Season 2 coming in December, it's likely going to get another surge of players later this year.

While Fallout 76 is typically $39.99 to buy directly, you can actually get a code for it on Steam for as little as $8.69 at CDKeys thanks to an amazing deal. Alternatively, you also have the option of playing through Xbox Game Pass, and you'll even get one month of Fallout 1st free with Game Pass as a perk.

Fallout 76's latest update is around the corner, as the developers continue adding to the game's redemption story.

Last year, Fallout 76 added its first map expansion, adding new bosses, raids, features, weapons, and more. You can also now play as a ghoul in Fallout 76, which gives veterans and newcomers alike a totally new way to play. But still, the game felt incomplete. That is, until now.

It's no secret that Fallout 76 had a rocky launch. It's only been relatively recently that the game managed to hit a positive rating on Steam, buoyed by over seven years of hard work and grind from the team at Bethesda. Reviews hit out at the game's bugginess, server issues, and general lack of polish, but there was one criticism that cut through the rest as the game's biggest issues — the lack of fishing.

Indeed, without fishing, even the hit Fallout Amazon TV show wasn't enough to help Fallout 76 achieve true greatness. But that all changes with the recent PTS update.

After seven years, Bethesda confirmed that fishing is now available to try on Fallout 76's public test server.

"Welcome to Fisherman’s Rest, a new location in the Mire where you’ll begin your fishing adventures. Here you will meet a new trio of new characters. Captain Raymond Clark, a mysterious new figure who goes by the name The Fisherman, and Linda-Lee, the Fisherman’s pet hermit crab. Good luck talking to The Fisherman though, doesn’t seem like they speak our language. Oh, and don’t be alarmed when you find out that Linda-Lee is a giant hermit crab who has taken up home in Captain Clark’s old fishing boat. Something seems off about this location… anyways!

During the “Casting Off” questline you’ll receive your first Fishing Rod - allowing you to walk on over to the nearest body of water and start fishing. When trying to decide where you can fish, remember the mantra: “If I can swim, then I can fish."

Fishing will be available in any location with swimmable water, and accessible via a quest that pops up on your Pip-Boy as a "mysterious signal." Upon completing the quest, you'll get your fishing rod. It's not simply a basic fish and forget system, though. The fishing rod is upgradeable, weather affects the type of fish available, and players will be able place trophy fish as items in their C.A.M.P. bases.

In addition, Bethesda has changed the way limb / crippling works, while also rebalancing many perks in the game. Read the full patch notes over here. The PTS server is available to Fallout 76 players on Steam. Now go and get fishing. 🐟🐡🦈🎣

The latest big update for Fallout 76, Ghoul Within, is available now, at last bringing playable Ghouls that were first promised to players last year.

Being a Ghoul changes up much of how you play through Bethesda Game Studios' ongoing multiplayer RPG, making players thrive when exposed to radiation. Ghouls also have access to 30 unique Perks, which can provide distinct advantages

That new appearance isn't just for looks though, and certain factions like the Brotherhood of Steel will refuse to work with Ghouls. There are ways of getting around this through disguises, but the danger will always be there.

You can check out the trailer celebrating this latest update below:

In order to become a Ghoul, players will need to reach level 50 and take on a quest called “Leap of Faith," which will turn them into a Ghoul.

Ghouls also have a unique "Feral" meter, which actively drains and can only be filled by taking various chems. There's advantages and disadvantages to letter the meter drain or keeping it topped off.

Here's the full stat breakdown for what being a Ghoul offers at different levels of the Feral meter:

• Above 80%: you gain +3 Strength, +3 Endurance, +30 Max HP
• Above 60%: you gain +15 Max HP
• Above 40%: you lose -1 Endurance and -5 Max HP
• Above 20%: you lose -3 Endurance, -15 Max HP, -10 Max AP
• At 0%: you gain +150% Melee Damage, and lose -5 Endurance, -99 Charisma, -30 Max HP, -20 Max AP, -300% Hip-fire Gun Accuracy & V.A.T.S. Accuracy.

If you decide that you no longer want to be a Ghoul, you can choose to go back to being human through the Character Screen. It's important to note that if you then decide to go back to being a Ghoul again, you can't re-take the quest, and you'll have to pay 1,000 Atoms to re-transform.

A great update long in the making

This is really cool to see, and while it's taken a while to get here, I'm sure plenty of players are going to appreciate the ways being a Ghoul can shake up the established formula.

That's especially true coming off the popularity of the Fallout TV series. I have this strange feeling we're going to be seeing a lot of players digitally cosplaying THE Ghoul.

Outside of Ghouls, pets recently arrived in Fallout 76, letting players decorate their camps with cats and dogs. Personally, I'd like to have some more exotic additions to my base, but one step at a time.

Bethesda Game Studios previously teased that fishing is coming to Fallout 76, and it's currently slated to arrive at some point over the summer. We'll have to wait to learn more.

For anyone reading that plays Fallout 76, I'm curious if you'll be taking the radioactive plunge and playing as a Ghoul moving forward.

Fallout 76 is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. It's also included in Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra.

Fallout 76 players are currently diving deep and enjoying the Gleaming Depths. The raid, designed for the highest-level and experienced wasteland adventurers, is an MMO-style dungeon challenge that teams up to 4 players to take on some intense encounters in the Enclave Research Lab.

But that’s not all Bethesda has planned. The future of Fallout 76 is about to get… ghoulish. March 2025 will see the long-awaited update that lets players experience the game through the irradiated eyes of a Ghoul. I’m calling it the 'Ghoulification of Appalachia', and after getting hands-on with this update during a special preview at Bethesda headquarters, I can confidently say it will shake up the wasteland in all the right ways.

Playing as a Ghoul is every bit as fun as it sounds. From unique abilities to surprising interactions with the world and its inhabitants, the update adds an entirely new dimension to Fallout 76’s gameplay. In fact, I’d be surprised if there are any smoothskins left wandering Appalachia after this update rolls out. Like Diablo 4 being overrun with the new Spiritborn class, it will be Season of the Ghoul in Fallout 76 in the spring.

So, without further ado, let’s dig into everything I learned about how to be cool as a Ghoul.

Start the Ghoulification journey at level 50

Fallout 76 has some really stand-out storytelling and voice acting, and the quest to become a Ghoul doesn't disappoint. You'll meet a whole host of new characters along the journey and a whole colony of Ghouls, in fact, with some eager for you to join their ranks and others not so thrilled at the new arrival of an outsider.

I won't ruin any specifics of the quest given to you to start the process, but the journey begins with your introduction to Leamon Price, a character grappling with the early stages of Ghoulification. Leamon’s plight centers around his search for a radiation expert—a quest that takes you into a previously uncharted map area. In this new underground area, you’ll encounter a quirky cast of characters, each with their own views on radiation, Ghouls, and the wider wasteland.

Once you’ve completed this multi-step questline, you’ll finally gain access to a character creation screen where you can perfect your radiation-riddled visage. This endgame activity is available only to players who have reached level 50 or higher. By the time you’re eligible, you’ll likely have built a personal connection to your character, making the transformation into a Ghoul feel all the more significant.

The decision to become a Ghoul in Fallout 76 isn’t just about gaining cool abilities or a striking new look. It’s a choice that comes with intriguing narrative consequences—both good and bad. While some NPCs and factions may embrace your Ghoulish transformation, others will be far less welcoming. This duality adds complexity to the experience, making it more than a mere cosmetic or gameplay tweak.

One faction that’s particularly vocal about its disdain for Ghouls is the Brotherhood of Steel. Known for their rigid beliefs and mistrust of anything that deviates from the norm, the Brotherhood’s hostility towards you as a Ghoul is entirely expected. Interacting with them in your new form might lead to closed doors or more aggressive encounters, forcing you to navigate these challenges strategically.

Bethesda has thoughtfully provided ways to mitigate some of the less desirable elements of Ghoulification. Players can access disguises to mask their appearance when dealing with particularly anti-Ghoul individuals or factions. This feature allows you to maintain some narrative flexibility without entirely sacrificing the consequences of your transformation. And for those experiencing a touch of radiation-induced regret? Fear not—you’re allowed a one-time free option to revert back to human form. After this, you can revert again, but it'll cost unknown resources. This ensures that players who might not enjoy the Ghoulish lifestyle aren’t locked into it forever.

Other things of note about becoming a Ghoul:

• Ghouls are 100% resistant to radiation, in fact radiation heals them.
• If you continue to radiate yourself as a Ghoul, you store up excess radiation called 'Glow.'
• Glow is a Ghoul specific power you can use a number of ways depending on how you spec with your perk cards.
• There are 32 new Ghoul specific spec cards in total, you can use these with the existing pool of non-Ghoul cards to make all new builds.
• You also no longer suffer from hunger and thirst, hurrah! Though the meter for this is now replaced with a 'Feral meter'.
• Feral status can be managed with chems, and has some negative drawbacks like reduced accuracy with weapons and lower HP. However going completely feral can have benefits such as boosting your Ghoul into a Berserker.

The variety of builds will be dependent on your combination of Ghoul to normal Perk cards. Here are the new cards I saw in my playthrough.

Ghoul Perk cards

The Ghoul is as overpowered as you would expect, but I was using some pretty rad weapons

The synergy between the new Ghoul-specific perk cards and the existing pool of non-Ghoul perks really opens up the door for some absurdly powerful builds. During my time as a Ghoul, I felt almost invincible as I sprinted across Appalachia, mowing down enemies during public events and reveling in my newfound resilience.

Part of that invincibility, I’ll confess, was thanks to the gear I was equipped with—loot straight out of the Gleaming Depths raid which included a 4 star legendary weapon, the 'Vaporizing Napalmer Boiling Point'. Watching enemies explode into radiated ashes was hilarious, and it paired perfectly with the Ghoul’s radiation-driven mechanics. The hour I had to test out life as a Ghoul flew by in a blur of carnage.

When can I become a Ghoul in Fallout 76?

While Bethesda hasn’t nailed down an official release date for the Ghoul questline, they have hinted at a launch in early 2025. If their recently released community calendar for Season 19 is any indication, it’s likely that the update will drop alongside the start of Season 20, slated for March 2025.

For those eager to get an early spin, Bethesda has confirmed that official playtests will begin on December 20, 2024, as noted in the game’s official Discord. This gives players a chance to dive into the mechanics, experiment with builds, and provide feedback before the full rollout.

Between the overpowered perks, new weapons, and engaging questline, the Ghoul update looks to be one of Fallout 76’s most exciting additions yet. One thing’s for sure: life as a Ghoul might just make you never want to go back to being a smoothskin.

What you need to know

• Bethesda Game Studios shared some updates on what's coming to Fallout 76 during the Fallout Day broadcast on October 23. 
• The studio gave an overview of the upcoming raid in a new region called the Gleaming Depths, which includes multiple boss fights and challenges culminating in taking on a giant snake called the Ultracite Terror.
• At the end of the broadcast, the studio also teased that fishing may be on the way to Fallout 76.

There's even more headed to post-apocalyptic Appalachia. 

In celebration of Fallout Day, developer Bethesda Game Studios shared some updates on what players can expect in Fallout 76 over the weeks and months ahead. As previously promised, the game is getting pets, with cats and dogs available at player C.A.M.P.s, though the developers tease that there'll be other pets coming in the future. 

Toward the end of the broadca new region called the Gleaming Depths, with a raid that's explicitly decided to challenge endgame-level players through tough fights that require careful teamwork, culminating in a fight against a massive serpent called the Ultracite Terror. The team also gave another look at playable Ghouls, which are coming to Fallout 76 in early 2025.

Toward the end of the broadcast, creative director Jonathan Rush picked up a fishing pole, noting that he had "research to do" about another feature coming to the game, heavily implying that fishing is coming to Fallout 76 in the future. You can check out the full Fallout Day broadcast in the video below:

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Fishing and fighting in radioactive Appalachia

It's been impressive to see even more content updates lined up for the near future of Fallout 76.

Personally, I remain most excited about the addition of pets, especially now that Bethesda is teasing other kinds of friendly campsite critters outside of the given cats and dogs. Fishing could also be fun, especially if there's quests or challenges applied to however the gameplay mechanics work. 

I'm not sure I'll play as a Ghoul when the option arrives, but I know a lot of people will be excited to go on feral romps with special new perks, especially since we know it'll make you immune to radiation, something that will drastically change how the game plays moment-to-moment. Is that worth becoming unfriendly with factions like the Brotherhood of Steel? Every survivor will have to make that call individually. 

