Broken Steel bugs

Bugs and glitches/exploits in the Fallout 3 add-on Broken Steel.

Important

 * Before reporting any bugs, make sure when you install the DLC pack, that you also install the 1.5 patch. Without the patch it is possible that some models will not load (they will appear as red triangles) and the game will crash often.
 * Please try to use correct grammar and spelling when posting a bug/glitch. If you have a legitimate issue, don't be ashamed. By all means, post your issue--your posts help improve this game. If you see an error on a post, edit it. Also, for the convenience of others and for yourself, be sure to include the game version in which the bug/glitch occurred (i.e. Xbox 360, PC, PS3) in parenthesis at the end of your post. Remember, this is a public site. Act professional and refrain from using the wiki as a source of "trolling." Thanks.

Installation

 * Several noted gameplay bugs are due to users not having installed the latest Fallout 3 patch before playing with Broken Steel installed. Broken Steel does not enforce the 1.5 patch, but it does need it for full compatibility. Check your version: From the title screen, select Settings, then Display. In the lower left hand corner, you'll then see the update number.


 * If you have it installed, you may need to take off the unofficial patch that stops you from completing the game before installing Broken steel (Windows only).


 * May 5th, 2009 - Downloads via Microsoft Games for Windows Live. Upon completion of download in the G4WL client a message may read: "Install of item Broken Steel failed. Not a cryptographic message or the cryptographic message is not formatted correctly. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x8009200D)" This will happen after repeated downloads and the 'retry' button on the G4WL client will not work. Upon investigation of the DLC files themselves (located in C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\GFWLive\Downloads the winrar archive containing the DLC is corrupt and will not extract with Winrar or 7z. Note that this renders the whole DLC unusable.


 * May 7th, 2009 - PC release is once again available for purchase through Games for Windows Live.
 * May 27, 2009 - after installing the Broken Steel, trying to exit the game from the main menu results in the program freezing up (requiring Task Manager to end it). This was found on 2 separate PCs (one XP, one Vista) with the 1.5 patch already installed and no mods. Also found that this can cause achievements not to register. This issue persists even after the 1.6 patch and installing the Point Lookout DLC
 * 21 June, 2009 - Downloaded via Microsoft Games for Windows and installed successfully. Upgraded to version 1.5. When going back to the game, can see a "level 21" in the loading page but no more extra XPs gained once reached level 20. After finishing last quest "take it back", no matter what outcome takes, the game is over and Broken Steel never loaded.
 * 25 June, 2009 - Had the same problem as the guy above (June 21, 2009), and then this morning I went to play and checked the loaded content tab, and Broken Steel wasn't there. But then, after about 5-10 minutes of play I randomly get a message saying Broken Steel was loaded. I was just walking around Megaton. It seemed really strange and random.
 * 27 June, 2009 - You must have Microsoft Games for Windows Live running with the Fallout 3 client. Apparently, it checks licensing.

Gameplay

 * May 5th, 2009 - A bug after the download of Fallout 3: Broken Steel is if you have not completed The American Dream, you may freeze within 5 feet of Elder Lyons and be unable to talk or move. The quest does not continue, and Elder Lyons does not speak. Weapons cannot be draw upon entrance to laboratory.
 * To fix this, tell Sentinel Lyons that you aren't ready. Go out to the courtyard, and come back in to say that you are ready (unconfirmed).
 * Possible fix: Open the console and enter "EnablePlayerControls", this should unfreeze you and allow you to continue the game unhindered.


 * May 5th, 2009 - Attempting to gain the laser pistol next to the mini nuke at the end of the Presidential Metro results in the player becoming stuck and unable to get out without loading to the most recent save. (unconfirmed)


 * May 5th, 2009 - After installation of Broken Steel, and completion of original story line, some characters do not reward XP. (Ex: Super Mutant Behemoth at Capitol Building, and his companions.) (unconfirmed)


 * May 5th, 2009 - After installing Broken Steel, Scribe Rothchild becomes glitched while trying to complete the quest, Picking up the Trail. He tells you to follow him to gain information about Vault 87, but he does not move and you cannot speak to him again. (confirmed, happens in vanilla game too). Solution: knock him unconsciousnous, wait for him to wake up and speak to him.


 * May 6th, 2009 - Reported incidents of an "invisible barrier" appearing any certain points i.e., the utility door up the earth mount and the door to tesla coil leaving players trapped if they jumped in, this bug is on the Xbox 360 version, only one barrier appears to have dodgy coding and blocks important in-game places (XBox 360)


 * May 6th, 2009 - After getting the Puppies! perk, there is a reported incident of no longer being able to hire any follower other than Dogmeat's Puppy, even if the puppy is dead or outside Vault 101. Someone has created a mod fix for users of the PC version: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6208. A related incident found that--on at least one occasion--if the player character kills Dogmeat's Puppy, even accidentally, the puppies appear to stop respawning and the player still will not be able to add any other followers. It's possible that the player may have to wait weeks for a puppy respawn, but theory hasn't yet been tested. (Xbox 360 & PC) (confirmed)


 * May 6th, 2009 - Fawkes disappears after the end of Take It Back!
 * Look for him outside of Project Purity. If you fired him before you went inside the chamber you can find him at Project Purity rather than the Museum of History.
 * He was standing in the infirmary next to Sawbones when I awoke at the Citadel. Just had to ask him to rejoin my party (PC)
 * Fawkes disappeared for this user too, after a lot of fast travelling he finally reappeared once outside the Citadel and once inside the infirmary (PC)


 * May 5th, 2009 - After completing Take it Back!, everybody uses dialog for when the Purifier is taken by the Brotherhood such as, "The Purifier is ours!" and will make it hard to talk to them about quest related things. (unconfirmed)


 * May 7th, 2009 - After the Two Weeks Later screen, character wakes up under the gurney. Game gets stuck at this point--it doesn't freeze, but the camera just stays there under the gurney and nothing happens.
 * Possible fix for PC in patch 1.5. (Bug occurred on PC alk1fter patch 1.5 was applied, patch may not address this issue)
 * I managed to fix this issue with patch 1.5 (PC)


