Fallout 76
A multiplayer prequel set in post-nuclear Appalachia.
Fallout 76 is an action role-playing game that came out in 2018, developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It’s part of the Fallout series and serves as a prequel to earlier games. The story begins in the year 2102, with players taking on the role of a resident of Vault 76 who must explore the ruined open world of Appalachia to recolonize the area and uncover a mysterious plague that wiped out its population.
This was Bethesda Game Studios’ first attempt at a multiplayer game. Development started in 2013 and involved collaboration with BattleCry Studios. The game runs on a modified version of Bethesda’s Creation Engine, which was adjusted to support multiplayer and create a more detailed world than earlier titles. Reports indicate the development was troubled, with a restrictive crunch schedule and high staff turnover blamed on a lack of leadership and unclear design goals. Many glitches were reportedly ignored by quality assurance.
Upon release, Fallout 76 received generally mixed reviews. Critics pointed out technical issues, poor overall design, a lack of purpose in gameplay, and the initial absence of human non-playable characters. Bethesda’s responses and ongoing support after launch also drew criticism. In October 2019, a premium subscription service called Fallout 1st was added. The first major update, Wastelanders, arrived in April 2020 and introduced human non-playable characters, which was met with a more favorable reception. The game sparked several controversies, especially regarding the quality of physical content, and is known for its negative reception. It sold 1.4 million copies by the end of 2018. Over time, player numbers grew, peaking in 2024 after the release of Amazon Prime’s Fallout television series.
**Gameplay** Fallout 76 is an action role-playing game playable from either a first-person or third-person perspective. It’s set in the Appalachian region of West Virginia, where the player character leaves a fallout shelter 25 years after a nuclear war devastated much of the United States. The game is entirely online, using dedicated servers. Players can play solo, but are encouraged to complete quests with others on the same server. They can also trade and engage in combat. Private servers are only available through the monthly Fallout 1st membership.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Fallout 76
- Developer
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher
- Bethesda Softworks
- Director
- Jeff Gardiner · Jonathan Rush
- Producer
- Angela Browder · Bill LaCoste
- Designer
- Emil Pagliarulo · Mark Tucker · Carl McKevitt
- Programmer
- Brian Baird
- Artist
- Andrew Collins
- Composer
- Inon Zur
- Series
- Fallout
- Engine
- Creation Engine
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4 · Windows · Xbox One
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Fallout 76 is set in an alternate history, taking place in 2102, twenty-five years after a nuclear war devastated the Earth. The player character is a resident of Vault 76, a fallout shelter built in West Virginia to house America's best and brightest minds. The player exits the Vault on 'Reclamation Day' as part of a plan to re-colonize the Wasteland. The game is set in the Appalachian region of West Virginia, and its map replicates many real locations such as Charleston, Morgantown, The Greenbrier resort, and New River Gorge Bridge. Enemies include raiders, mutated animals, ghouls, and creatures from West Virginia folklore like the Mothman and the Flatwoods monster.
The plot involves the player character being contacted by the Vault Overseer, who reveals a secret mandate to secure nuclear weapons in three missile silos. The player discovers that the Scorched—humans infected by the 'Scorched Plague'—are led by Scorchbeasts, massive mutated bats that came into contact with an Enclave bioweapon. The player character decides to secure a nuclear weapon to destroy a Scorchbeast nest, building a radar system and eventually connecting with the Enclave, led by an artificial intelligence named MODUS. The game is entirely online and utilizes dedicated servers; private servers are only available through the monthly membership Fallout 1st.
Reader's Guide
Fallout 76 represents a significant departure for the Fallout series as Bethesda Game Studios' first multiplayer title. Its development, which began in 2013 and involved collaboration with BattleCry Studios, was reportedly troubled, including a restrictive crunch schedule, high staff turnover attributed to a lack of leadership and clarity about the game's design, and numerous glitches ignored by quality assurance. The game uses a modified version of Bethesda's Creation Engine to accommodate multiplayer and a more detailed game world.
Upon release, Fallout 76 received generally mixed reviews, with criticism focused on technical issues, overall design, lack of gameplay purpose, and the initial absence of human non-playable characters. Bethesda's responses and attempts to provide ongoing support in the months following launch were met with criticism. The addition of a premium subscription service called Fallout 1st in October 2019 was also controversial. The first major update, Wastelanders, released in April 2020, introduced human non-playable characters and received a more favorable reception. Despite its negative reception, the game sold 1.4 million copies by the end of 2018. Fallout 76 saw an increase in player count over time, peaking in 2024 with the release of Amazon Prime's television series Fallout.
Did You Know?
- Fallout 76 is Bethesda Game Studios' first multiplayer game.
- The game was initially released without human non-playable characters; they were added in the Wastelanders update in April 2020.
- The game's map replicates real West Virginia locations including The Greenbrier resort and New River Gorge Bridge.
- Fallout 76 saw a peak in player count in 2024 following the release of Amazon Prime's Fallout television series.
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