Fallout 76 is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. It's also included in Xbox Game Pass.

What you need to know

• During the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2024 presentation, Fallout 76 creative director Jon Rush showed up to thank players in Japan for their support. 
• Rush also confirmed that pets are finally coming to Fallout 76 later this year, with players being able to add cats and dogs to their camps. 
• More information is coming at a later date. 

It's raining cats and dogs in West Virginia. Or at least, it will be by the end of the year. 

Fallout 76 creative director Jon Rush showed up during the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2024 presentation to thank Japanese players for their support. Rush also confirmed the rumors, revealing that pets are being added to Fallout 76 at the end of the year. Right now, players can look forward to having cats and dogs at their C.A.M.P.s, which can then be interacted with in a number of ways. 

Rush notes that the team will have more to share on pets in Fallout 76 in the coming months before the feature arrives.

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Fallout 76 continues to grow

Fallout 76 first launched in 2018, and saying the game has come a long way since then feels like a ridiculous understatement.

Questlines with NPCs have been added across numerous expansions, including most recently through the addition of Milepost Zero, letting players escort Brahmin caravans in exchange for special rewards. As a result of all these additions, Fallout 76 has crossed over 20 million players since launch. 

The game is set to continue growing well into next year even beyond the addition of pets, as Bethesda Game Studios is working on an update that will allow players to play as Ghouls, an idea long-requested and only made even more must-have by the popularity of Walton Goggins' character in the excellent Fallout TV series on Prime Video, which currently has a second season in the works.

Fallout 76 is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. It's also included in Xbox Game Pass.

What you need to know

• Milepost Zero is the latest update for Fallout 76, bringing Legendary Crafting and more. 
• Milepost Zero is getting bigger with a new questline titled A Bump in the Road available now.
• A Bump in the Road lets players escort Brahmin caravans while recruiting new companions and building up their outpost, with special rewards depending on how dangerous the route is. 
• Fallout 76 is currently available on Xbox, Windows PC, and PlayStation. 

Who doesn't want to escort goods through the post-apocalypse?

Fallout 76: Milepost Zero is the latest big update for Bethesda Game Studios' Appalachian post-apocalyptic survival game, and it's getting even bigger. Bethesda shared a new trailer on Tuesday, showing off a questline called A Bump in the Road that's being added to the game. 

A Bump in the Road tasks players with escorting Brahmin caravans, defending the two-headed beasts of burden from raiders and Deathclaws alike. Successful missions means unique rewards, with players granted the ability to recruit others and upgrade their outpost. You can check out the trailer for a A Bump in the Road below:

These additions come on the back of Skyline Valley, a huge expansion to Fallout 76 that added a new region to explore, with plenty of new quests to undertake. Fallout 76 is continuing to grow in 2025, with the developers revealing that ghouls will be playable sometime early next year. Just be careful not to buy the (clearly mispriced) $2000 bundle right now.

Fallout 76 is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. Like other Xbox first-party games, it's also included in Xbox Game Pass.

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As Fallout 76 grows, the Fallout show wins Emmys

Fallout expanded into new forms of media earlier this year with the launch of the Fallout TV series Season 1, a joint venture from Bethesda Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, and Kilter Films that's available exclusively on Prime Video.

The series is off to a resounding start, earning critical acclaim, including from us here at Windows Central, and garnering several nominations at the 76th Emmys. While the series ended up losing to Shogun in most categories — which is completely fair, as Shogun is excellent and you should watch it if you haven't already — the Fallout TV series didn't walk away completely empty-handed, earning the Emmys for Outstanding Music Supervision and for Outstanding Emerging Media Program. 

A second season of the Fallout TV series is on the way, though it's not clear when players and fans should expect to see it arrive. 

It's not even Black Friday yet, and Bethesda has just dropped the hottest deal of the year for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. The General's Persona Bundle is now only $1,799—yes, that's a whopping $200 off!

Sure, at $1,799, you could buy a decent used car, but can that car impress your Fallout 76 friends with the rizz that a Revolutionary's General Uniform and 1000 Atoms in your pocket will bring? I don't think so. And don't get me started on the 3 repair kits, you're basically printing money here.

Perhaps Bethesda took a look at Diablo 4's microtransaction revenue and thought "Hold my beer". Well played Bethesda, well played.

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Support Bethesda’s "Bold" pricing strategy:

By purchasing this bundle, you're indirectly telling Bethesda, "Yes, we see your vision, and we’re here for it." Plus, it might be the closest you’ll get to feeling like you're directly funding the next expansion.

For your $1,999 (or $1,799 if you're a savvy Xbox Game Pass subscriber) you get: 

• 1000 Atoms (+500 Bonus Atoms): These are the in-game currency used to buy various cosmetics, Power Armor skins, and C.A.M.P. sets from the Atomic Shop. In Fallout 76, they go a long way in personalizing your post-apocalyptic experience.
• Revolutionary General’s Uniform: Dress the part of a true wasteland warrior. If you've ever wanted to look like a Revolutionary War general while exploring West Virginia's radiated wilderness, this one's for you.
• 3 Repair Kits: Repair your gear on the go—no need to run back to a workbench when you're in the middle of the heat. Convenience at its finest.
• 3 Scrap Kits: Automatically collect all nearby junk and send it to your stash without having to trek across the wasteland. This is especially handy for all you hardcore C.A.M.P. builders out there.
• Bragging rights: Let’s face it—if you walk into the wasteland wearing that Revolutionary General’s Uniform, your fellow Vault Dwellers will know you were bold enough to spend $1799 on a cosmetic. It’s the ultimate flex!

We are clearly joking, and this is just a misprice on the Xbox store right now. The bundle itself looks to actually be worth $9.99, as I've been digging around the interweb looking for when it was last available. Some fans have already joked that if they added 'Maxon's Battle Coat' (the leader of the Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout 4) to the bundle, it might actually be worth the asking price. 

What you need to know

• What do Diablo 4, World of Warcraft, and Sea of Thieves have in common? Well, a fair few things really. But the answer was pets. 
• You can tame creatures in Fallout 76, but they're not permanent, and can be inadvertently killed by all sorts of random things. 
• A recent datamine by SugarBombsRADS has discovered that Bethesda's more robust pet acquisition system is nearing completion. 
• Bethesda also teased allowing players to set up their very own trading caravan companies, too. 

Back in 2021, Bethesda and the team behind Fallout 76 teased a feature that has since largely been left by the wayside. Now, it seems that feature is making a comeback, and players will finally get some new companions for their wasteland adventures.

Fallout 76 is a multiplayer survival action RPG based on the popular Fallout franchise. A prequel of sorts, Fallout 76 showcases some of the earlier days of the nuclear apocalypse, with dwellers from Vault 76 emerging to an Appalachian wasteland beset by roaming mutants, psychotic raiders, and desperate survivors. The game was notoriously maligned at launch for its lack of polish, but it has found new life again after years of rigorous updates and improvements, buoyed by the excellent Fallout TV show. 

Fallout 76 recently picked up a major map expansion dubbed Skyline Valley, which introduced a range of new features, new story quests, boss battles, gear, and much more. But Bethesda and its Fallout 76 team is by no means finished there. 

Discovered by dataminer and Fallout 76 reporter SugarBombsRADS in the Fallout 76 Datamining Discord community, it seems that Bethesda's long-awaited revamped companion system might be nearing completion. The system was teased initially with its 2021 roadmap, with many of those promised features being largely AWOL since their announcement. The pandemic doubtless played a role in their delay, but with Fallout 76 getting renewed interest and funding after its resurgence this year, it seems many of those features are now back on the menu. 

The datamine showcases the skeletal framework of a new pet tutorial system. Bethesda teased C.A.M.P. pets previously, but so far we've only got a very rudimentary animal taming system, which lets you convert random mobs from the field into friendly NPCs that will wander around your base. Since they're mobs, they're also very based on mobs rules, and can die pretty easily to random hazards. Players have been asking for something a little more robust, given that pets and companions are standard fare for Fallout since its inception. Dogmeat has been famed since the very first Fallout game as the player character's canine companion, and Fallout 76 has oddly never had a system that really played into this aspect of the Fallout fantasy. Until now, it seems. 

The datamine also includes a range of pet-themed icons, suggesting this will be a far more intricate system than the basic taming systems available today. In addition, the same datamine suggests that new 4-star legendries are on the way. Up until now, players could only acquire 3-star legendries, despite the interface having accommodations for up to 5-star items. Naturally, a 4-star legendary would be potentially vastly more powerful, accommodating more unique gameplay-modifying affixes to weapons and armor. 

YouTuber DTDGamer also showcased a range of new items from the latest PTS update, including C.A.M.P. plans for building bases, and new armor sets, weapons, and more. 

Bethesda also recently teased plans to allow players to set up their own roaming trade caravans, as part of its PTS blog. On the blog, Bethesda discussed a new system for transporting legendary mods to other items more easily, as well as adding a new "like" system for player C.A.M.P. creations. The best C.A.M.P. sites will appear more broadly in other player's games to showcase the best creations. 

Fallout 76 is awesome

Available on Xbox Game Pass across both consoles, PC, and cloud, Fallout 76 has discovered a new lease of life thanks to the resurgence of the franchise. It couldn't have happened without the tireless efforts of the team working on the game, from Bethesda itself to partner studios like UK-based Double Eleven. 

Bethesda teased a wide variety of new features coming beyond Skyline Valley too, including playable ghouls, a first for the mainline franchise. Ghouls are a sort of irradiated human, with a zombie-like appearance. Some ghouls become totally feral and violent, losing their sanity and humanity. Others retain a high degree of intelligence, though. The Fallout TV show seems to be gradually introducing new lore to explain how ghouls work physiologically in the Fallout universe, so perhaps Fallout 76 will take that a little bit further, too. 

RELATED: Interview on the future of Fallout 76

The addition of pet companions will bring Fallout 76 a little bit closer to that traditional Fallout experience. It remains to be seen how much, if at all, they might be affected by player builds and perk cards, or if they're more of a cosmetic boon rather than a deep PvE one. Obviously, content datamined from the public test server (PTS) isn't necessarily guaranteed to launch, but since this was previously teased and is potentially entering fully fledged testing soon, I suspect we'll get an official announcement fairly soon. 

When I first started playing Fallout 76 in November 2018, I would never have believed I'd be here 6 years later, with the game about to embark on its 17th season of content. Fallout 76 has really risen from the ashes, or should that be the Ash Heap?...to become one of the best Xbox Game Pass games, and it's about to get even better with its first ever map expansion, Skyline Valley.

Skyline Valley, which will expand the map just at the Southern end of the Savage Divide, brings a bunch of new content to Fallout 76. From story quests, new enemies, events and more secrets to uncover about the residents of Appalachia. Last month, Zenimax and Bethesda were kind enough to invite me and some other outlets out to a preview event for the expansion. There was even a Jello cake!

We each had about an hour with the expansion, so this is a very rough first impression, but an impression nonetheless that's got me excited to jump back into the world of Fallout 76, which will never be the same. 

Red sky at night, Lost Dwellers delight

From the jump, the story of Skyline Valley grabs you by the jugular and makes you want to know more about what the heck is going down in Shenandoah National Park. The initial quest actually starts a little further out from the new area, over at Vault 63 in the Ash Heap. Previously inaccessible, its entrance is now entirely destroyed, and you'll be investigating why.

At this early point I was also introduced to the first new enemy type in Skyline Valley, the Lost Dwellers. These poor souls, wearing Vault 63 jumpsuits are Ghoulified and explode in a burst of electricity upon death. You're going to want to keep your distance. The Lost are rather similar to the Scorched, if anything just a tad more insane with their ramblings from the shadows. Skyline Valley as a whole is a lot darker in tone than anything else I've played in Fallout 76, from the characters to the area itself.

When the story quest points you in the direction of Skyline Valley, you'll travel down south of the map, to be greeted with a foreboding red sky, with clouds streaked with lightning and a feeling of "I shouldn't be here." Honestly, in my notes, I scribbled, "Am I playing Fallout or Dead Space?" The eerie lack of life and atmosphere of something gone terribly wrong is overwhelming, at least until you run into more Lost Dwellers and start fighting for your life again.

At the center of the mysterious storm is what appears to be the source of all this destruction. Dark Hollow Manor. An imposing mansion on the landscape your eye will immediately be drawn to, and you'll want to explore despite all common sense telling you to turn back and return to brighter skies. 