 * May 8th, 2009 - After the Two Weeks Later screen, regardless of your decision, you get stuck with no HUD visible obviously waiting for Lyons to approach you but he gets stuck on his way and you cant do anything. Just make sure you have latest patch installed and it works no problem. (unconfirmed)


 * May 8th, 2009 - If you have not completed the mission to escort Dr. Li and other members of Project Purity to the Citadel, you find a pulse barrier in the door that pass from sewers to enclave subs, and Three Dog (a RG) speaks about pure water in two weeks. (unconfirmed)


 * May 8th, 2009 - After emerging on the Air force base side of the presidential metro, pulling up the world map shows that you are still in the capitol wasteland, under the White house. However, leaving the metro and heading outside brings up a new world map for the air force area itself. (unconfirmed)


 * May 8th, 2009 - Upon making any choice at the Purifier (Sacrifice, Send Lyons), the ending cutscene plays, a loading screen comes up, but then the games crashes. (unconfirmed)


 * May 9th, 2009 - After leaving Old Olney in the "Shock Value" quest, the game crashes when trying to quick, auto, or normal save.
 * Problem solved by installing correct language version of the 1.5 update (PC)
 * I have experienced similar problems exactly as described above. However, correct language version of the patch is already installed, with no improvement. (PC)
 * Similar errors can occur on the PC version when mods are active that add new items into the game world, such as the 14mm Pistol mod, and the Weapon Modification Mod. This could be related to that bug.


 * May 9th, 2009 - When going back to The Citadel to turn in the cords, Scribe Rothchild will not open a talk frame and just say he has no time for you. (unconfirmed)


 * May 9th, 2009 - When you beat the final chapter, ending movie shows and after that 2 weeks later screen never appears, player just keeps lying on the floor of rotunda.(PC)
 * This is probably because of the custom race mod. Changing your race to a normal one before starting the purifier should solve this problem.


 * May 9th, 2009 - When getting into the Tranquility Lounger in Vault 112, the screen flashes as usual but the player is never taken to Tranquility Lane, remaining stuck sitting in the lounger unable to do anything but look around. (unconfirmed)


 * May 9th, 2009 - When entering Tranquility Lane, Doc is immediately hostile. After Activating Failsafe Terminal, if you exit Tranquility Lane, you stay the child, and have no Pip-Boy, just a watch. (unconfirmed)


 * May 9th, 2009 - When talking with MARGoT, approximately one-third of her lines have no voice-over, and are skipped after a split-second, and at least one dialog tree causes a game crash. (PC)


 * May 10th, 2009 - After Sarah's "So much for celebrating" dialogue if Fawkes is told to enter the code, his dialogues are not heard, and when he enters the room, he just stands at a place until there is the explosion. Also when the player himself enters the code, he wakes up below the bed and hence unable to get up. (PC)


 * May 10th, 2009 - Game can crash when selecting a perk at level 23. (PC)
 * If you use the "advlevel" command to bring up the level screen and then use the command again (while in the level screen) you can skip level 23 and go to 24. Thus side stepping the problem, losing a level though.
 * This happened to me on level 22 as well. Just keep trying it and eventually didn't freeze.
 * Occurs most at level 15 and over, crashed at level 16 and 19 consistently when picking perk
 * Copy the most recent save from the GFWL file to the generic save game folder. Load F3 without loading GFWL. Load the save game that you just copied, then sign in GFWL. Save the game. Quit, then load up F3 with GFWL.


 * May 10th, 2009 - After speaking to Elder Lyons about the events of the past two weeks, he directs you to Scribe Rothchild. After asking Rothchild for an update on the situation, he tells you to follow him to the map, but he fails to lead you there, instead carrying on with his daily routine. Similar to Locating Vault 87 Glitch
 * I tried to push Rothchild out to the map, but he keeps returning in front of his computer without saying what you will have to do next. Using the "moveto" player command into the console or dragging him while he is unconscious doesn't have any effect either. (unconfirmed)
 * Fix for this issue available at Nexus under a file named Rothfix.
 * A Similar event is when Scribe Rothchild walks to the map, but does not continue and start the dialog sequence. The Rothfix found and Nexus (http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6470) works to correct this problem.


 * May 13th, 2009 - Similar to the above bug, once Broken Steel is completed with the 'good' ending and your vertibird lands back in the Citadel courtyard for Lyons' speech, the speech never occurs. Your character is locked into the 'listening' pose but Lyons, Rothchild, and Sarah simply walk off and continue their daily routine leaving you stuck there. This makes the good ending impossible to finish, effectively defaulting you to blowing up the Citadel, as doing so does not involve a speech at the end. (PC)
 * Fix for this issue: After the game loads the Citadel and you are stuck at this screen, open the console via the tilde "~" key and type "enableplayercontrols". This should give you control over your character, and then you can run to Elder Lyons and talk to him, thus completing the quest.


 * May 14th, 2009 - Before the Take It Back! quest, I told my companions (Dogmeat and Charon) to stay in my Tenpenny Tower Suite. After completion of the quest and waking up in Citadel they were nowhere to be found (they weren't in my suite, in The Citadel, near Vault 101, In Ninth Circle or in the Purifier). But when I tried recruiting Fawkes, he told me that he couldn't join me because I already had companions. I had to use console to move them to me and they had their normal responses. (PC patch 1.5 Broken Steel installed long before starting Take it back!)


 * May 15th, 2009 - After downloading and installing Broken Steel (along with the accompanying Broken Steel has raised the level cap message), I find that my experience will not increase (says MAX in the pipboy) and I'm stuck at level 20. (unconfirmed)


 * May 16th, 2009 - Paladin Tristan does not appear at quest marker for "death from above"
 * fix - head to the south east corner of the map to discover "Rockland Car Tunnel" when outside open the console and enter "prid xx005689" hit enter then type "moveto player" [[1] this will move Paladin Tristan next to you (can be used with any missing character, just find their reference id which can be found at the top of the screen by clicking on them ingame).

