Fallout 76

Fallout 76 is a multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the newest installment in the Fallout series (ninth overall) and was released on Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on November 14, 2018.

The story is set in Appalachia, comprised of the former state of West Virginia. The player takes the role of a dweller from Vault 76 as they attempt to reunite with their missing overseer. On their journey, the dweller discovers how Appalachia has been devastated by the fallout, and crosses paths with different factions with conflicting ideals on how to revitalize or conquer Appalachia.

Fallout 76 originally began on October 23, 2102 (Reclamation Day), 25 years after the Great War. Time progressed by one year with the release of addtional updates, the starting year being 2103 with the Wastelanders update, and 2104 with the Steel Reign update. This places the game's story before that of any previous games.

Development
The idea for Fallout 76 arose out of a desire to implement multiplayer into the Fallout 4 engine. Eventually, a decision was made to develop this as a standalone project. Development commenced shortly before the release of Fallout 4, at Bethesda Game Studios in Austin, Texas. Fallout 76 is the first Bethesda game to use tools for automatic bounced lights. Prior to this, all Bethesda games had their bounced lights manually placed by hand.

Because the engine of Fallout 4 was tailored to only handle one player, the developers experienced difficulties modifying the engine to handle multiple players. Whether or not the game should have human non-player characters was a large debate in the developer team. The developers agreed on a consensus to try an experimental approach in which other players took the role of non-player characters.

Despite the initial lack of human non-player characters, Fallout 76 has more voice lines than any previous game in the series, and this record was broken even before the Wastelanders update. It also has more holotapes and notes than all previously released Fallout games added together. Several voice actors for the game used Governor Jim Justice as reference for replicating a West Virginian accent; specifically, a YouTube video of Justice discussing the state's budget was highlighted by voice director Kal-El Bogdanove. For the Wastelanders update, Bethesda Softworks actually went over their budget for voice actors, as human non-player characters were being added to the game.

Promotion
The game was officially unveiled at E3 2018. A beta version, the B.E.T.A. (Break-it Early Test Application), was available to those who pre-ordered the game. The beta began on October 23 for Xbox One and on October 30 for PC and PS4. The game's servers were only up for a few hours at a time, in order to test large amounts of players online at the same time. Player progress made during the beta was carried over into the full game.

Active periods for the beta were scheduled as follows:


 * October 23, from 7:00pm EDT to 11:00pm EDT (Xbox One)
 * October 27, from 5:00pm EDT to 7:00pm EDT (Xbox One)
 * October 28, from 12:00pm EDT to 2:00pm EDT (Xbox One)
 * October 30, from 7:00pm EDT to 11:00pm EDT (all platforms)
 * November 1, from 2:00pm EDT to 11:00pm EDT (all platforms)
 * November 3, from 5:00pm EDT to 9:00pm EDT (all platforms)
 * November 4, from 2:00pm EST to 9:00pm EST (all platforms)
 * November 6, from 1:00pm EST to 3:00pm EST (all platforms)
 * November 8, from 2:00pm EST to 8:00pm EST (all platforms)

According to Marc Tardif in June 2019, content containing living human characters was initially "not even on [the] radar" for Bethesda, and community feedback was the driving force behind the development of the update. However, lead designer Ferret Baudoin stated in August 2020 that, from the beginning of development, some developers disagreed with the idea of excluding human NPCs in the base game. Despite this, there were a number of logistical issues that prevented human NPCs from appearing at launch, as it would have further complicated an already difficult technical process. Baudoin said that it was actually on the radar "from a very early point." After the initial release, several patches have been released.

Gameplay


According to Todd Howard, the map is four times the size of Fallout 4. Todd emphasized the environment has more detail than Fallout 4, and that the game would utilize an open-world environment. Random encounters return. One player can have up to five characters under the same account. Each server has its own weather and time of day with occasional verdant seasons for better harvest yields. Due to its multiplayer nature, it is not possible to manually save, as the game instead keeps track for every action the player does, such as moving around the map or dropping an item.

Fallout 76 has some UI changes and convenient quality-of-life features over Fallout 4. Players can now fast travel from inside interiors. The inventory now has a tab for newly obtained items. Armor and apparel are now distinct categories, and the quest menu now has different sub-categories for main quests and side quests. Quest markers now show the names of quest objectives. The player can use a semi-transparent menu HUD instead of the Pip-Boy. With the Night of the Moth update, the ability to quickly loot all enemies within a certain radius was implemented, and the keyring was added as well.

Mods are currently not officially supported by Bethesda as they were in Fallout 4, although in August 2020, Jeff Gardiner mentioned that the team is working on an official mod support system. While Bethesda seemingly tolerates unofficial mods to a certain extent, cheats or hacks are grounds for account termination. Despite this, the game has had recurring issues with players duplicating items.