Without spoiling the story, there's more to discover behind Dark Hollow Manor, and a bunch of fascinating characters to meet as you solve the mystery of Vault 63 and it's dwellers involvement in this new area. The main quest giver being the enigmatic and ghoulified Hugo Stolz. Born blind, Stolz is the founder of CEO Stolz Enterprises and Overseer of Vault 63, and also electrified but has his wits about him. 

My main takeaway from the small part of the story I played through, was that the voice acting was impeccable. Of course with Fallout 76 being of a certain age, the engine doesn't allow for the depth of facial expression we're used to in more modern titles, but the voice acting for these characters does all the heavy lifting here. 

I looked forward to each conversation with Hugo Stolz, as he mused on his ghouled appearance during a conversation on the Ship of Theseus. An old tale that debates if a ship has each of its components replaced, is it the same ship? "If we were to change piece by piece, at what point do we become something brand new?" Stolz muses. Something players will get to experience in more detail when the ability to become a Ghoul becomes available in early 2025. The story is intriguing, and as told in our presentation, you'll be tasked with defending or betraying these new characters.

More quests, new enemies and public events

In addition to the new Skyline Valley area expansion, we can expect more side quest content, more rewards and terrifying creatures such as these demonic radioactive turkeys pictured above, the Thrasher as they are officially named. The first time I fought one of these, I didn't know whether to run or laugh; they are certainly different.

There's also a new public event, Dangerous Pastimes, in which you'll kill a bunch of Lost to charge up a Lightning Harvester and come up against 'Thunder' versions of creatures. One can only imagine what would happen if someone were to drop a nuke on the already storm-riddled Skyline Valley, something none of our group had the chance to test out, but I do know from others that have tried, that a new event appears 'Neurological Warfare.' Expect some giant Storm Goliath robots developed by the 'great minds of Vault 63' and lots of great loot.

The quest content we can expect from Skyline Valley is said to be equivalent to the size of Steel Dawn and Steel Reign combined, with 12 full quests in total. This includes new factions, new rewards, creatures, and the public event, as mentioned above. 

That's not all, there's more to come...

Skyline Valley isn't all we expect from Fallout 76 for this year, as we also got a sneak peek at a Milepost Zero event coming to the game in the Fall.

The Blue Ridge Caravan Company has been running routes around Skyline Drive and needs your help. You'll need to team up and protect the caravan of travelers and Brahmin from ambushes as they make their way to their destination. Successfully running missions for The Blue Ridge Caravan Company will unlock a caravan outpost. Besides Wasteland infamy, continued success allows you to expand your home, upgrade the decor, and even populate the space with special vendors from far away places. The developers likened this to how Skyrim houses work. You'll even get your own Brahmin, though it wasn't confirmed if you can milk them...

We'll also see the return of the Halloween event, Mischief Night, revamped and starting at the Rapidan Camp in the new Skyline Valley region.

Later in the day, I got to chat with Bill Lacoste (lead producer) and Jon Rush (creative director) and asked if they planned more expansions of this nature in the future:

"Maybe. We've definitely talked about it. The map for the region is kind of surrounded by a big skirt that could facilitate that. If there were room for updates similar to this that supported telling and continuing the story of Appalachia, right to our players, and at the same time allowing them to continue telling their own stories, then then yeah, it's certainly considered."

A bright future for Fallout 76 

I found the inclusion of the Ship of Theseus paradox amusing in more ways than one, not only in reference to the Ghoulification of humans in this tale, but perhaps an unintentional nod to Fallout 76 itself, as the game is certainly a different beast today than it was at launch.

While I only saw glimpses of Skyline Valley, it left me with a distinct impression of a bright future for Fallout 76. The game may be experiencing a resurgence in players right now due to the success of the show, but this expansion will be integral to keeping that momentum going, and I got a distinct impression from my time at Zenimax that there is SO much more to come — least of all the teaser we got at the Xbox Games Showcase of the new Ghoul player type coming in 2025.

I can't wait to jump back into Skyline Valley as it drops today, continue the story, and see where it takes me. 

At the Xbox Games Showcase 2024, we got a glimpse at the future of Fallout 76. 

Fallout 76 has found a renewed surge in popularity since the Fallout TV show blew up. Players are discovering that the game has been massively reworked since its inception, which launched to a barrage of negativity owing to bugs, a lack of traditional Bethesda storytelling, among other things. Fast forward to 2024, and things are very different. 

Fallout 76 will get a big map expansion this summer in the form of Skyline Valley, and Bethesda even teased that for the first time in the series, players will be able to play as a ghoul. Super mutants next?! 

Recently, we were joined by art director Jonathan Rush at an event in London and executive producer Bill Lacoste to discuss the past, present, and future of all things Fallout 76. 

First of all, congrats on the huge influx of new players and the resurgence! I am someone who played and enjoyed the game on day one, although I dropped off during the first round of endgame content. It turns out I missed out on A LOT of stuff. After all these years, I was excited to return after falling back in love with Fallout thanks to the TV show, and was delighted to see how much the game had changed for the better. It's no secret that the game was controversial at launch. How has the road to get here been?

First off, welcome back to Appalachia! You have missed a lot, but you’re here now and that is what is important! We hope you’re just as excited about Skyline Valley as we are. 

As with most projects there are always challenges to overcome, especially post-launch, but for Fallout 76 we always planned to continue to update and grow the game. The keys for us were listening to the community to help us decide what to prioritize and the types of new content they wanted and then being consistent and reliable in those updates. For the last 34 updates, 17 major ones, since Wastelanders, we have not missed a single release date.

Fallout 76 has a huge update planned for the near future. What can new, returning, and veteran players expect to find from this new experience?

Well, the biggest feature of this update is that we’ve expanded the map into Shenandoah National Park. Something we have never done in 76, and it’s exciting! There’s something for everyone in this new region. Players are going to be introduced to a brand-new branching storyline involving Vault 63 as well as get a new event, a new boss event, new points of interest to explore, more side quests, and even a host of new C.A.M.P. spots with some very rich vistas. They’re also going to get our commitment to adding even more content to this area in the future. 

What's the update's approach to story telling this time around? Wastelanders offers some great classic Fallout choice-and-consequences gameplay, should we expect more of that with Skyline Valley?

Well, ever since we started the re-settling of Appalachia, we introduced a bunch of new factions, new leaders, new locations, and new characters which offer a wide range of interactions. With Skyline Valley, you’re going to get more of that, but our new mainline quest does bring some new elements to the traditional arc, but you’re going to have to play it to experience it!

Can you jump straight into the Skyline Valley content as a new player?

When you come out of the Vault, if you're looking out, you don't really see the Storm as a new player. You don't really see that until you get part of the way through Ash Heap, kind of. And then that's when it kind of starts to draw your attention. Because if you were fresh out of the Vault and you saw it, you've got all this other stuff, and you just go straight to it. But we've kind of set it up so that if someone comes out of the Vault, they see they see the First Responders smoke coming up, and know that that's kind of where they're going. But yeah, if somebody knew about it, wanted to bee line straight there, they could. 

Rush: I think maybe level 25 is the minimum and that's because that's when the the request is automatically added to your journal and radio channel. 25 will probably be the minimum to start the quest. You can still go out there and do stuff around there [at any level].

 Could we eventually see mod support for Fallout 76?

We've never really like, "pushed back" on players who add UI mods and things like that. But any other mods where you would expect to have like a script extender that you often need for single-player games — that won't happen with Fallout 76. Being online, we have to protect the integrity of the game to make sure the players aren't injecting code and destroying the balance of the game in some way, shape, or form. 

Taking public teams, for example, we wanted to make sure that players' mods weren't affected by some of those new features that came in. Even though we don't officially support mods, we're still aware of mods that players are using for UI things. So ultimately what we gave them with the loadouts system and the job board, they had already kind of started to appear in the modding community. They had a way for them to be able to select different load-outs and actually change the parts on the fly. But we kind of gave them that in the game, which is better supported. We did this because if we do any updates, it kind of guarantees that the features will continue to work. But yeah, we don't officially support mods for a lot of different reasons. We try not to break the UI mods, but sometimes it's necessary. 

Why did you guys decide to go with a map expansion for the new update, rather than an instanced expedition like Atlantic City and The Pitt?

A lot of it was just based on something we’ve wanted to do for a long time. We built out The Pitt and Atlantic City for specific players and play types, and those spaces have been super successful. But we felt like it’s time to introduce something new and this space hits all the beats we’re looking for post-launch of the TV show. The space is accessible for new players, which we have a lot of these days, provides a new space to build C.A.M.P.s in, and as I noted earlier brings in new events, random encounters, and an amazing new storyline surrounding The Lost.

Could we see more expeditions in the future, perhaps to other fan-favorite locations like the Capital Wasteland?

Always a possibility, for sure ...

There were some cosmetics to honor the TV show connection, but a lot of fans are wondering if there are plans to more deeply explore how Fallout 76 could tie into the TV show. Is that something you guys discuss? 

We discuss everything, and while we don’t currently have any plans right now to explore that, I don’t think we ever say anything is off the table. However, I feel like the TV show is a great expansion of the universe, and the overall story, has amazing characters, and I kind of like the separation in the timeline between 76 and the show.

While there are many new players discovering the game for the first time, there's also a sizeable community of veterans who have stuck by throughout. What are some of their biggest points of feedback you wish to address in the future?

Oh, I could spend all day on this because we have such a dedicated and passionate community, but we’re addressing one of those big ones with this update of Skyline Valley by expanding the map. This has been a request for a long time, and we have also wanted this.

Aside from that, there are several legacy systems that need some love. We have combat rebalancing to do, which is also part of this new update, and even screens like the workshop menu have become overloaded and hard to navigate, so we’ll continue to explore changes to things like this going forward.

One thing I've noticed is some contention over weapon balance. How does the team approach balance in general?

Absolutely. Our approach involves constantly looking at weapon/armor/power armor and mods balancing, and we’ll continue efforts to bring many of the underpowered items in line as best as we can with the others. We really want to see a variety of builds, loadouts, and playstyles, and we don’t ever want to force players down a limited number of paths because they’re the only viable ones.

One thing I get asked about A LOT when I'm trying to convince my friends to play is that of cross-play and cross-save progression. A lot of people I know would love to take their save files from Xbox to their Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally, for example. Is cross-play, or cross-save something that is possible for Fallout 76?

Anything is possible! However, for 76 this is a very heavy technical lift because you’re talking about having to adjust for different platform accounts, Atom purchases, platform specific social systems, and other entitlements, and we feel the time/effort is best spent on content. I won’t ever say it’s off the table, but this is one of those features that is very complex to add later.

I subscribed to Fallout 1st to check it out, but I was hoping that the Fallout 1st private realm would be dedicated and always online, similar to Minecraft Realms. Would you guys ever consider letting people rent a permanent dedicated server so friends can build up their own wasteland even when the "host" isn't online? 

Always online is not something we’ve discussed in depth, so there are no plans right now to add that kind of support.

I've seen a lot of chatter among the community about bringing back the Nuclear Winter PvP feature. Is that something that could ever happen?

It's not 100% off the table, but the engagement is much, much higher on the other game modes, and we went through an extensive sunsetting exercise to get all the rewards moved over to Adventure Mode. It’s currently not on the roadmap to bring back.

Finally, just wanted to thank you guys again for fielding my questions, and for your continued hard work on Fallout 76. Is there anything you'd like to add for the wider Fallout 76 community?

Of course! This is one of my favorite topics to talk about. We have the absolute best community. Our players, content creators, streamers, and influencers are, hands down, THE best. The passion that they bring to the game is just not something you see in many games these days. So, from our team to you all in the community...thank you for everything. The fact you choose to spend your valuable time playing 76, giving us feedback, asking for new features, and creating content for all the other players means a lot. You’re amazing, and we can’t wait to show you what we have cookin’ for you in the future.

A big thank you to the Fallout 76 team for joining us

Fallout 76's Skyline Valley update is the first map expansion we've seen hit the game, which should offer a glimpse at how Bethesda is thinking about future content for the game moving forward. 

Playing through Wastelanders for the first time since the game launched, Fallout 76 is almost like a completely different game for me. I started a new character after playing the base game when it launched for several hundred hours before finally giving up somewhere in the endgame. The way the game works now is far more rewarding, and the vast majority of story content that offers that true Fallout feel makes the game more infectious than ever. 