Unstopable55's Fixing : This issue comes when you install Broken steel at 1.4, later upgrade to 1.5. First backup your saves, second uninstall and reinstall game. Patch 1.5, later install Broken Steel etc. Start at Project Purity explosion and choose fawkes or yourself. Watch video and everything will be fine.
 * May 17, 2009 Game freezes while playing downloaded broken steel content. (unconfirmed)
 * Could easily be a problem not caused by the DLC. Many people have experienced crashes during their Fallout 3 game.


 * May 17, 2009 - Game crashes while trying to exit the purifier after talking to Scribe Bigsley. Game then crashes whenever player tries to zone to the Purifier thereafter, even from previous saved games. (confirmed with 1.5.0.22 UK PC patch travelling to the Jefferson Memorial via any method causes CTD)


 * May 17, 2009 - Game crashes whenever a save is made in Broken Steel, went to megaton house and saved after death from above and it still crashed. (unconfirmed)


 * May 19, 2009 - Hasn't happened to anyone else (as far as I know). The Pitt and O:A have reset themselves upon the downloading of Broken Steel (causing me to start them again), as the new radio messages have appeared for them. Apparently I have not completed either of the two DLCs in my quest log, and all the items gained from the two DLCs have disappeared. I am positive I have chosen the right save file. (unconfirmed)


 * May 20,2009 - When level 20 reached the skill or perk screen never show up and the player stays at level 19 while his exp. keeps rising past the max


 * May 23, 2009 - Upon entering the Museum Authority building, gameplay becomes unbearably choppy. Returning outside, the speed returns to normal. (unconfirmed, PC - patched to 1.5)


 * May 26, 2009 - In Broken Steel, after the 2 weeks later cut scene your character gets stuck unable to move.
 * fix - save the game while stuck, then load it. It should make elder lyons pop up in front of you. Then, open up the console and type in EnablePlayerControls. That should give you control of your character again and you should be able to talk to lyons and progress. I did this all with just the 1.4 patch. No weird fixes or mods.


 * May 29, 2009 - After completing the quest Take it Back! the endgame video plays and you're character wakes up but nothing happens other than hearing footsteps in the distance.


 * June 10, 2009 - During the quest Shock Value, upon entering Old Olney, the game freezes leaving no other choice but to reboot the computer.


 * June 11, 2009 - Despite having finished the main quest for the add-on, when returning to Jefferson Memorial the water is not flowing from the pipes. Also, Liberty Prime is still there killing randomly spawning Enclave soldiers and Sentry Bots. Also Jefferson Memorial no longer has a map marker, the only way to get there is via foot. (patched to 1.5)
 * June 20, 2009 - Even after following Bethesda's instructions to re-download/re-install Broken Steel, level cap remains at 20. Pipboy continues to show "MAX" on the display. Broken Steel content still not available. (Similar issue as May 15th issue above.) Note: After re-downloading/re-installing Broken Steel and after several hours of game play immediately after that same session, the DLC suddenly unlocked and I suddenly saw the "Broken Steel has raised the level cap to 30 " message and it works fine now.

-Installing the 1.5 patch fixed the problem.
 * June 25, 2009 - In Broken Steel, after the 2 weeks later cut scene my character gets stuck unable to move. When typing 'Enableplayercontrols' in the console I gain control of my character in The Citadel B Ring, but the quest is still "Take it back!" and it says "Cycle the airlock". Also, when entering the Courtyard from the Ring, Liberty Prime can be seen elevated with the crane above the Citadel's walls, but then it disappears.


 * June 26, 2009 - After the 2 weeks cut scene any attempt to hack the medical computer freezes the game. I'm playing this on windows 7 however this always freezes the game regardless of what compatibility mode you are in.


 * June 26, 2009 - In Broken Steel after completing the first part of Death From Above you can't get back into the Citadel. It freezes just outside the entry doors. Haven't figured out a way through yet...

Minor Glitches

 * May 5th, 2009 - GNR may begin playing information about the completed Project Purity, discussing plot details ahead of time. (confirmed Xbox 360, PC)
 * May 5th, 2009 - Liberty Prime may not hit the wall to the relay station, and the wall may just fall apart without any motion from Prime a few seconds later. (unconfirmed)
 * May 5th, 2009 - Follower could not leave the room that the player appears in after Take It Back! Pushing the follower through the open doorway fixes the problem. (unconfirmed)
 * May 6th, 2009 - Some followers do not appear beside your bed when you wake up after completing take it back. This happened to me with Charon and Butch. To repair this you can exit the area, re-enter and they will be waiting beside your hospital bed in the citadel. (unconfirmed)
 * May 6th, 2009 - Star Paladin Cross refuses to follow you when she appears beside your hospital bed in the citadel after you've completed take it back. After telling her to follow you she stays put, yet her dialogue options change as if she was following you. The only way to repair this is to fire and re-hire her. (confirmed Xbox 360, PC)
 * PC console solution:


 * problem is, her 'waiting' flag doesn't get reset, she misses the first part of her dialogue most probably due to 'StarPaladinCrossHasBeenHired' flag in Followers quest being 0. No idea how to fix it without a mod (can't assign value to quest variable from console).
 * You will still have to use the above solution after every time you tell her to wait.


 * May 6th, 2009 - If you kill the Feral Ghoul Reaver with an Alien Blaster, the screen may turn green until the Reaver is an ash pile. (unconfirmed)
 * May 6th, 2009 - while outside the enclave mobile platform, dropped a Heavy Incinerator from the Pip-Boy. After exiting Pip-Boy, Incinerator became attached to characters leg and pulled him up into the air to the ceiling of the level. If you pick the object back up it will cause your character to fall to it's death. (unconfirmed)
 * While in the Citadel, things can get extremely glitchy at times. During Broken Steel, for example, when going into third-person view character may not display properly. (unconfirmed)
 * May 7th, 2009 - Mind controlled deathclaws that are obeying you sometimes die for no apparent reason. Fortunately the optional quest event to use the deathclaws is still completed even if you have only had one follow for a few steps.
 * That is because Scribe Vallincourt says that she is uncertain about what is going to happen if you get too far away from the deathclaw that you are controlling.
 * I believe its actually caused by you (and the deathclaw) getting too far away from the transmitter that the scrambler she gave you is supposedly hijacking. So what matters is how far away you are from the place where you first found the deathclaw.