Combat
Combat in Fallout 76 is similar to Fallout 4. A major difference is the way that V.A.T.S. works, as it now functions in real-time, whereas in the previous game it slowed time. This change is due to the game's multiplayer nature.

Multiplayer system
While the game is meant to be played with others, solo play is possible, either by avoiding interactions with other players, or by using a private server via the game's subscription service. Most of the quests can be solved solo, with only a few events requiring to team up with others.

The game is run on multiple servers, with each having a maximum capacity of twenty-four players, who can team up into squads with a maximum of four people. Interaction with other player characters is done via the emote wheel and voice chat.

Low-level griefing is allowed. Examples of low-level griefing include destroying other player's C.A.M.P.s with explosive bait (which can only occur if PvP is engaged and Pacifist Mode is off) or nukes, as well as trapped C.A.M.P.s, in which players can kill others and steal their junk items. However, hate speech and extreme verbal toxicity are grounds for a ban. The game has anti-grief measures, such as players being unable to stalk other players into different servers by only knowing their username, the ability to mute other players, as well as Pacifist Mode. Despite some exceptions, Fallout 76 is generally known for having a friendly playerbase, in which a lot of high-level players will try to aid low-level players by giving them items.

Events and nukes
Nukes can be used following the completion of the main quest, I Am Become Death. To launch a nuke, a player must visit one of the three main missile silos; Site Alpha, Site Bravo or Site Charlie, all of which have identical layouts. After a series of small tasks, the player can launch a nuke using a nuclear keycard and a launch code, the latter of which changes weekly. When utilized, the resulting nuclear blast zone is highly radioactive, and while it holds valuable resources and high level enemies, entering it requires a high Radiation Resistance. Any C.A.M.P. caught in a blast zone will be destroyed. Except for a protected part of the Forest starting region, nukes can be launched at any destination.

A variety of different Events are ongoing in each server. A player favorite, Radiation Rumble is the go-to event for fast character progression. Two specific events, A Colossal Problem and Scorched Earth, require one player in the server to nuke either Monongah Mine or the area around fissure site Prime in the southeastern Cranberry Bog. The first allows to fight Earle Williams, while the second results in an encounter with a Scorchbeast Queen, both of which are considered "end-game bosses". Daily Ops are events in which up to four players race against time to complete objectives in one of many maps.

NPCs and quest system
Quests at launch were akin to found-world quests. They were largely received through holotape recordings, terminals and notes. Robots were also utilized to deliver the story of the quest and other traditional roles played by NPCs in past iterations.

There are robots and other creatures with personalities that can give out quests and engage in bartering. At launch, almost all other characters met by a player were those of other players at release.

Due to the multiplayer format, many quests are instanced. For players to assist each other in an instanced mission, they require the team leader to enter a location first. Other members of the team can assist the team leader in their instance, although they will not have progress done on their own character. Members can listen to the team leader's dialogue with NPCs as well.

The Wastelanders update introduced living human NPCs with to Appalachia who now give quests. Moving away from the dialogue system of Fallout 4, players can now see their full responses, and conversations often have SPECIAL checks. Due to the online shared nature of the world, with the exception of very few moments during quests, NPCs can not be killed or harmed by the player. They can not be pickpocketed and they do not react to the player looting items in their vicinity. Nuking an area with NPCs will result in them wearing hazmat suits.

Survival elements
The game has been described by Todd Howard as a "softcore survival game." Death does not result in loss of progression; instead, the player will merely drop all the junk on-hand. Players can retrieve their junk left behind in a bag, indicated by a map icon, and other players may steal it. On occasion, the player will be downed instead of being killed right away, in which case another player can use a stimpak to revive them. Like previous Fallout games, the player can sleep in beds to restore their health, but due to the time of day being uniform in the server, sleeping does not advance time.

Appalachia has a railway connecting various train stations which can help supply the player. There are also thirteen lookout towers where the player can examine the landscape at the top which will add new locations to the world map.

Initially, food and drinks were important to help survive as starving would result in continual HP damage while being dehydrated would limit the maximum AP. This was later patched out, so that being more well-fed will grant more max HP and disease resistance, while being hydrated will boost AP regeneration and disease resistance.

Inventory management is a huge part of the game. Every player has their own instanced stashbox with a current maximum capacity of 1200. Stashboxes have the same contents no matter where they are accessed. Fallout 1st players have access to a scrapbox, which allows them to place unlimited amounts of components in it.