Fallout 76 is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Xbox Game Pass, and is well worth checking out whether you're completely new or a lapsed player. The big Skyline Valley update is dropping on June 12, 2024. 

What you need to know

• Ghoul player characters are coming to Fallout 76.
• Players will unlock the ability to Ghoulify themselves from level 50. 
• The update will be available in early 2025.
• The Skyline Valley map expansion also got a new trailer and will launch on 12 June 2024. 

Years of continuous nuclear bombardment has taken their toll on our great adventurers in Fallout 76, and they will soon have the option to play as a Ghoul. Announced at today's Xbox Showcase, Bethesda revealed this exciting new way to play in Appalachia — launching in early 2025. Skyline Valley, the game's first ever map expansion, is also coming on12 June, we have a full trailer here:

What does this mean?

The ability to play as a Ghoul will unlock at level 50, in which the player will be presented with a quest to kick off the process. Those of us who are a little more...attached to our smooth skin avatars may wonder, why would I want to turn into a Ghoul? As part of the update, the team has made an effort to incentivize the player to want to get Ghoulified.

Should they choose to become ghouls, they're granted innate abilities such as unique radiation benefits to a players advantage. Additionally Ghouls will be able to customize their experience in Fallout 76 with dozens new of ghoul-specific PERK points.

You can tailor your Ghoul's look, but be warned, it will affect your interactions with certain factions. If you don't like your new found Ghoul lifestyle, you'll be about to change back. More details about this will be provided closer to the launch. 

Get ready for 1000's of Cooper Howards

I'm sure this news will be met with much excitement from game and tv show fans alike, as we've already seen a bunch of people recreating Cooper Howard, the Fallout TV show's Ghoul, in Fallout 4. Ghoul fever has swept the gaming community, even leading our own Richard Devine to write an investigation into why Ghouls have no noses. I expect when this update drops we'll see a lot of Appalachia cowboy Ghouls, and frankly I can't wait.

It's not clear if this Ghoul update was always planned or a result of the show's popularity. Still, recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Zenimax and chatting to the developers about Fallout 76 and its upcoming map expansion, Skyline Valley. During my time with the developers, I mentioned the show "making Ghouls cool," to which they said, "They've always been cool! And that's probably why they chose to put them in the show."

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the best value offer in gaming, even at its normal price of $16.99 a month. For that price you can play all of Xbox first party titles on day one, like Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2. Of course, it gets even cheaper if you buy 3, 6, or 12 months in one go, but to make it an even tastier deal right now, Target have knocked the price of the 3 month subscription of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate down to $34.99. This can be stacked and added on to your existing subscription to save some cash, or be a great introduction into the huge library of Xbox Game Pass games.

More great gaming deals

• Xbox Stereo Headset | was $59.99 now $35.99 at Verizon
• Xbox Series X|S Controller (White) | was $59.99 now $35.99 at Verizon
• Xbox Series X|S Controller (Pulse Red) | was $64.99 now $38.99 at Verizon
• Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 | was $179.99 now $107.99 at Verizon
• Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max  | was $179.99 now $149.99 at Best Buy
• Corsair T1 Race Gaming Chair | was $369 now $184.99 at Corsair
• Xbox Series S 1TB Carbon Black | was $349.99 now $299.99 at Dell

Is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate worth it?

While the thought of yet another subscription service can be tiring, I can say without a doubt that if I had to choose the best value one I have, it would be Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. If you are even moderately into gaming, you'll know it's expensive to want to play all of the latest titles, as well as classics that may be experiencing a current upsurge in popularity, like Fallout 76. In fact, let's do a little math. If you want to play Fallout 76 ($39.99), Hellblade 2 ($49.99), and Diablo 4 ($34.99 on sale right now), those games would cost you a total of around $124.97.

Why pay that when you can get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate instead and have access to all of those games and hundreds for $34.99 for three months? The best part is that for those who like to own their games, you can buy at a discount as an Xbox Game Pass subscriber. You also get access to other perks such as EA Play and the use of Xbox Cloud Gaming, something I use all the time to play Fallout 76 on my Logitech G Cloud. 

Considering Xbox Live Gold retails for $9.99, you're essentially getting Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for a few cents if you already want Xbox Live Gold and take advantage of the current Target deal. I often see deals like that one that are stipulated for new subscribers only, but thankfully, this deal is for everyone, new and existing. 

What you need to know

• Xbox has had its share of bad news recently.
• Yesterday, Xbox closed four studios: Arkane Austin, Alpha Dog Games, and Tango Gameworks.
• Roundhouse Studios and some members of Arkane were folded into other studios.
• Many thought a player nuked Phil Spencer in Fallout 76 in retaliation.

The news surrounding Xbox has been gloomy recently. There have been numerous studio closures, exclusive games captained to other platforms, rumored and looming Game Pass price increases, and potentially more cuts on the horizon. So much talent was lost in the blink of an eye.

Microsoft seems to have been relatively quiet lately, failing to keep up with the hype train. Despite the impending release of Hellblade 2, their advertising efforts have been absent. Their marketing strategy, in general, has been lackluster at best. To make things worse, they launched a new controller on the same day as the layoffs, accompanied by the tagline "Feel the burn." Yikes. Needless to say, it's been challenging to be an Xbox fan as of late.

So, who do we take our frustration out on?

That someone, at least on the surface, was Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft's Xbox division (and the one many blame these days for those layoffs and studio closures). Having come across him in the hills of West Virginia, an X user named real1090jake has claimed he nuked Phil's C.A.M.P. site. After attempting some PvP, which Spencer supposedly declined, the player decided to take matters into his own hands. It's a lesson for all of us: nuking some companies means getting nuked yourself. 

In an interview with Kotaku, Jake said, "It's not much to it. I've planned to catch him for a while now to see if he would agree to a fight. Trying to take him down was just a personal goal for me after I finished the main quest line." He continued, stating this didn't have anything to do with the recent layoffs, "I joked about attacking him because he hurt our feelings...[but] it's been my mission weeks before."

To verify, he shared some more screenshots with Kotaku. "He was the final boss in my eyes. In an RPG, I prefer to be the bad guy." Me too, Jake, me too!

So, how could Phil have prevented this? By hiding is C.A.M.P., of course! It's straightforward to do as well. All players need to do is:

• Open the map.
• Hover over your C.A.M.P. icon.
• Select the icon
• Select "Public Map Icon: Off."

That's it! Now, you won't get nuked unless someone manages to find your C.A.M.P. through sheer luck! 

Do you have any tips for our dearly departed Phil Spencer? Perhaps you have some "gamer" moments you want to share yourself? Let us know in the comments, on social media, or by emailing me yourself! As always, happy gaming!

What you need to know

• A new patch for Fallout 76, Update Version 1.7.11.12, has been released and is available to download now on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation.
• The update fixes a ton of various bugs, including one with one of the best weapons from the Atlantic City Expedition: the Cremator. There was an issue with its explosion damage calculation causing it to be overly powerful, and the resolution of it has technically nerfed the fiery heavy weapon.
• However, Bethesda has buffed the Cremator in other ways to compensate for this, making its fire damage-over-time (DOT) "a force to be reckoned with."
• The patch has also implemented some nice quality-of-life changes, and has made it possible for seasonal event crafting recipe duplicates to drop so that players can then trade with their fellow Vault dwellers. For the full patch notes, read on.

On the heels of last week's controversial next-gen update for Fallout 4, Fallout 76 — Bethesda's MMO-style multiplayer take on the post-apocalyptic RPG series — has received a new patch that should actually make players pretty happy. It's available to install now on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Steam, and the Microsoft Store, and requires 23.1GB of storage on Xbox, 12.1GB on Steam, 19.8GB on the Microsoft Store, and 19.2GB on PlayStation.

The update largely consists of important bug fixes, including some major ones that take care of issues that were making it impossible for players to complete Atlantic City quests such as Sins of the Father, Buried Treasure, and Honor Bound. Notably, one such fix resolved an explosion damage calculation issue that was making the Cremator — a powerful heavy weapon that shoots explosive fireballs, and one of the best new weapons from March's Atlantic City - America's Playground update — "stronger than we [Bethesda] intended," nerfing the effectiveness of its burst damage.

Players with builds designed to make the most of the Cremator's bugged explosive power will no doubt be sad about this news, though the weapon should still be very strong since Bethesda has also "made multiple tweaks and changes to buff it in different ways." The developer didn't really go into specifics in the patch notes, but just know that the Cremator's fire damage-over-time (DOT) "should be a force to be reckoned with."

The patch also made a huge update to the way Fallout 76 handles seasonal event crafting recipes and some of their items. Previously, these wouldn't drop anymore after you got them once and couldn't be shared with other players, but now you can get duplicates and trade them to your fellow Vault dwellers. This should make it much easier to get your hands on recipes you're looking for for your builds, and also allows veteran players to help new ones with their unlock progression.

Some other quality-of-life additions in the update include a new "max" option you can select while buying or selling items to vendors, alphabetical World Activity sorting, a smoother inventory scrollbar, and an "ammo per shot" stat for weapons that shows how much ammo you'll consume each time you fire them. For the full patch notes, make sure you check out the section below.

Overall, this is a great update for Fallout 76, which has been thriving recently thanks to a Fallout player count resurgence brought about by the widely loved Fallout TV show. It's latest content addition was Atlantic City - America's Playground, a follow-up to Atlantic City - Boardwalk Paradise that takes players to the post-apocalyptic remains of Atlantic City and introduces the Russos, a family of peculiar mobsters that is, frankly, kind of a hot mess. The game itself is available for $40, though it's also playable on Xbox and PC with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Fallout 76 Update Version 1.7.11.12: Patch notes

Here are the complete patch notes for Update Version 1.7.11.12, taken directly from an article on Bethesda's website.

UPDATE VERSION 1.7.11.12 & SIZES

Check the download sizes below for today’s update on your platform of choice:

• PC (Steam): 12.1 GB
• PC (Microsoft Store): 19.8 GB
• Xbox: 23.1 GB
• PlayStation: 19.2 GB

BUG FIXES

• Fixed an issue that caused Power Armor to be listed in English instead of the correct localized language
• Fixed an issue where the Garrahan Mining Poster was not present at the Rusty Pick or Camden Park
• Opportunity Knocking: Fixed an issue which could cause the quest to disappear after relogging.
• Deep Space Alien Jetpack is now properly craftable for T51 Power Armor
• Sins of the Father: Fixed an issue which would block the quest if a dialogue scene between Abbie and Antonio was exited during a specific part of the conversation.
• Fixed an issue where the Cremator was not listed at Legendary Exchange Machines
• Fixed an issue where the player could ask Abbie Russo a question about Vin that did not properly reflect the final outcomes of Sins of the Father.
• Players who previously unlocked them should now be able to craft the Poker & BlackJack Tables
• Sins of the Father: Fixed an issue which could prevent Antonio from speaking to the player.
• Brahmin Flour Billboards should now be craftable and have the right materials
• Rustic Helvetian Camp Kit has had the expected walls and windows added to it.
• The Favorites menu hotkeys are now usable while the wheel is visible.
• Fixed an issue where gold bullion vendors Regs and Smiley were not enabled for some players who completed Secrets Revealed.
• Tesla Rifles will now drop correctly from the Battle Bot Event
• Father Winter Helmet should now have T-45 standard Stats, Description, Weight, and Levels should be standardized now.
• Fancy Revolver should now properly display its unique fancy skin
• Fixed an issue where Small Presents were not dropping contextual ammo
• Fixed weather stations not being able to be placed in a camp workshop located very close to a public workshop.
• Fixed modern home kitchen sink not being able to snap to other modern home items on a foundation
• Secrets Revealed: Fixed an issue where Meg, Gail, Ra-Ra, Johnny, and Lou could be missing from the Crater Core after the completion of the quest.
• Lights now function properly on the Devils Wings Jetpack
• Pollinators no longer receive the Group Heal Regeneration effect in Daily Ops
• Fixed several paints that were no longer updating the dynamic name of modified Power Armor pieces.
• Speculative fix for items in the Cryo-freezer randomly selling for 0 caps in the vendor.
• Big Boss Advertisement Poster no longer turns into a Mothman poster when broken.
• Fire Rate now shows increase/decrease arrows when comparing potential mods to what players have currently equipped.
• Story Time now properly removes itself from the PipBoy if you kill Miss Nanny.
• Fixed an issue with Buried Treasure not properly completing.
• Players are no longer blocked from completing Honor Bound if they exit the conversation with Vin and Gene.
• Scrolling the mouse-wheel down now properly shrinks selected body parts in the character generator.