 * May 7th, 2009 - Paladin Bael, the unnamed boss paladin (RefID=b8759) and the Sentry Bot (RefID=71730) in front of the Citadel main gate disappear after Take It Back! quest is completed. (Xbox 360 & PC versions) This can be fixed on the PC through the console. Raider will spawn when fast traveling to citadel and attack you and continue to respawn every three days. (PC)
 * May 8th, 2009 - The game freezes upon reaching level 21, distributing skill points and picking a perk. Possible freeze occurring at lower levels on PC.
 * May 8th, 2009 - Sometimes Enclave Soldiers will be seen around the Capital Wasteland without having reached the appropriate stage of the main quest. Enclave Soldiers can be found around Dukov's Place without having made it that far in the main quest, and experienced the GNR plot details bug mentioned above. (confirmed Xbox 360 & PC)
 * The above may not be a Broken Steel bug. This user encountered a lone Enclave Soldier just south of SatCom Array NN-03d before reaching the appropriate stage of the main quest on the PS3.
 * May 8th, 2009 - Most if not all edibles that previously gave your character radiation have the effect stated as "+0 rads." For example, Nuka-cola's description is similar to "+10 HP, +0 rads." but they still radiate you.
 * May 9th, 2009 - After installation of both the official 1.5 Patch and the Broken Steel DLC, GNR disappears from the radio menu and will not play on any of the radios in the Wasteland. Radio will be silent, yet Three Dog himself is not affected in anyway (unconfirmed)
 * May 10th, 2009 - After downloading the DLC (and correct patch), I proceeded to complete it using a Good character I had made before the DLC was released. At the purifier, I told Fawkes to put in the code. It happened successfully and I woke up in the Citadel hospital with Fawkes waiting for me. I then proceeded to do the rest of the DLC and completed it, with Fawkes in tow the whole time. Then I went into my Bad character and again, went straight for the 'final' mission. With no companion with me, I ordered Sarah to activate it (after putting the FEV virus in first). Once I had awoken I was shocked to see a dead Fawkes in the hospital with me. I had killed Fawkes in vault 87 before downloading the DLC. Thinking nothing more of it, I proceeded to complete the DLC with Dogmeat on my side. He died in the White House Metro Tunnels (I had the puppies perk so wasn't too worried). I completed Broken Steel the Evil way (destroying the Citadel). After that, I went on to do the Pitt DLC, once again on the 'Evil' side (helping Ashur). Once I used the cart to RETURN to the Capital Wasteland, the message came up saying Fawkes has returned to The Museum Of Natural History. Curious, I traveled there. Behind one of Griffons signs was again Fawkes body, complete with the Super Sledge which I never looted. As far as I know, there are no bad effects on the game. (unconfirmed)
 * May 10th, 2009 - Cannot select Quantum Chemist perk at level 23. Requirements state level 22 only. Possible requirement extras not mentioned? Addendum: Confirmed for Xbox 360 that you must have Science skill at 70 as well as the level 22 requirement.
 * May 10th, 2009 - (Following up GNR disappearing from menu) Upon completion of Agatha's Song, she normally offers the player the frequency to her radio station. Upon completion in this run-through, she offers the radio frequency, but much like GNR and Enclave radio, the frequencies do not appear in the Pip-boy radio list.
 * May 11th, 2009 - Dogmeat dialog has 'Goodbye, Dogmeat' instead of 'Let s go, Dogmeat'. No biggie, but I made a quick save before clicking it for the first time. Not sure if it s 1.5 or BS (Confirmed PC/360).
 * May 11th, 2009 - Hand grows very long as if wearing Deathclaw gauntlet when said gauntlet is not equipped (Unsure of cause. Clearing hard drive cache solves this glitch.)
 * May 11th, 2009 - Holy Water Pamphlet : If you stand in front of your door house and take & read the note saving the game and then reloading the game, the note will appear again. The same will appear on any other door that the note exist. Found out on Xbox 360 and PC versions.
 * May 11th, 2009 - After finish the last quest Who Dares Wins and your back on Citadel. Go on Lab section and you will find Liberty Prime body parts. His head is near the two Tesla Cannons. If you go back to Satellite Relay Station he's head will still be there too and you still talk with Prime. Result that there are two Liberty Prime Head in the game meaning that this is a bug. Found out on PC version
 * May 12th, 2009 - When fast traveling to megaton with a mind controlled deathclaw it will appear alongside you and will attempt to kill the inhabitants (and will most likely succeed). (PC)
 * May 12th, 2009 - Feral Ghoul Reavers upper bodies may start spinning around with such speed that they cannot be manually targeted, while lower body behaves and moves normally. Most likely related to the glitch that they cannot be damaged. (PC, 1.5)
 * May 12th, 2009 - Aqua Pura crates were in front Evergreen Mills, even though the purifier hadn't been activated yet - James hadn't even been rescued from Tranquility Lane. (Xbox 360 and PC)
 * May 13th 2009 - GNR just repeats the different introduction to the news. (confirmed)
 * If you have both Charon and star paladin Cross as followers, one or both will disappear and never return, even if you fire both or either one. (confirmed)
 * May 25 2009 - After completing "Take It Back!" (with both Charon and Dogmeat) neither was there when I woke up. Charon was not at the Purifier. Neither was Dogmeat. Neither was at 101. Neither was at The 9th Circle. I did not check Vault 89. I recovered the two with console commands that indicated that both were somewhere in the wasteland. As noted otherwhere, Dogmeat dialogue ends with "Goodbye Dogmeat" rather that "Let's Go!" or whatever was the standard. He doesn't seem to care however. Also, none of the base ID numbers in Pitt or Broken Steel can be used to generate new, illicit weapons or armor.