Diseases act as temporary debuffs, and can be acquired by various means; by being submerged under water without protective headwear, sleeping on the ground, or by fighting diseased enemies. While diseases do not last longer than an hour, they can be removed prematurely by using antibiotics, disease cure or a Sympto-Matic.

Mutations can be developed by players, either by being exposed to radiation, or by using a special serum. They are an important gameplay mechanic, and each mutation gives both advantages and disadvantages. They may be removed by RadAway, unless the second rank of the Starched Genes perk is equipped. Their effects can be temporarily suppressed by taking Rad-X.

Crafting is a major part of the game. Players loot junk items from the world, and scrap them into raw components, with which they can build a variety of items, ranging from weapons, ammunition, armor, furniture, to consumables such as food and medicine. Raw components are also required to repair weapons and armor, as they gradually deteriorate, with higher quality equipment requiring rarer components. Certain items also require plans or recipes in order to be crafted. In addition, it is possible to harvest ore from mineral deposits, which can then be smelted at a chemistry station.

Backpacks can be used to increase carry weight. A plan for small backpacks can be found exploring Morgantown Airport. A larger backpack involves the completion of the side quest The Order of the Tadpole.

Faction reputation
Two distinct factions were introduced with the Wastelanders storyline: The Raiders and the Settlers, located in the Crater and Foundation, respectively. A reputation mechanic exists, which allows for the player to slowly improve their standing with either faction. Certain decisions in quests can increase the reputation with a faction, and daily quests available in each faction's settlement guarantee that the reputation with both can be maxed out. The benefit of a high reputation lies in having access to more plans at a faction's trader. There is generally no repuation loss for killing members of a faction.

Housing and allies
The Construction and Assembly Mobile Platform, or C.A.M.P. for short, is a key feature, which allows players to construct their own dwellings. It can be moved to another location in exchange for a small amount of caps. It also allows for players on a private team to build objects at their teammate's C.A.M.P., even when the owner has not learned the plan for the object built. Teammates can also freely use furniture and appliances at each other's camp, as long as they are not locked. It is also possible to build vending machines, through which a player can sell their items to other players. C.A.M.P.s can be attacked by hostile creatures or other players, and destroyed parts of a C.A.M.P. can be repaired.

While initially only one C.A.M.P. per character was allowed, a free second slot was made available with the One Wasteland For All update, which also introduced shelters. Shelters have less strict building restrictions when it comes to placing items, as they are interior locations and not part of the actual game world, even though some items cannot be build inside them. Additional C.A.M.P. slots and shelter variants can be purchased from the Atomic Shop.

Workshops are temporary C.A.M.P.s, and each workshop has a predefined amount of resource deposits available, which can be harvested by building mineral extractors. Just like shelters, certain items are prohibited from being build at a workshop. Control over a workshop is lost, if the player leaves a server.

Much like settlements in Fallout 4, C.A.M.P.s, shelters, and workshops all have a budget limiting the amount of items that can be build. Each buildable item has its own value contributing to the budget.

Several allies are found throughout Appalachia, and each one has their own distinctive piece of furniture, which can be placed at a C.A.M.P. Only one ally can be active at any given time. Some allies, like Sofia Daguerre or Beckett, have their own small questline. They can also be romanced, which unlocks the Lover's Embrace perk, which grants a longer XP boost after the player sleeps in a bed. Allies can also give out daily quests unique to them. With the exception of Daphne and Maul, the player can customize their ally's outfit and headwear. Allies can have their own unique benefits; for example, speaking with Maul temporarily raises Strength.

Leveling and perk card system
After completing the initial release from the vault (level 2), players gain a point and need to build their SPECIAL attributes. The seven categories are each presented to the player in the form of perk cards. Players can then build on those SPECIALs by adding additional cards (perks) to them.

Players have to spend a varying number of points on cards, dependent on the initial value. Cards of the same type can be combined with an additional point cost to create a higher ranked version of that initial card, max rank depends on the card. The value of the card is shown in the upper left corner. Players gain a SPECIAL point on level up until level 50 which they can assign to a SPECIAL stat of their choosing. After level 50, players are still able to pick a perk card but no longer receive SPECIAL points. From level 25 onward, punch card machines can be utilized for different SPECIAL Loadouts. They allow for easy (re-)distribution of SPECIAL points for loadouts, and also for changing the currently active loadout.

On top of players assigning cards to their character to enhance their own build, there are also cards available to enhance the current statistics of their team as a whole, most of which fall under Charisma. There are few solo-player Charisma cards, as the majority are designed for team play. Another way players can support their team is by sharing perk cards. Players can only share one perk card, the rank of the card they can share is based on the Charisma SPECIAL stat. For every three points of Charisma, one perk card point can be shared.