QUALITY OF LIFE UPDATES

• Added a Max option when buying from and selling to NPCs
• World Activity list now sorts alphabetically
• Improved behavior of the inventory scrollbar
• Added a new “Ammo Per Shot” stat entry to weapons

WEAPONS

• Made several adjustments to the Cremator and its mods
  • Dev Note: The Cremator released with a bug that made it stronger than we intended it to be due to the way damage was calculated with its explosion. Players who had certain perks and mods on it did much higher damage than intended. We’ve fixed that bug, which has decreased the damage for that specific setup, but we made multiple tweaks and changes to buff it in different ways. Now, the Damage Over Time (DoT) should be a force to be reckoned with.

SEASONAL EVENTS

• Recipes and some items dropped by these events will continue to drop after you have learned them. These items are now also tradeable to help you get all the plans you want!

What you need to know

• Interest in the Fallout franchise is at an all-time high following the release of the Fallout TV show.
• Bethesda has not released a new Fallout game in over five years, and there isn't one on the horizon.
• A creator made a Fallout-inspired RPG that lives entirely within a Microsoft Excel document.

The Fallout TV series has made fans have to check their calendars, and not just to see if canon lines up. In the aftermath of the popular television show's first season, Fallout titles sprinkle the top-seller charts. The nine-year-old Fallout 4 reached 160,000 concurrent players on Steam, and Fallout 76 hit a new all-time high concurrent player count on Steam. With Fallout fervor being higher than any time in recent memory, one person legend decided to step up in place of Bethesda.

It's been over five years since we saw a new Fallout game. That's far too long, said YouTuber Dynamic Pear. The creator decided to take things into their own hands and make a Fallout-inspired RPG game entirely within Microsoft Excel.

The game isn't exactly a Fallout 3 remaster or a new AAA title, but it's certainly entertaining. Dynamic Pearl's creation includes a map you can navigate using Excel. Despite living with a piece of spreadsheet software, the game includes quests, battling, and skilling.

"Battling is the meat and bones of this game and involves D&D style mechanics of initiative, AC, range, and movement," said Dynamic Pearl. "Battling is the only way to level up your character, get more skills and fight harder and progressively scale enemies."

The game is available now and can be downloaded through a link provided by Dynamic Pear.

We need more Fallout

The Fallout franchise has had a passionate fanbase for years, but that base is now larger than ever due to the popularity of the TV show. Bethesda failed to capitalize on this fact. There hasn't been a new Fallout game in over five years, and there aren't any new Fallout titles on the horizon. There are some rumors of a Fallout 3 remaster, but Bethesda has made it clear that it won't work on a new Fallout game until after Elder Scrolls 6 ships.

Our Managing Editor Richard Devine explained the mistakes of Bethesda well:

"I think Xbox, now the Overseer of the Fallout universe, and indeed Bethesda, has been a little short-sighted here. It never took a genius to see that the show would have some kind of impact on the games, after all, we've already seen it happen with The Last of Us. Fallout is bigger than that, it has a wider fan base and a much bigger world to explore. The show first became a reality back in 2020, four years ago. 

In those years since, how did nobody think about commissioning a new game, a remake, or another New Vegas style spinoff? Fallout 76 being a live service game at least gives it some legs to keep going, but even in the world of making video games, four years is a long time. Could the original games have been remade in that time? Could Fallout 3 and New Vegas have been given a modern overhaul? Surely something could have been planned?"

Without a new Fallout game, people have had to resort to Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to get their fix. At least they can look at the game through a pair of GUNNAR Fallout Vault 33 glasses.

What you need to know

• The Fallout series has experienced a continuing influx of players, both new and returning, following the successful TV show adaptation by Prime Video.
• Today, the Fallout social media account on Twitter shared that nearly five million players had left the Vault and sought adventure across all Fallout titles.
• Fallout 76 alone recorded more than one million players in the Appalachian wasteland today.

If there's one thing we love in Appalachia, it's a good old-fashioned revival. Today, Bethesda is witnessing a Fallout revival that many studios could only dream of, following a TV or movie adaptation of a video game. The official Twitter account for Fallout shared a post declaring that more than one million adventurers had stepped into the Appalachian wasteland of Fallout 76 today. Those players joined even more across the series, for a grand total of nearly five million active players in a Fallout title in a single day.

According to player tracking service, SteamDB.info, Fallout 76 has experienced a 476% gain in active players over the last 30 days. The open-world multiplayer RPG set in the Appalachian mountains has set new records for peak player counts, tipping the scales with a new all-time peak player count earlier this week when 73,368 Vault Dwellers stepped into the wasteland. 

2015's Fallout 4 has also seen a significant increase in player numbers, breaking into the top 10 most-played games on SteamDB with a 538% gain in player numbers in the last 30 days. Fallout 4 will receive a next-gen update this week, adding bug fixes and current-gen features such as support for ultrawide monitors and Steam Deck verification.

The influx of new and returning players to the Fallout series is due in no small part to the success of the Fallout TV show adaptation that aired on Prime Video on April 11. Marketing around the series included a slew of free offerings and expanded availability. Entries from the Fallout series were added to cloud streaming services from NVIDIA and Amazon, in addition to being readily available on Xbox Game Pass on PC, console, and the cloud. 

SteamDB.info's statistics for player counts help provide a snapshot into player numbers on Steam, but it cannot add player counts from cloud and console platforms outside of Steam. Acknowledgments of player counts from Bethesda are rare, and the company typically keeps the number of subscribers and players on Xbox-owned properties close to the chest.

Amazon has already renewed Prime Video's Fallout TV adaptation for a second season, which may pose a potential problem for Xbox and Bethesda. There doesn't appear to be any new content or games in the series coming anytime soon that can capitalize on the promotional boon generated by a successful adaptation. 

What you need to know

• Fallout mania continues into a new week, with Fallout 4 continuing to rise in concurrent player count on Steam. 
• Over the weekend, Fallout 76 hit a new all-time high concurrent player count, over five years after it first launched. 
• The trouble is that there's nothing new on the horizon for a long time, so could Xbox have been a little more forward-thinking and got Bethesda (or maybe Obsidian?) working on something?

As I write this, it's been a mere 11 days since the Fallout Prime Video show debuted its first season, and it has been a whirlwind since. Many of us have now finished its eight episode run and been captivated by it, and the knock on effects are significant. 

Amazon has already confirmed Fallout Season 2, along with declaring it as one of the platform's top three watched shows of all time. The games, too, are experiencing a serious resurgence, with all titles on all platforms seeing crazy numbers given the age of the games. 

This hasn't slowed down into another weekend, either. Fallout 4 continues to rise in its concurrent player count on Steam, topping out at over 160,000, and coming only behind Helldivers 2 at that moment for a premium (aka, paid) game on the platform. Let's also not forget that last week, Fallout 4 was the best-selling game in Europe.  

Not only that, but Fallout 76 has, this past weekend, hit a new all-time high concurrent player count on Steam, with the always-online title topping 73,000 players. These would be numbers a brand-new title could be proud of, let alone ones released several years ago. Fallout 4 is almost nine-years-old.

This is great news for Xbox and Bethesda, it's great news for the wider Fallout franchise as a whole, including the show. The trouble is that if you look at the bigger picture, this all highlights one major, glaring issue that Xbox now has. 

Anything new from Fallout is a LONG way off

Fallout now has an entirely new legion of fans. Of those skyrocketing numbers, it's of no doubt there is a substantial number of folks going back into the games. I class myself in that, as I've played most of the Fallout games for a little while, but never really stuck with them. The show has ignited a fire inside, and I'm going back in. 

But, while the long-term fans might be happy, the fact there's nothing new on the horizon either for those people, or, more importantly, the new fans, well that's a problem. The Fallout franchise has a ton of content to play through, but let's be real, a new Fallout game is a long, long ways off. Bethesda has already said that it won't be working on it until after Elder Scrolls 6 ships, which means we'll be seeing season two of the show, maybe even three and four (if they get commissioned) before we'll see a new mainline Fallout game. 

I think Xbox, now the Overseer of the Fallout universe, and indeed Bethesda, has been a little short-sighted here. It never took a genius to see that the show would have some kind of impact on the games, after all, we've already seen it happen with The Last of Us. Fallout is bigger than that, it has a wider fan base and a much bigger world to explore. The show first became a reality back in 2020, four years ago. 

In those years since, how did nobody think about commissioning a new game, a remake, or another New Vegas style spinoff? Fallout 76 being a live service game at least gives it some legs to keep going, but even in the world of making video games, four years is a long time. Could the original games have been remade in that time? Could Fallout 3 and New Vegas have been given a modern overhaul? Surely something could have been planned? 

Of course, I'm just a gamer and reinvigorated Fallout fan thinking out loud here, not the head of a massive company like Microsoft. I just can't quite understand why there wasn't a little more forward-thinking here to capitalize on the inevitable success of the show for fans, both new and old. 

As it stands, the next thing we have to look forward to is indeed another season of the show, and hopefully further seasons after that. As it already looks like New Vegas will be a part of its return to the screen, it's hard to see anything other than another massive success. 

On the gaming side, though, the horizon is much like the Wasteland. Unpredictable, and at times, empty. We do, of course, have the Fallout 4 current-gen upgrade happening this week on April 25 on PC and console, so that'll be something to enjoy. There's also the massive Fallout: London mod in the works, too. Mods are fun and add plenty of replayability into the franchise, but really, it shouldn't be all on the community to keep folks hanging around. Definitely not when it comes to newer, perhaps more casual players. 

A big part of me hopes something has been secretly worked on and kept quiet until show season later this year, but I'm also not holding my breath. I really think Xbox and Bethesda have missed a trick here. 

What you need to know

• Following up the huge marketing push from Amazon around the new Fallout show on Prime Video, Fallout 76 can be claimed for free. 
• It's available for both Xbox and PC (Microsoft Store) until May 15. 
• The only catch is that you need an Amazon Prime subscription, but you can claim both versions from the same account. 

If you just can't get enough Fallout, having binged the new Prime Video series, there's good news! The newest game in the franchise, the always online Fallout 76 is currently available for free on Xbox and PC thanks to Amazon Prime Gaming. 

In not unsurprising news, it's the Microsoft Store version of Fallout 76, not Steam, but Prime subscribers can claim both until May 15. 

Here's how. 

• Go to https://gaming.amazon.com/home in your browser.
• Sign in with your Amazon account. 
• Click Claim under the version of Fallout 76 you want to add to your account.  

From here, you're given a Microsoft Store code for either the Xbox or PC version of Fallout 76. You can then copy this code and use either the Microsoft Store app or Xbox app on Windows to redeem. Or you can manually enter it on your Xbox console, but the first method is definitely more convenient! 

It's not the only free stuff relating to Fallout you can get right now from either Microsoft or Amazon. Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel is also free right now with Prime Gaming. 

And once you have your free copy of Fallout 76, if you have Game Pass Ultimate or you subscribe to a Twitch streamer playing the game, you can snag yourself a goodie pack containing Lucy's backpack from the show. 

The launch of the show (and you can read our spoiler-free Fallout season 1 review if you haven't seen it yet) has definitely had a positive impact on the games. Even Fallout 76 is over 5 years old at this point, but player counts for it, and previous Fallout games in the franchise have exploded since the launch of the Prime Video series. There's never been a better time to jump in and see what all the fuss is about!

The new Fallout series on Prime Video is an absolute smash, introducing us to Lucy, the latest Vault Dweller to emerge into the Wasteland. If you haven't seen it yet, you can check out our spoiler-free Fallout Season 1 review, but I definitely recommend it. 

One of the items in the show, however, is proving quite popular; Lucy's backpack. The Vault 33 bag she takes to the surface has an already iconic design, and very soon we'll be able to buy a real-life replica of it. But it's also been added to Fallout 76, the most recent title in the series, and it's pretty easy to get your hands on. But not free. 

Here's how you can dress up your own Vault Dweller like Lucy. 

How to get Lucy's backpack in Fallout 76 on Xbox and PC with Game Pass

If you're a subscriber to Game Pass Ultimate, you'll be able to acquire Lucy's backpack and some other goodies for no additional charge. It's one of the current Game Pass perks, and it's only available until May 18, 2024. So don't sleep on it for too long. 

To get it for yourself on Xbox, follow these steps. 