 * May 14th 2009 - I killed a death claw. Later i came back to the area be conincedence and there are 50 of them is that supposed to happen? i didn't count exactly but there a lot of them i killed the orignal outside jury metro station.
 * June 18th 2009 - During the quest 'Shock Value', when retrieving the Tesla Coil, the passageway leading down to the room before the coil is textureless. It is walkable, but I can see through the walls.

Installation

 * Several noted gameplay bugs are due to users not having installed the latest Fallout 3 patch before playing with Broken Steel installed. Broken Steel does not enforce the 1.5 patch, but it does need it for full compatibility. Check your version: From the title screen, select Settings, then Display. In the lower left hand corner, you'll then see the update number.
 * NOTE (Xbox 360): The most annoying glitch seems to be when you try to save the game, or simply autosave. As frequent as 1 in 10 times throughout the wasteland the game freezes after you input the save action. Also once the Xbox is restarted the save is logged, but cannot be loaded without the game freezing again.
 * There is a glitch, where if you install Broken Steel, complete Take It Back! on that save file, then uninstall Broken Steel, when loading that save, Jefferson Memorial will be inaccessible (As in, no door at all.) and Liberty Prime and Enclave are gone, but when returning to the Citidel, they were still shouting pro-Project Purity phrases. (Unconfirmed)

Gameplay

 * MAJOR BUG - May 10th, 2009 - After downloadinf BS, Pitt, OP A, 1.5 patch, and load of a save game will not allow travel to the southwestern portion of the map. Game either freezes while fast travel loading, loads forever, or if you try to runthere, will freeze when nearing the southwestern portion of the map. Makes BS unusable.
 * UPDATE TO ABOVE POST - 27 Jun 09 - In order to fix this, you need to clear the cache on your HDD. According to Bethesda, you go to the settings tab, then select memory, then  press y for device options.  Next, you press X, X, LB, RB, X, X.  It will ask you if you want to perform maintenance.  Select yes and let it do its thing.  When you start the game, it will have cleared the old patches and re-download the latest.  This seems to have fixed my problem.
 * May 5th, 2009 - Broken Steel has a big bug on the Xbox 360. When you beat the final chapter, the "2 weeks later" never appears, and the "Settings" menu, and downloads area, become "sticky" and glitchy.
 * May 5th, 2009 - There are still some complications during The American Dream quest as you approach Elder Lyons, you freeze in place and are stuck there unless you load up a previous save. You cannot draw your weapons, talk to Elder Lyons, move, activate V.A.T.S, or talk to anyone who passes by you.


 * MAJOR BUG - 6/15/09 - After Downloading the Broken Steel DLC, an error box popped up on my main screen. It said something along the lines of "ERROR Some data has been lost, and previous files may not be loaded". Thinking nothing of it, i continued to play broken steel until i beat it. Once i went back to my Tenpenny Tower suite, i was going to collect all the ammo i dont use and turn it into .44 magnum for Lincoln's Repeater. However, i pulled up my map, and... i couldn't find the tunnel used to go to the Pitt, or the radio tower where i met Wernher. Frantic, i checked my weapons locker... and there was nothing. no Auto Axe, no Infiltrator... and when i checked my perks, there was no "Pitt Fighter", no nothing. It was as if i never even bought the Pitt. The only thing left was my Achievements. Could someone please explain to me, WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED???


 * Download it again and wait a bit, it should say Broken Steel has been loaded cap raised to 30.


 * May 5th, 2009 - Broken Steel has a bug on the Xbox 360 version, stopping players from activating Project Purity. Sarah Lyons becomes stuck on dialogue (when you choose not to kill col. Autumn) and does not initiate the dialogue choice of who should activate the purifier. Alternatively, if you do, she simply states "Let's make sure the control is secure before we do anything else," and will not continue. However, it is still possible to level up to level 30 and the improved enemies can still be found throughout the Wasteland.
 * May 5th, 2009 - Broken Steel has a bug on the Xbox 360 version, greatly impeding progress for the players to reaching Project Purity. The Enclave soldiers apparently become invincible and do not take any damage unless inflicted by Liberty Prime, Sarah Lyons, or car explosions. Liberty Prime may also disappear.
 * Confirmed not to happen in all cases - i.e., not seen.


 * May 6th, 2009 - Using multiple followers (neutral-karma RL3 Wait-Fire-Rehire glitch), this player fired all but RL3 just prior to entering the Rotunda and engaging Col. Autumn. Upon waking up from the coma (beginning of Broken Steel's main quest line), only RL3 returned home at any point, and Charon could be seen standing on an inaccessible roof atop the Jefferson Memorial. The other two companions (Butch and Clover) were nowhere to be found. (Xbox 360)
 * May 6th, 2009 - After getting the Puppies! perk, there is a reported incident of no longer being able to hire any follower other than Dogmeat's Puppy, even if the puppy is dead or outside Vault 101. Someone has created a mod fix for users of the PC version: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6208. A related incident found that--on at least one occasion--if the player character kills Dogmeat's Puppy, even accidentally, the puppies appear to stop respawning and the player still will not be able to add any other followers. It's possible that the player may have to wait weeks for a puppy respawn, but theory hasn't yet been tested. (Xbox 360 & PC) (confirmed)
 * May 7th, 2009 - After Broken Steel update, during Those! quest while in Marigold Station, player can become permanently stuck in VATS while action continues very slowly in background. (Xbox 360)
 * May 7th, 2009 - Clover vanished after the events of Take it Back!, much later in the Broken Steel quest line a message said she returned to Paradise Falls, but cannot be re-hired, possibly related to the above Puppies! perk error, however, upon re-loading an earlier save and zoning in and out of the hospital, Clover was there and working as usual. (Xbox 360)
 * May 7th, 2009 - The FEV virus is considered "put in" if it is in your inventory upon entering the Rotunda rather than you having to put it in the console by the entrance to the Purifier (Xbox 360)
 * This doesn't seem to be a general problem; a sample of four saved games on three 360's did not see this bug.

