Fallout 76 was announced last week, and now Bethesda has pulled the curtain back on the next experience in the Fallout universe. While we've had our guesses about what the game could be about, we now have all the details about the new game set in West Virginia.
Fallout 76 is 4 times the size of Fallout 4. This space is used by other players, because Fallout 76 is entirely online. This means the other people you experience while playing aren't NPCs. They are other real people exploring the wastelands in their own games.
Despite the fact that Fallout 76 is an online game, it is still a Fallout game. Players will go on missions, experience a story, and level up. The difference is you can now do that with friends by your side. When joining up with friends, all your progression comes with you as well. This means you'll never be forced to be the "sidekick" when playing with others. Of course, if you want to play by yourself, it's entirely possible to go solo through the entire game.
Also, dying in Fallout 76 doesn't mean a loss of progression or a loss of your character. It wasn't explicitly explained, but it's likely you'll reload in a different world at your last save point if you die.
As for the world of Fallout 76, it will be a prequel, set before all previous Fallout games. The world is divided into six regions, each featuing a unique theme. There are new creatures, with many inspired by the folklore of West Virginia. Weapons appear more dated than previous Fallout games, as a gameplay sequence featured a single-shot pistol, complete with the player having to refill the gunpowder after every round.
Base building from Fallout 4 returns, but is more flexible. Thanks to the handy new C.A.M.P. device, players can create a base anywhere in the world. Your friends can all join together into one world and work to create the ultimate shared base. However, because other players lurk around on your map, it's possible for your base to be attacked by both wildlife and humans. What's worse, a number of live nuclear missiles exist on the map, and can be used to target enemies. It's possible your base can be blown sky high.
Fallout 76 will release for PS4, Xbox One and PC on Nov. 14. A beta for the game was also announced, but details about when it will happen were not shared. Typically, a beta occurs a month or two before release, so expect a Fallout 76 beta some time in September or October.
So what do you think? Are you interested in playing Fallout 76 now that you know more about it? Do you wish it was a more traditional single-player game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