• Turn on your Xbox console. 
• Select the Game Pass section at the top of the dashboard. 
• Select Perks. 
• Redeem the Fallout 76 (console) Vault 33 Survival Kit and follow the prompts to apply the code to your account. 

You can claim the PC version here, too, but are unable to redeem the code to add it to your account. PC players are better following the steps below, which can also be used to claim the console version if you wish. 

• Launch the Xbox app on your PC. 
• Select Game Pass from the sidebar. 
• Select Perks. 
• Redeem the Fallout 76 (PC) Vault 33 Survival Kit and follow the prompts to apply the code to your account. 

The Vault 33 Survival Kit also includes three Perk Card packs, three Supply Packages, three Score Boosters, three Carry Weight Boosters, three Repair Kits, and three Lunchboxes. 

This of course only applies to the Xbox console and Microsoft Store versions of the game, however, comments on Reddit have suggested that you can still claim through Game Pass for PC if you have the game on Steam and have it transferred across if you have the necessary accounts linked up. I'm unable to check this personally, to verify. 

How to claim Lucy's backpack in Fallout 76 through Twitch

If you're not a Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, don't panic, you can still get your hands on Lucy's backpack. If you have a Twitch account, you can acquire it simply by subscribing to your favorite streaming that's playing Fallout 76 at the time. From Bethesda: 

“If you aren’t a Game Pass Ultimate member but have your eye on that Vault 33 Backpack, you can still get it. From 12PM ET on April 12 until 2:59PM ET on April 23, subscribe to any Fallout 76 Twitch streamer’s channel and get the backpack for free. Just make sure that your chosen streamer is streaming Fallout 76 on Twitch at the same time that you subscribe.”

You have a little less time to get your hands on it through Twitch, and, of course, the cost of a subscription. As I mentioned earlier, it's not free. Comments on Reddit also suggest that Amazon Prime subscriptions don't work for this. 

So that's how you get Lucy's backpack in Fallout 76, but it's not the only piece of show flair that's hitting the game. Until May 7, 2024 you can claim a Vault 33 jumpsuit for free from the Atomic Shop, which is much easier. 

Go forth in style, Vault Dwellers! 

What you need to know

• Fallout is a video game franchise that first started in 1997 by Interplay and acquired by ZeniMax Media's Bethesda Softworks in 2007. 
• Every Fallout game is currently seeing increased player counts on Steam, with multiple titles becoming best-sellers on Steam and GOG. 
• This resurgence is thanks to a number of promotions and sales, as well as the launch of  a well-received Fallout TV show on Prime Video. 

A well-timed show and some sales have given a shot of adrenaline to a big Xbox franchise. 

The Fallout series is having a resurgence right now, with increased player counts across every game in the franchise. According to SteamDB, which tracks player counts, price history, and more for Steam games, Bethesda Game Studios' Fallout 4 is currently being played by over 53,000 concurrent players. 

While a far cry from the game's all time peak — Fallout 4 reached 472,000 concurrent players on Steam shortly nine years ago — this is still a huge increase over the recent norm, as Fallout 4 had been averaging around 18,000 to 20,000 players for the last few years. 

A similar story can be seen with every other Fallout game. The team's multiplayer entry Fallout 76, which usually has over 10,000 players on Steam, has gone up to 26,000 players. Fallout 3 (which first launched back in 2008) has gone from an average of 500 players to 3,600. Obsidian Entertainment's 2010 entry, Fallout: New Vegas, usually averaged 3,000 to 4,000 players but is now over 11,000 concurrent players.

Why is the Fallout series seeing a resurgence?

This player resurgence across the Fallout games has a couple of different factors, with one of the biggest being the recent launch of the Fallout TV series on Prime Video. The series has been well-received — you can read my review right now — with praise toward the original story and respect for the source material. 

Outside of the show drumming up interest, there's also a franchise-wide sale right now. You can grab Fallout 4 on Steam for just $5, with Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas available for half that. Fallout 76 has a free trial right now, and a long-awaited current-generation update for Fallout 4 is arriving on April 25 for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5 players.

Of course, as an Xbox series thanks to Microsoft buying Bethesda's parent company ZeniMax Media, the Fallout games are also available in Xbox Game Pass.

Do TV show adaptions usually boost game sales and player counts?

We've seen evidence in the past that a well-received TV adaption of a game franchise has a synergistic effect, with a game receiving new and returning players thanks to newfound interest because of the show. 

After The Last of Us HBO show launched in January 2023, game sales saw a significant increase, with The Last of Us Part 1 and The Last of Us Part 2 becoming the sixth and eighteenth best-selling games of February 2023 in the U.S, respectively. Prior to that, the release of the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime on Netflix helped boost sales of Cyberpunk 2077. 

Analysis: It's a great time to set the world on fire

It's a great time to get back into Fallout (or hop in for the first time), and anecdotally, I know plenty of people who are double-dipping and buying the games on sale again right now. I'll personally be jumping back into Fallout 4 when the update arrives, and I might even have to spend more time in Fallout 76 after that. 

In the meantime, if you'd like to learn more about the creation of the Fallout TV series, you can check out my interview with creator Jonathan Nolan, as well as the showrunners and some of the cast. 

What you need to know

• Atlantic City, the latest expansion for Bethesda Game Studios' Fallout 76, is divided into two parts. 
• The first part, Boardwalk Paradise, launched back in December 2023. The second part of Atlantic City, titled America's Playground, is now available. 
• America's Playground brings a new questline for players to tackle, with the Overgrown threatening to consume the city. 
• Season 16 of Fallout 76 is also kicking off, with new rewards and a Seasons Pass system.

There's even more to do on the boardwalk. 

The second part of the Fallout 76 Atlantic City Expedition, America's Playground, is available today, bringing a new questline as players head back to the city in order to fight back against the threat of the Overgrown. You can check out the launch trailer for America's Playground below.

In addition to the new quests, America's Playground launches alongside the beginning of Fallout 76 Season 16: Duel with the Devil. Fittingly enough, this season is themed after the Jersey Devil and introduces a Seasons Pass system with a scoreboard and tickets. 

Any Fallout 1st subscribers will automatically get the Seasons Pass at no extra cost, granting access to Premium-tier rewards. The pass is also available to purchase for 1500 Atoms for anyone that isn't a subscriber. 

You can see the download size of the update by platform below:

• PC via Steam: 17.1GB
• PC via Microsoft Store: 27.1GB
• Xbox: 27.08GB
• PlayStation: 26.1GB

Fallout 76 is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. It's also available in Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra.

What else is happening with Fallout right now?

America's Playground arrives just a few weeks ahead of the launch of the Fallout TV show on Prime Video, with all episodes releasing on April 11, 2024. Under the guidance of showrunner Jonathan Nolan, the series seems to be promising all the gore, drama, and zaniness of the games. Microsoft and Bethesda have also introduced Fallout-themed Xbox controllers, which can be customized through the Xbox Design Lab. 

Bethesda Game Studios is also continuing to work on a current-generation update for Fallout 4, bringing a dedicated performance mode, new Creation Club content, and a number of bug fixes to the game that originally launched back in 2015. 

Analysis: Going strong

Fallout 76 has had a wild journey from launch to now, but it's been great to see the game continually supported by Bethesda Game Studios and its partner teams. With Fallout all abuzz right now, I just hope we aren't waiting too much longer before we learn about when the Fallout 4 upgrade is arriving. 

I keep wanting to install Fallout 4 on my new computer, but I don't want to get lost in Boston again, not with the upgrade slated for sometime this year. 

What you need to know

• Fallout 76 first launched all the way back in 2018. 
• Since then, the game has received numerous updates and expansions addressing player feedback and adding new quests. 
• Following a recent patch, Fallout 76 appears to officially run at 60 FPS on Xbox Series X|S and PS5 with improved visuals.

Stealth updates are always interesting, especially when a game suddenly runs much better.

Following a recent patch for Fallout 76, players on Xbox Series X|S and PS5 consoles have noticed that the game is running smoother and looks better. There's nothing in the patch notes, but it appears that this update gave the game a 60 FPS refresh target on the latest machines from Microsoft and Sony. 

Fallout 76 also seems to look a bit better, with clearer image quality, especially when viewing something in the distance. I tested this, and while I'll let Digital Foundry give a full breakdown (if they can, I know those guys stay busy) this definitely looks better than the version I played for several hours the last couple of years.

Fallout 76 and a handful of other Bethesda games got Xbox FPS Boost support when Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media, allowing Xbox Series X|S users to play at 60 FPS. This required disabling the Xbox One X visual settings however, meaning the game was quite blurry, running at Xbox One S settings in order to achieve the enhanced framerate. 

I checked and following this recent patch, the option to enable FPS Boost has been disabled, indicating that this was definitely a conscious decision. 

Outside of this, the latest patch introduced a number of bug fixes and tweaks, as well as the Once in a Blue Moon update, which introduces new quests and new cryptids in the form of the Ogua (better known as the Monongahela River Monster) and the Blue Devil, a werewolf-like beast. 

Windows Central's take

It's a bit odd this wasn't mentioned by Bethesda Game Studios in the patch notes, because it's a great feature. I don't play Fallout 76 as much as I used to, but knowing that it'll play smoother and look better gives me some encouragement to hop back in for a bit. 

I'm also still looking forward to the proper current-generation update for Fallout 4, which is due sometime this year. Will it be available before Starfield though? I'm skeptical.

What you need to know

• Fallout 76 is running into several issues on PCs.
• Specifically, the problems appear when trying to run the Microsoft Store version of Fallout 76.
• The Microsoft Store is failing to update the game and, in some cases, prevents the game from starting at all.
• Bethesda has confirmed the issue and is working with Microsoft on a fix.

Those looking to play Fallout 76 on their PC may have to wait for a bit. Bethesda recently confirmed an issue related to the Microsoft Store that prevents the game's most recent update from installing. Several reports on Reddit and around the web show the game failing to update, and in some cases failing to start at all.

Only the Microsoft Store version of Fallout 76 is affected by these issues. The installation bug appears for those that own the game as well as those that have access to it through PC Game Pass, according to users on Reddit (note that the Microsoft Store views people with PC Game Pass as owning the game). The Steam version of the game is unaffected.

"We are aware of PC users on the Microsoft Store experiencing issues with the new 76 download. We're working with Microsoft towards a fix and will update once it is resolved," said the official Bethesda Support account on Twitter.

When attempting to install the update, affected users will see a 95.7 GB update and an error message. 95.7 GB is the size of the entire game. The update is supposed to be 6.9 GB, according to its release notes.

Bethesda and Microsoft have not confirmed the cause of the installation issue, but it seems connected to a new update flow for games from the Microsoft Store. The update system that appears when trying to update Fallout 76 appears different to what has shown up in the past.

Uninstalling and reinstalling Fallout 76 through the Microsoft Store does not fix the issue, leaving waiting for a fix from Microsoft as the only option for some players.

Windows Central take

The installation issue has left many gamers frustrated, understandably so. The Microsoft Store has had a rocky reputation for years. Many PC gamers avoid it entirely. The fact that Microsoft now owns Bethesda, which makes Fallout 76, doesn't help the situation.

It's not rare for PC games to have bugs. Titles are massive, as are updates. Making sure that games work across the wide range of systems in use is a difficult task as well. But this most recent issue isn't related to general game development, at least from what I see. The Steam version of Fallout 76 doesn't have the same problem. The Microsoft Store seems to be the real issue here.

Microsoft has worked hard to improve its store over the years, but overcoming years of being worse than Steam and other launchers has earned a negative reputation. To overcome that, the Microsoft Store needs to be rock solid and at least at parity with its counterparts like Steam.

As the name suggests, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the ultimate, online premium subscription service for Xbox consoles. This service has many features that enhance the users' experience of the Xbox platform like the ability to freely download and play hundreds of Xbox games for a limited time. Gain access to exclusive deals and discounts that will help you save tons of money when purchasing games. And play Xbox games on the go through your mobile devices thanks to Xbox Cloud Gaming, all for a small monthly fee.

There are so many more benefits to subscribing to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. One of which is one of the more underappreciated aspects of the service — Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks. Every month, subscribers will be rewarded with Perks that contain in-game items and free access to the premium features of third-party apps.

The list of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks on offer changes from month to month. So, we have decided to compile a list of all Game Pass Perks currently available and update it when new Perks arrive. This way, you can keep up to date on the latest Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks and grab them at your leisure.

What are Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks?