May 6th, 2009 - After getting the Puppies! perk, there is a reported incident of no longer being able to hire any follower other than Dogmeat's Puppy, even if the puppy is dead or outside Vault 101. Someone has created a mod fix for users of the PC version: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6208. A related incident found that--on at least one occasion--if the player character kills Dogmeat's Puppy, even accidentally, the puppies appear to stop respawning and the player still will not be able to add any other followers. It's possible that the player may have to wait weeks for a puppy respawn, but theory hasn't yet been tested. (Xbox 360 & PC) (confirmed) May 7th, 2009 - After Broken Steel update, during Those! quest while in Marigold Station, player can become permanently stuck in VATS while action continues very slowly in background. (Xbox 360) May 7th, 2009 - Clover vanished after the events of Take it Back!, much later in the Broken Steel quest line a message said she returned to Paradise Falls, but cannot be re-hired, possibly related to the above Puppies! perk error, however, upon re-loading an earlier save and zoning account. I was playing through on my first character after downloading Broken Steel and while working on Finding the Garden of Eden, I heard radio dialogue referring to the end of the original story. May 21, 2009--I had completed the main story line and was proceeding further into the game after downloading broken steel. It played fine for a copule of days. Last night, it froze while I was trying to get into Tenpenny Tower. On trying to reboot, I got the red ring of death. I believe that I was also at level 21, maybe level 22. (Seconded - I installed Broken Steel and my Xbox froze while I was searching for Ingots in the Steel Mill in The Pitt DLC before starting Broken Steel DLC. The Xbox froze after about 30 minutes of gameplay and proceeded to freeze upon each of the following reboots, all within 30 seconds to 5 minutes of having restarted the console. I borrowed a friend's console and it too froze within 20 minutes of having turned on the system while I was playing my same game save on his console using my Xbox's HDD. My friend's console red ringed on the very next attempt to restart his console. My own console was left alone for a week and then turned on and subsequently red ringed as well. Not sure of the exact cause that lead to two seperate red ringed consoles, both while playing the same game save, within 30 minutes of gameplay each, and right after installing Broken Steel DLC on the HDD.)
 * May 7th, 2009 - Upon completing Who Dares Wins, if no content from Operation Anchorage DLC is being carried on the player's person, Aiding the Outcasts may became a marked mission once again, and all Operation Anchorage DLC ingame item content will disappear. This forces you to redo all the missions of Operation Anchorage. (Xbox 360)
 * May 8th, 2009 - In the - Using multiple followers (neutral-karma RL3 Wait-Fire-Rehire glitch), this player fired all but RL3 just prior to entering the Rotunda and engaging Col. Autumn. Upon waking up from the coma (beginning of Broken Steel's main quest line), only RL3 returned home at any point, and Charon could be seen standing on an inaccessible roof atop the Jefferson Memorial. The other two companions (Butch and Clover) were nowhere to be found. (Xbox 360)
 * May 12th, 2009 - Once you reach the level "21" the game will freeze and you are forced to load the last save, but will crash once again.(Xbox 360)
 * May 13th, 2009 - If you haven't finished Operation Anchorage before installing Broken Steel, you will be unable to access the Armory at the end of the quest or complete the quest. After using the terminal next to the Armory door, the door will still be listed as locked and will not open.
 * URGENT: On my copy of the game i have finsihed all the quests but no gamerscore has been given. the Achivments are there but no gamerscore on my fallout list or total amount.
 * Try deleting and downloading Broken Steel again, and then contact Customer Support if this doesn't work. It might not be a game problem.
 * May 19th, 2009 - Just got done downloading The Pitt and Broken Steel. I was heading toward the Pitt signal and I leveled up to 21. After completing my leveling, my game froze. Any sugestions?
 * May 19th, 2009 - After level up from 20 to 21 new choosen perk and skills are not saved while level does go up to 21.
 * An exploit for unlimited BoS armor, holotags, Enclave armor, and weapons (including the occasional BoS Paladin equipped with a Tesla Cannon) during the initial assault on Adams AFB. Just before you cross onto the runway after the deathclaw cages, BoS and Enclave troops are seen battling behind the blue pulse repulsion field. You can then cross onto the runway and either kill or wait for the Enclave to kill the BoS troops to collect their items. However, the fallen bodies disappear after about 10 seconds. The troops will respawn when you cross through the wrecked hangar back towards the deathclaw cages. This can be repeated to your heart's desire. (Xbox 360)


 * May 27, 2009 - after exiting arlington libary i am unable to travel to any loaction it just continusly shows the loading screen


 * May 27, 2009 - After you finish the airport mission in broken steel scribe rothchild asks you to collect cameras and sensor modules he is supposed to be in the labvatory but instead he has dissapered


 * June 1, 2009 - At level 21 and freezes consistently when entering Tenpenny elevator. It would not let me exit my suite for a while because it kept freezing but I did eventually get out. Tried to get back today and keep freezing in elevator.


 * June 9, 2009 - When i entered the presidental metro behind M.A.R.Go.T. the ghouls that that the sentry bots were fighting, i could not kill, but in vats i could hurt them. My follower,Charon, could not either and this is at level 24, i got to the point of quiting.


 * June 10th, 2009 - (UPDATE This bug appears to have not been the game but my console. The saves loaded just fine on a different Xbox 360. A few days later my xbox three ringed... I've recanted my comments towards Bethesda.) - Two of my saves inside the Mobile Base Crawler load me outside vault 101 without any DLC items... I'm not sure if I can return to the airforce base... Here is how it happened....
 * I got Broken Steel after having beaten the game (and the vast majority of the major and minor side missions). Everything was going great until I exploited the exp glitch inside the Adams Air Force Base runway (the infinite waves of enemies attacking the Brotherhood of Steel on the runway). Well there was a nice hole in one of the hangers and a convenient scaffolding to shoot out and kill the Enclave. It was great. I leveled up to 25, added to my skills, picked out my perk and kept on killing. So I got like 1/4 into level 26 when I decided to move on (I guess I had killed 50 or so Enclave). I then moved out onto the runway and annihilated everyone that was left. The waves stopped! So I looted all their bodies and returned back to the control tower for the objective. So I triggered the ramp and the vertibirds flew over firing... well I shot two down =) Their parts rained down on the runway. I thought nothing of it. Well when I returned back to the runway one enclave soldier had risen from the dead!!! I know he use to be dead, because he was running around in his underwear because I had taken his armor while he was very much dead on the ground. I easily killed him and moved on. Still not to the major problem.... but I'll continue. So I enter the mobile crawler and move right. I talk to that guy and let him go. I then triggered squad Sigma, killed them all. I then ran back to the opposite exit to the barracks (the exit to the right when you first enter the mobile base - the really dark tunnel with stairs going straight up). Of-course, it auto saved upon going up. So I cleared 90% of the barracks until I hit some hard enemies... my companion (Charon) died. So I was content in not saving. I believe I went straight to the dash board while still playing the game (generally not a problem - I figured my save was valid). So I come back the next day..... load my most recent auto save.... and BOOM I was loaded in front of Vault 101... there I meet Dogmeat's puppy for the first time....But I most certainly did not load where the game had saved!!!!!!!! So I figured I had loaded the wrong save..... nope I've triple checked it - even the image of the save is inside the mobile base. So I figured the auto save had just messed up.... so I load up my most recent manual save (I had saved it not even 2 minutes before I went up the ladder that caused the auto save). BOOM I still load in front of vault 101. So I figured, well somehow it has gotten one of my saves mixed up with another....but NO I looked inside my inventory and it had some of the items I was carrying (basically all the normal fallout 3 stuff. NONE of the Broken steel stuff was there (like the tri-beam gatling gun or my Tesla Cannon or my new armor)) I know because I only carry a specific amount of the grenades (10 each) and I had way more than that for plasma and pulse grenades (I picked them up at Adams Air Force Base). Also, when I'm loading the two glitched broken steel saves... it says my rank is an even 25. Which can't be. It appears to fail at loading broken steel and rather than telling me so... it acts like nothing is wrong and I'm good to continue on.... ummmm NO! My guess is they error default load to Vault 101 because everyone knows where that is. My two broken steel saves are crazy glitched. Luckily I still have my purifier save and could replay broken steel If need be..... but damn...
 * It simple looks like your Broken Steel DLC isn't loading. Just try re-downloading it.


 * June 10, 2009 - I restarted everything after the main quest was finished (without Broken Steel) I proceeded with The Pitt and O:A. After completing Broken Steel any side quests I did not complete said they were completed (ex: You Gotta Shoot'em in the head I didn't kill any of the targets but it said I completed it when I talked to Mister Crowley he says "You stole something valuble from me get away." And when I tried to get the Special Keys the targets didn't have them. So now I am unable to collect the T51-b Armour. (Xbox 360)
 * That isn't a Broken Steel glitch, it's a glitch to do with Operation : Anchorages Winterised T-51b Power Armour. The armour affects the You Gotta Shoot'em in the Head quest just like the T-51b Power Armour.
 * June 17, 2009 - I completed the Take It Back! quest (I sacrificed myself), and after the Two Weeks Later screen, and talking to Elder Lyons, Charon disappeared and is absolutely NOWHERE to be found. Help!
 * Try going to The Pitt or Point Lookout. Going either place will remove followers and send them to their default locations. Provided they're still alive.
 * June 18, 2009- After downloading Broken steel i went through the whole game, (evil Character) but let both autumn and eden live, I woke up after the 2 weeks and went about my business (dying a few times from drinking aqua pura with FEV haha) eventually i wanted to continue the game, and went to purity to get the other quests (megaton and rivet city) but EVERY time i have tried to enter the game freezes I dont even always click A just walking to the door freezes the game, I also tried jumping into the water, the game freezes, I tried going to rivet city, the game freezes, so far im ok everywhere else but any time i go to that lower area the game freezes. I have yet to find a solution or work around, and i havent heard about it anywhere accept myself. This problem only occurs with the evil character, and my other character (good at level 25) has no problems.
 * June 25, 2009- After installation of Broken Steel Scribe Rothchild disappears after giving him a few Cameras.
 * June 25, 2009- After installation of Broken Steel unable to give Scribe Jameson Holotags.

Minor glitches

 * May 5th, 2009 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXtFfZDqD3w Adams Air Force Base Map Glitch, walk outside the map on Xbox 360
 * May 5th, 2009 - GNR may begin playing information about the completed Project Purity, discussing plot details ahead of time. (confirmed Xbox 360, PC)
 * May 5th, 2009 - Unable to save games in Fallout 3 after Broken Steel has been downloaded (Xbox 360 version). Doing so creates "Disc is Unreadable" error.  Autosave still works.  After getting the "Unreadable" error, cannot get to the loading screen to load another saved point.
 * May 5th, 2009 - Reported incident of Lyons' Pride, apart from Sarah Lyons, refusing to cross the bridge en route to Project Purity. (Xbox 360)
 * May 5th, 2009 - Upon completing a mission of the Broken Steel DLC, the achievement is visible to you in viewing, but not visible to anybody else comparing achievements. Gamerscore as well does not add up correctly, either not going over 1200, or not adding the full amount. (Xbox 360)
 * May 6th, 2009 - Once you have beaten the game and move on to the "2 weeks later" section the Pip-Boy display stays blank. Saving and reloading the game fixes this minor glitch. (Xbox 360)
 * May 6th, 2009 - After Take it Back!, water in the Capital Wasteland still radiates you. (Xbox 360)
 * Not a glitch, as the purifier has only just started cleaning the water in the basin, which hasn't affected the whole basin let alone the wasteland yet.