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks can best be described as free downloadable content provided by Microsoft as a reward for those who subscribe to the service. These Perks can take the form of in-game items like player costumes, weapon skins, playable characters, or even in-game currency that can be used to purchase content from the in-game stores.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks aren't just for video games; they also apply to third-party apps. For example, some Perks can grant you temporary free access to the premium features of a third-party app like Discord or Spotify, which generally require you to pay a separate monthly fee to access.

There are some caveats when obtaining Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks. For starters, the Perks are only available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. If you only have a free or an Xbox Live Gold account or are only subscribed to Game Pass PC or Game Pass Console, you will need to upgrade it to an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate account to claim the Perks.

Secondly, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks are available for a limited time, so you will need to claim the Perks before the time limit on them expires. Once you have claimed a Perk, you then receive a grace period in which you must redeem the Perk's code before the appointed deadline. And thirdly, you will need to own the game or app the Perks are associated with before you can use them.

How do I claim Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks?

There are multiple methods where you can claim Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks. The first is by signing into your Xbox home console, scrolling down the home page, and opening up the Game Pass menu. Then, you will need to click on the "Perks" option, where the list of Game Pass Perks resides. Select and click on the Perk you want, and then you will see a screen where you can grab the Perk's code by clicking on the "Claim" option. Finally, you will then be taken to the Microsoft Store, where you can redeem the code and download it to your console.

The second method is by opening the Xbox Game Pass app on your tablet or smartphone, clicking on your profile, and seeing the list of Perks at the top. Then click on the Perk you want, press the "Claim" button, and you will be given a code that must be entered on the Microsoft Store via your home Xbox console or PC to redeem the content. Do note that some Perks might be unavailable on the mobile app.

The third method is to open up your Xbox app on your Windows PC. On the top left-hand corner, click on "Game Pass" to open up the Game Pass menu to see "Perks" in the middle of the screen. Click on that, and you will access the list of Perks where you can select the Perk you want, claim the code, and then redeem it in the Microsoft Store app.

Do note that when claiming a Perk for a third-party app, you will be given a link that takes you directly to the website for the associated app, where you can redeem the benefits of the Perk.

List of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Below is the complete list of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks currently available and their deadlines and grace periods. New Perks are added on an irregular schedule from month to month, so we will be on the lookout for these additional Perks to ensure you don't miss out on these free rewards.

Discord Nitro (free three months of Nitro) — Claim by December 30, 2023, and redeem by December 31, 2023

Discord is one of the most popular voice and text messaging apps that goes hand-in-hand with gaming. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is currently offering a limited-timed Perk which gains you access to a free three-month trial of Discord Nitro.

Discord Nitro is a premium version of Discord and it features a ton of special benefits compared to the regular version. This app includes an increased upload capacity of 100MB so you can share higher quality videos and image files, a wider library of emojis, boosted server performance, the ability to stream at HD quality through screenshare, and much more.

Fallout 76 (5th Birthday Bundle) — Claim by December 17, 2023, and redeem by December 24, 2023

Fallout 76 is an MMORPG that allows players to band together in parties, explore the vast wilderness of the Fallout universe, and embark on all kinds of post-apocalyptic adventures. Celebrate the 5th anniversary of Fallout 76 with the 5th Birthday Bundle.

This Perk bundle contains a Vault Boy Fireworks Stand, an American Bowling Alley Lane, a 5th Anniversary Vault Boy Photomode Frame, a Vault-Tec Quilt, a VTU Graduation Cap, and a Vault Boy Commemorative Lamp.

There are two separate valid versions for the 5th Birthday Bundle and they can only be claimed once per their respective platform: one for the Xbox consoles (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One) and one for PC. 

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis (December Member Monthly Bonus) — Claim and redeem by January 2, 2023

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is an MMORPG where you take on the role of warriors called ARKS and defend the plant of Halpha from mysterious alien monsters known as DOLLS. 

Stock up on supplies for future battles with the December Member Monthly Bonus Perk. This Perk will give you five N-Half Scape Dolls to revive yourself if you fall in battle and 50 Photo Chunks to augment the strength of your weapons and units.

This Perk is available for the Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC versions of Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis and can only be claimed once per account. Be aware that this Perk is unavailable in Belgium, Japan, the Netherlands, and South Korea.

KartRider: Drift (Lucci Loot Pack) — Claim by January 29, 2024, and redeem by February 5, 2024

KartRider: Drift is a free-to-play competitive racing game where eight players create karts and use them to win first place in adrenaline-pumping, racing tournaments. Purchase new karts and more by grabbing the KartRider: Drift Lucci Look Pack.

This Perk pack contains 14,000 Lucci coins that you can spend on purchasing in-game items like new karts, outfits, stickers, and more.

This Perk is available for the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One versions of KartRider: Drift and can only be claimed once per account.

What Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks will you take?

The free items and codes from these Perks is just the tip of the digital iceberg when comes to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's benefits. With this list, we hope we have informed you of these bonus rewards, so you can claim extra content for the best Xbox Game Pass games on the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Windows PC.

What you need to know

• Fallout 76 is an online-focused Fallout game that has enjoyed regular post-launch support and updates.
• Nuka-World on Tour is the latest free content update for Fallout 76, and it's now available to all players.
• The massive update includes an all-new area with the Nuka-World carnival, complete with unique carnival games and rewards.
• There are three public events, Fallout 76's largest Region Boss yet, and the arrival of Season 11.

Fallout 76 isn't quite like the Fallout games of yesteryear with its online multiplayer focus, but it has enjoyed years of consistent post-launch support to address player feedback, add new content, and improve the overall experience. On Tuesday, Bethesda Game Studios began rolling out the latest major content update for Fallout 76 with Nuka-World on Tour, which also begins Season 11.

The completely free Nuka-World on Tour update is now rolling out to Fallout 76 players on every platform, including Xbox, PC, and PlayStation, with a ton of new content, bug fixes, and quality-of-life improvements. The headlining feature? A new area is joining Appalachia, with players now able to explore the Nuka-World carnival. There are plenty of carnival games and rewards, a new trading post, and three new public events in which players can participate.

Players can earn new weapons, clothing, and decorations for their C.A.M.P.s, including personal versions of carnival games that can be played in the comfort of your home. Probably the most exciting addition to Fallout 76 with this release, however, is the addition of the terrifying Ultracite Titan, a humungous monster that claims the title of the largest Region Boss in all of Fallout 76. There are plenty of rewards to be earned for players able to defeat this beast.

Finally, Fallout 76 Season 11 kicks off with Nuka-World on Tour, taking over from Season 10, with plenty of new rewards and benefits for returning to the game. Fallout 1st subscribers can look forward to exclusive rewards through Season 11, and a new feature in the Ammo Box (which lets you store unlimited ammo to access whenever you need it).

Fallout 76 had a rough start, but it has steadily become one of the best Xbox games for fans of Fallout or post-apocalyptic romps. If you've yet to experience Fallout 76, the Nuka-World on Tour update makes it better than ever and is completely free to download. The base Fallout 76 game isn't as free, of course, but you can always download it on Xbox and PC through Xbox Game Pass.

What you need to know

• Expeditions: The Pitt releases today to Fallout 76 bringing a new area to explore in Pittsburgh and a new group of Responders to meet in Season 10.
• The expansion introduces new missions, legendary weapons, armor and rewards. 
• Expeditions feature a new in-game currency "Stamps" for players to earn rare loot.

The promised Fall update for Fallout 76 has arrived today with the release of Expeditions: The Pitt. Players will be able to venture out of Appalachia for the very first time to explore the former city of Pittsburgh, now known as The Pitt in its irradiated post-nuclear form.

With Expeditions, the game now has two main story missions to be completed, and your journey starts in the infamous location of Whitespring Resort. New Responders have arrived for players to interact with and have renamed the resort "The Whitespring Refuge." Read on to find out what's in store in Bethesda's latest update:

• Responders Daily Quests. In possession of a restored Vertibird, the Responders will need players' help with charging up its battery to deliver aid to nearby settlements and ultimately lead them to their first mission in The Pitt.
• Two new missions. Two new repeatable missions "Union Dues" and "From Ashes to Fire" can be completed with up to three players. You'll fight back raiders and discover the new local wildlife which may or may not be friendly. 
• New rewards to earn. Completing the new missions will reap rewards in the form of legendary gear, scrips and XP. New mods, C.A.M.P gear and items have been added. 
• New in-game currency. Expeditions: The Pitt introduces "Stamps" which you can collect to purchase the exact rewards you want from the new loot available.

The new expansion to Fallout 76 also brings the start of Season 10: City of Steel. 

The new season wipes the Season 9 scoreboard and gives players Pitt-themed rewards to earn such as weapon paint, armor, C.A.M.P items, cosmetics and consumables. Season 10 will be the first season to let players unlock new craftable items as they rank up their season scoreboard. The Auto Axe is a devastating weapon that can be customized with poison, fire or electrical modifiers. Explorers of The Pitt can also craft Union Power Armor which boasts poison resistances and extra carry weight for looting the new toxic landscape. These can later be unlocked with the introduced Stamps currency if players fail to earn them during Season 10.

While Fallout 76 didn't launch in the best state, it has since gone on to become one of the most-played RPGs on Xbox, serving millions of players while pumping tons of new content and features into the game for free. Indeed, Expeditions: The Pitt is available today and is also free. Fallout 76 available as part of Xbox Game Pass on Xbox consoles and Windows PC. 

What you need to know

• Fallout 76 first launched in 2018.
• Since then, the game has seen numerous updates and patches, with new storylines, gameplay mechanics and more.
• Bethesda is sharing the full roadmap of what's on the way for Fallout 76 in 2022.
• There's major new updates planned every quarter, starting with Invaders From Beyond in the spring.

Fallout 76 is continuing to grow, with frequent updates and events that have evolved the game far beyond its initial launch state back in 2018. Bethesda shared the 2022 roadmap for Fallout 76 on Monday, detailing the various updates that players can look forward to across the year.

Starting in the spring, there's a new event coming called Invaders From Beyond, which is (appropriately enough) revolving around the appearance of UFOs. Fallout Worlds is also getting a patch, adding new settings for players to alter such as disabling VATS.

Sometime in the summer, there'll be the Test Your Metal update, which brings new challenges. In the fall, Expeditions: The Pitt arrives, bringing a new hub area in Whitespring and taking players outside of Appalachia for the first time in Fallout 76. This Expedition will also have new quests to undertake and will be bringing back the Trogs from Fallout 3.

Finally, the winter update for Fallout 76 will mark the arrival of Nuka-World on Tour, which most notably includes a Region Boss Public Event, alongside new loot for players to acquire.

Between continued support for Fallout 76 and the planned launch of Starfield later in 2022, Bethesda Game Studios is staying busy all year round.

What you need to know

• Fallout 76 is an online post-apocalyptic RPG from Bethesda Softworks that lets players survive the nuclear wasteland together.
• On Wednesday, Fallout 76 players got treated with the 'Night of the Moth' update, which is rolling out now on all platforms.
• The update includes the Mothman Equinox with themed rewards, Season 7, various quality-of-life improvements, and more.

Fallout 76 wasn't always a great game, but it has slowly evolved into one of the best Xbox games for fans of the genre after years of constant updates and support from Bethesda Softworks. On Wednesday, the studio announced and released the latest update for Fallout 76 with Night of the Moth. This sizeable release is now available on all Fallout 76 platforms with plenty of new content and improvements.

The headlining feature of the Night of the Moth update is undoubtedly the Mothman Equinox, a timed event that starts Dec. 8 and ends Dec. 21, 2021. During the event, players can head to Point Pleasant and confer with The Enlightened, a group of cultists that worship the mysterious Wise Mothman. Players can complete a series of objectives and missions for The Enlightened to summon the Mothman and earn exclusive themed rewards, and can hunt down Cultist High Priests for additional goodies.

Alongside the Mothman Equinox, the Night of the Moth update also kicks of Season 7 of Fallout 76 with new tiers and rewards. A new Pirate Radio station is included for players interested in some new tunes, and Fallout 76 is getting plenty of quality-of-life tweaks like improved Public Events, Legendary loot sharing, nearby corpse looting, lots of bug fixes, and more.

Fallout 76's Night of the Moth update is now available anywhere Fallout 76 is, and is a free update for all players. The size of the update ranges between ~10 and 20GB depending on your platform. If you haven't played Fallout 76 yet, the game is in a great state and continues to get better over time. You can play Fallout 76 through Xbox Game Pass on Xbox and PC.