 * May 7th, 2009 - Dead bodies out on the Adams AFB turf disappear and are not able to be looted. (Xbox 360)
 * May 7th, 2009 - Enclave mind-controlled deathclaws attack PC even if the player has the deathclaw mind control device on them. (Xbox 360)
 * May 7th, 2009 - Paladin Bael, the unnamed boss paladin and the Sentry Bot in front of the Citadel main gate disappear after Take It Back! quest is completed. (Xbox 360 & PC versions)
 * May 8th, 2009 - Sometimes Enclave Soldiers will be seen around the Capital Wasteland without having reached the appropriate stage of the main quest. This author found Enclave Soldiers around Dukov's Place without having made it that far in the main quest, and experienced the GNR plot details bug mentioned above. (confirmed Xbox 360 & PC)
 * May 8th, 2009 - Upon Entering Craterside Supply; Billy Creel, Harden Simms, Moira Brown and the Mercenary all fell through the floor. Upon moving in any direction, your character will fall through the floor. (Xbox 360)
 * May 10, 2009 - You can not leave the Tenpenny Tower penthouse without the game locking up. (Xbox 360-Needs confirmation)
 * I cant get into Tennpenny tower in the loading screen the game freezes (XBOX 360, Operation Anchorage, Broken Steel, The Pitt)
 * May 11th, 2009 - Holy Water Pamphlet : If you stand in front of your door house and take & read the note saving the game and then reloading the game, the note will appear again. The same will appear on any other door that the note exist. Found out on Xbox 360 and PC versions.
 * May 11th, 2009 - After completing all the main story quests on Broken Steel I had Fawkes with me, and I went back to my Tenpenny Tower Suite where I had Dogmeat and Charon waiting and they had disappeared. After a few days had passed in the game a note popped up on the screen saying Dogmeat's puppy is waiting at Vault 101 (I have the Puppies perk) but Charon was still gone. I decided to go to The Pitt and when I got to The Pitt a note popped up on the screen again but this time it said, "Fawkes is waiting in the Museum of History", "Dogmeat is waiting at Vault 101" and "Charon has returned to the Ninth Circle". All of my companions have reappeared now, not sure if this is a glitch. If this has happened to anybody else please confirm. (Xbox 360, 1.5 patch, Operation Anchorage, The Pitt, Broken Steel DLC)
 * May 11th, 2009 - After completing Take It Back!, woke up in the Citadel with Fawkes (my companion). The game now freezes every time I try to fast travel and about 75%, if I try to leave the Citadel via the front door. Additionally, after starting a new game, it froze every time I talked to Wally Mack during the birthday party scene. (Xbox 360, 1.5 patch, with The Pitt and Operation: Anchorage downloaded previously with no problems.)
 * May 11th, 2009 - There's a glitch to where when you hit level 30. After distributing your skill points and Perk, if you check your Pip-Boy, your level cap will be level 31. It doesn't effect gameplay, can be frustrating. This may be caused by entering a building when you just level up. (Xbox 360)
 * It was the same with 20 level cap, before BS. I guess, it s simplified programming of interface.


 * May 12th, 2009 - I have noticed that my second save (Xbox 360, Anchorage, Pitt complete, Main Quest unfinished (Following In His Footsteps)) appears to have a bug with the +0 rads stat on consumable items, Pip-Boy states "+0 rads" but on consumption in-game display reads "+1 rads". I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the Armory south of Regulator HQ (Lawbringer Perk) as when I noticed the +1 I was looting the highly radiated area of the armory and was using and Advanced Radiation Suit, Food Sanitizer, Rad-X and copious amounts of Rad Away. Continued after leaving Armory and the effects of drugs wore off and armour switched to Chinese Stealth Armour with Shady Hat and Filtration Helmet. (Xbox 360, most recent patch, Anchorage, Pitt & Broken Steel loaded)
 * My guess is, it has something to do with rounding to closest integer. It looks as if there are 2 formulas, slightly different. Anyway, even 85 rad resist will still give you 1 rad, even if it says 0.


 * May 12th, 2009 - Aqua Pura crates were in front Evergreen Mills, even though the purifier hadn't been activated yet - James hadn't even been rescued from Tranquility Lane. (Xbox 360 and PC)
 * May 12th, 2009 - Upon waking up in the Citadel and checking my Pip-boy for quests, 'Take it back!' and 'Project Impurity' both had remained as rivendelshire is open in Vault 101 as active. I completed the 'Holy Water' and 'Protecting the Water Way' and Take it back and Project impurity had still not ended. I entered the control room (rotunda) in a hope to end them both, and I am now stuck. The doors cannot be accessed, and I am given the message 'The door had locked shut behind you. There is no exit.' Which is the same as that given during the final confrontation of Colonel Autumn.


 * Milk and water are in Vault 101 and in your house when you go out (unconfirmed, Xbox 360).


 * May 13th, 2009 - Upon entering the purifier airlock at the end of Take it back, Charon followed me in and stood behind me as I entered the code. After the two weeks later screen I saw he had gone and searched both in the purifier and the ninth circle. Now not only have I lost Charon, i've lost the power armour from fort Constantine and the ability to have any other followers than Dogmeat.
 * This can be helped with on PC like this:
 * Check companions talk page for ideas how to solve problems with other followers.
 * Check companions talk page for ideas how to solve problems with other followers.
 * Check companions talk page for ideas how to solve problems with other followers.
 * Check companions talk page for ideas how to solve problems with other followers.


 * May 17th, 2009 - Fawkes may become invincible after downloading Broken Steel. I watched two Feral Ghoul Reavers in the Presidential Metro that were "having a fit" pound the crap out of Fawkes for 5 minutes, he didn't lose any health.
 * May 23rd, 2009 - After completing the final quest and talking to Elder Lyons about giving him supplies to rebuild Prime, he vanishes and is nowhere to be seen. Even when waiting for the meeting when all important NPC's meet in the briefing room he is still nowhere to be seen. Later on, Rothchild vanishes the same way and is nowhere to be seen.

May 23rd, 2009 - Liberty Prime's head is still where he died even though you can see him in the Citadel Laboratory, so he is in two spots at once.


 * After downloading broken steel, all creature companions (Sergeant RL-3, Fawkes, and Dogmeat) Are nearly invincible when first hired. They will still be the same if hired BEFORE downloading broken steel however.(360)

Videos
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 * Enclave Radio reappeared a day or two after completion of DLC, may be minor, but appears to freeze the game upon entering the Museum of American History.