What you need to know

• Microsoft has expanded its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate perks offering with one-month memberships for Fallout 1st on Xbox consoles and PC, usually priced at $13 per month.
• The limited-time deal grants access to the Fallout 76 service, including custom private worlds, exclusive cosmetics, and regular in-game currency allowances.
• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is available at $15 per month, bundling Xbox console and PC game libraries, cloud gaming, EA Play, and more.

Microsoft has expanded its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription with a limited-time Fallout 1st trial, its paid membership for Fallout 76. The latest perk bundled with its Netflix-style Xbox subscription grants one complimentary month on Xbox consoles and PC, unlocking various bonuses in its multiplayer-centric Fallout entry. Following the free trial, the service reverts to the $12.99 regular monthly pricing, also available at $99.99 per year.

Fallout 1st was first introduced in late 2019, expanding upon Fallout 76 with various premium features excluded from the base package. Benefits include private matches, experienced solo or with up to seven friends, carving out games detached from its otherwise public servers. Members also receive exclusive cosmetics and an "Atoms" in-game currency allowance to spend via the in-game store. The base edition of Fallout 76 is also available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

Fallout 1st is the latest Xbox Game Pass perk joining Spotify and Disney+ in offering extended trials to subscribers. Microsoft offers one free month on both console and PC, available to claim via the Xbox app through December 31, 2021.

Its addition to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate follows Microsoft's $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media, a deal that brought Bethesda Softworks and various high-profile development studios under Redmond's gaming brands. Franchises like The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and DOOM are now Xbox Game Pass mainstays, among the best Xbox Game Pass games in 2021.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is available from $15 per month, including game libraries on Xbox consoles, PC, and cloud streaming. Subscribers also gain access to dozens of Electronic Arts titles via EA Play, alongside various supplementary perks.

What you need to know

• Fallout 76 is introducing Fallout Worlds, customizable servers that'll launch in September.
• Fallout Worlds allow players to change almost any settings that they want, from fall damage to how the C.A.M.P. works.
• Custom Worlds are coming for Fallout 1st subscribers, while Public Worlds will be available for everyone.

Bethesda Softworks' ongoing survival twist on Fallout in Fallout 76 continues to see new updates and additional content. Later this year, players will be able to change up practically all the rules, as Fallout 76 is getting customizable servers through Fallout Worlds. Per the announcement, Fallout Worlds are expected to be available in September following an update, bringing private Custom Worlds for Fallout 1st subscribers and chaotic, rotating Public Worlds for everyone.

Almost anything can be changed in a Custom World, such as no longer requiring power to operate a base, removing fall damage, enabling infinite ammo, tweaking the weather and more, with the developers promising that more options will be added after the feature is launched. Public Worlds will function similarly but as a, well, public option, with features altered directly by Bethesda and changing up on a regular basis. Fallout Worlds are available in testing on the Public Test Server today.

The recent Steel Reign update for Fallout 76 brought the final chapter of story content for the Brotherhood of Steel, alongside other features like Legendary Crafting. Alongside numerous other Bethesda titles, Fallout 76 is currently available on Xbox Game Pass. Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S console players have the option of enabling 60 FPS through Xbox FPS Boost.

What you need to know

• Bethesday today launched the latest update for Fallout 76, called Steel Reign, to all platforms.
• The new update wraps up the Brotherhood of Steel story that it began with the Steel Dawn update.
• The update also rolls out Legendary Crafting, which lets users update their normal items to Legendary status, to all users.

Bethesda today launched the latest update to Fallout 76, the "Steel Reign" patch, which it teased in the 2021 update roadmap. The new update is available to all users, including those who've downloaded the game on Xbox Game Pass, and the update notes include the sizes of the patch across all platforms. For a complete list of the updates coming in Steel Reign, you can read the whole of the patch notes here.

The new update will feature the ending of the Brotherhood of Steel story, with the titular questline. It's available to all players over level 20 who've completed the "Steel Dawn" quests, and begins with a quest called "A Knight's Penance." Players' reward for completing Steel Reign will be new items. K.D. Inkwell has also returned in a new Season 5 adventure, set in "a dystopian possible future inhabited by Dolphin Human Hybrids."

Another major update is the Legendary Crafting system, which has been in testing for a while prior to the release of this patch. In Legendary Crafting, players can "turn normal items into legendary items, re-roll your existing legendary items' attributes, and even upgrade or downgrade their star-ratings" using a component called Legendary Cores. Players in the test servers have had a mixed reaction to this new system, so we'll have to see how it plays in the official release.

Fallout 76 continues to grow and change, becoming more appealing as it evolves past its rather disastrous launch. It's currently available on all of the major consoles, including Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, and PC. Xbox Game Pass players can stream the game, including the new patch, now.

Those accessing Bethesda's Fallout 76 may encounter an unexpected error today, with players reporting an issue impacting the title. Those attempting to log into the game, a multiplayer-only experience based on the hit role-playing series, report an error message when logging into the game. The error, "Failed to download config from Title Storage. [4:10:1]," appears to relate to widespread connectivity issues impacting the title.

"We are currently investigating login issues that Fallout 76 players are experiencing on all platforms," the publisher stated via its Bethesda Support Twitter account. The company points players toward its official website for the latest on Fallout 76 server status. The error message impacts all platforms, including Xbox, PlayStation, and PC versions of the game.

With Fallout 76 heavily reliant on online connectivity, as a shared-world multiplayer experience, there's currently no way to access the title during the outage. With no formal workaround known at this time, we're left waiting on a fix on Bethesda's behalf. We'll update this report with additional information on the outage, as available.

Update May 6 (13:01 p.m. ET) — Fallout 76 outage resolved

Bethesda states it has resolved issues impacting Fallout 76.

Players should now be able to log into the game on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC versions of the title.

What you need to know

• Fallout 76 is kicking off its 2021 update roadmap with the new 'Locked and Loaded' update now rolling out for players.
• The first of four major updates in 2021 adds another C.A.M.P. slot for all players and new S.P.E.C.I.A.L. loadouts.
• 'Locked and Loaded' also kicks off Season 4 with tons of new rewards and missions, and adds tons of new Daily Ops.
• The 'Locked and Loaded' update is now available for Fallout 76 on Xbox, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox Game Pass.

Fallout 76 has come a really long ways since our mixed Fallout 76 review. Bethesda Softworks has stuck with it and released update after update to improve their multiplayer-focused open-world post-apocalyptic RPG massively. Now, Bethesda is releasing the first update from its Fallout 76 2021 roadmap with the new Fallout 76 Locked and Loaded update. Locked and Loaded kicks off Season 4 for Fallout 76 and includes plenty of goodies for players while they wait for the even bigger expansion heading to Fallout 76 this summer.

Fallout 76's Locked and Loaded update includes quite a bit to look forward to, including:

• A new C.A.M.P. slot for all players to claim and build a second base
• New S.P.E.C.I.A.L. loadouts to customize and switch between multiple loadouts on the fly
• Three new locations for Daily Ops and several new game modes
• Season 4: Cold Steel kicks off with lots of new rewards, challenges, and much more

It's commendable that Fallout 76 continues to improve as it does. There's never been a better time to play than with the Locked and Loaded update release. Fallout 76 is currently available for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, and PC. If you're playing on Xbox and PC, you can even install Fallout 76 through Xbox Game Pass. Xbox Series X|S players get improved performance in Fallout 76 because of FPS Boost. All of this adds up to Fallout 76 actually being one of the best games on Xbox Game Pass.

What you need to know

• Fallout 76 is the online-central open-world post-apocalyptic RPG sequel to the Fallout franchise.
• Bethesda Softworks has consistently been updating, iterating, and improving upon Fallout 76 since its initial lackluster launch.
• Fallout 76 has unveiled its content roadmap for 2021, and there are a ton of great updates planned for this year.
• This includes the 'Steel Reign' expansion, which will conclude the Brotherhood of Steel storyline in Fallout 76.

Fallout 76 isn't the same game it was in our Fallout 76 review. Since its decidedly poor launch, Bethesda has worked tirelessly to fix and improve Fallout 76 with lots of updates and even full-blown expansions. The Fallout 76 2020 Year in Review showed us that it's paying off, and that more players are trying the much-improved Fallout 76. Today, Bethesda has revealed the Fallout 76 2021 roadmap, which includes a ton of exciting new updates planned for their open-world post-apocalyptic RPG later this year.

Fallout 76 is dividing its 2021 into the four seasons, and each one brings something new to the table. Here's what you can expect from Fallout 76 in 2021.

• Spring. To start off the year, Fallout 76 introduces Season 4 with new rewards and challenges to the Scoreboard, the return of Armor Ace, new S.P.E.C.I.A.L. loadouts, C.A.M.P. slots, mannequins, and an expansion to Daily Ops. Other general improvements include crafting sliders and aim assist for consoles.
• Summer. For many Fallout 76 players, Summer will end up being the most exciting time of the year. Bethesda is continuing (and concluding) the Brotherhood of Steel storyline introduced in the Fallout 76 Steel Dawn expansion with the Steel Reign expansion. There will be new quests, locations, NPCs, and rewards. Fallout 76 is also letting players craft Legendary gear using new Legendary modules, introducing Season 5 with new rewards, and adding unlimited ranks to Seasons.
• Fall. Not a ton of information is available for Fallout 76's Fall plans. We know Fallout 76 is planning some kind of expansion / change to Private Worlds, but we'll have to wait longer to learn more. Daily Ops is also getting another new expansion, as well as the introduction of Season 6.
• Winter. Last but not least, Fallout 76 is capping off the year with the Ritual seasonal event involving the Cultists of Appalachia, four-star Legendary gear, a new Public Challenge, C.A.M.P. pets, and Season 6. More details on all of these major in-game events will be revealed as we get closer to launch.

Fallout 76 has certainly come a long way since it launched, and it's only getting better from here. If you haven't tried Fallout 76, or if it's been a while, Fallout 76 is now on Xbox Game Pass for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and PC! Even better, owners of Xbox Series X|S consoles can even experience Fallout 76 with double the performance, as Fallout 76 now supports Xbox FPS Boost. Keep track of great games like Fallout 76 joining Xbox Game Pass with our guide on all games coming and going from Xbox Game Pass.

Fallout 76 is best experienced with friends and strangers alike, so make sure you're prepared with one of the Best Headsets for Xbox Series X|S.

What you need to know

• Fallout 76 is the latest in the long-running apocalyptic RPG 'Fallout' series from Bethesda.
• The game massively changed Fallout's classic formula, to much disdain from players and critics.
• Bethesda has stuck with the game, however, and 2020 was apparently a very successful year for Fallout 76.
• Fallout 76's Year in Review shows all the free updates and content it got, how much players participated, and what to expect in 2021.

When Fallout 76 was released, it was certainly an odd one. The game sought to completely alter the classic and beloved Fallout series with less focus on NPCs and more of a focus on solitude and desolation juxtaposed with other real-life players existing in your world with you. At launch, the game was more-or-less panned for its myriad of issues and anemic level of content. Still, Bethesda has commendably continued to support the game with free updates, events, new content, and more, like the recent Steel Dawn update.

In Fallout 76's Year in Review 2020, we see that players are still returning to Fallout 76 in droves and that Fallout 76 isn't quite dead yet.

Some highlights from the review include how Fallout 76-er's died over 700 million times (over 16 million of those unfortunately from fall damage), dropped over five million nukes, completed nearly five million Daily Ops, and removed almost 5 billion Scorched from the world. Bethesda also had a hectic year with a plethora of free content updates and events, which saw scores of new and veteran players alike returning to Fallout 76. The outlook on the game seems to have changed recently, with the continued support bringing Fallout 76 to where it should've been at launch.

Finally, Fallout 76's Year in Review contains an updated Community Calendar, which gives a sneak peek at what players can expect from the beginning of 2021. Bethesda doesn't look to be resting on their laurels here and intends to continue updating and supporting the game at least for the next year. Highlights include Stash Size increases, Pip-Boy UX updates, and a bevy of seasonal events and sales.

If you haven't tried Fallout 76, or simply haven't played it in a long time, it's definitely worth a little bit of your time now. Fallout 76 is included in Xbox Game Pass for consoles and PC, and players can pick up Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to get it in both places, as well as the online access on consoles necessary to get the most out of the game. And, if you want to be able to plead for your life when a higher-level player attacks, consider one of the Best Headsets for Xbox Series X|S and their premium mics.