Initially, players receive a Perk Card Pack every two levels up to level ten. This is a random selection of four cards that the player can swap out with their current cards. After level ten, players receive the card packs every five levels. These packs can occasionally include a card that is higher in value than normal, increasing a stat or ability more than it would otherwise. There are hundreds of cards available.

Legendary perks unlock after level 50 and allow the player to equip certain perk cards and rank up their effects using perk coins.

PvP
Player versus player (PvP) combat does not become available until the player character is level 5. Player characters invite other characters to duel by attacking, though these attacks do not deal any damage. Before patch 7.5, they dealt nominal damage. If the player being attacked fires back, the damage being inflicted between the two players is regulated, but only if there is a large level gap between them. Players who are close to the same level inflict full damage with no restrictions. Player characters who are severely different in level have their damage placed on a curve with the higher level player doing less damage than they normally would at their level, while the lower level player does more.

If the opposing player responds but then dies, they can seek revenge. If they kill the initial instigating player, they receive double the rewards. Killers can collect any junk their target drops.

If a player continues to attack another player and that player has not responded, but eventually is killed by the instigating player, the offender will have a bounty placed on their head and are "wanted". They receive no loot or experience for killing the opposing player. The now-hunted player is visible to all others on the map, indicated by a red star. They also cannot see anybody else on the map. Killing the marked player results in higher-than-normal rewards.

Survival mode
Survival mode was a more competitive way to play Fallout 76 that was separate from the main game, had fewer PvP restrictions, higher stakes for PvP combat and a permanent XP bonus. It was released in a beta form as part of the Wild Appalachia update with patch 7.5 on March 26, 2019. There was also a scoreboard system, as well as new weekly challenges that had legendary rewards. Upon hitting Play from the Main Menu, a choice was given to play either the standard Adventure mode or Survival mode. As of October 1, 2019, the Survival mode beta has been brought offline on all platforms and is no longer playable.

Private worlds
Private worlds is a mode where players with the Fallout 1st subscription can play on their own "private server." It was released on October 23, 2019, along with patch 14. The server holds up to eight players and has better server stability than Adventure mode servers. Any progress made on the server is not saved, such as taking a workshop, farming junk spots, killing enemies, etc.

If the server host leaves and no other players within the server have a Fallout 1st subscription, remaining players have a 30 minute grace period to leave before the server shuts down. However, if a player other than the original server host has a Fallout 1st subscription, the server will not shut down.

Seasons, S.C.O.R.E. and scoreboards
Seasons last for roughly three months, and with each season, a new scoreboard is added to Fallout 76. Daily and weekly challenges, such as obtaining purified water, defeating mole miners or visiting a teammate's shelter, can be completed in order to gain S.C.O.R.E., which is automatically used to rank up and progress on the scoreboard. Each rank increases the amount of S.C.O.R.E. required to reach the next rank. Rewards can be claimed directly from scoreboard, and are usually only available for the duration of a season. With recent updates, Bethesda has started to make certain items of past seasons available via plans, which can be bought in exchange for gold bullion from certain traders.

Currencies
Fallout 76 uses four major currencies: Caps, gold bullion, legendary scrip, and Atoms. Several minor forms of currency also exist. Caps are most frequently used for the majority of transactions with vendors and other players. They are awarded for completing quests, can be found in stashes and other containers, or on defeated enemies. Gold bullion is primarily obtained by exchanging Treasury Notes, and is used to buy plans that are rare or unobtainable otherwise. Vendors accepting gold bullion are Minerva, Regs at Vault 79, Samuel at Foundation and Mortimer at the Crater. Legendary scrip is obtained from completing daily quests, or by exchanging legendary weapons and armor at a legendary exchange machine. Scrip can be used to buy random weapons and armor parts, as well as crafting components such as legendary modules, from Purveyor Murmrgh at the Rusty Pick.

Atoms can be obtained through different methods; by completing lifetime challenges, by ranking up S.C.O.R.E. on the scoreboard during a season, or by purchasing them using real-world money (100 Atoms are akin to US$ 1.) Most challenges are tied to the account rather than a created character; for example, collecting 760 wood only grants Atoms once, collecting the same amount with another character does nothing. However, this also means that progression can be shared between characters; for example, a player could collect 500 wood with one character and 260 wood with another in order to obtain the Atoms for the challenge. Completing a scoreboard will net the player 500 Atoms, and additional 100 Atoms for each 10th rank after rank 100.

Atomic Shop
Atoms can be used in the Atomic Shop for a variety of items. They include purely cosmetic effects in form of skins or paints for weapons and armors, furniture and other object for C.A.M.P. decoration, or emotes. The contents of the Atomic Shop are updated every 7 days, with certain bundles being available for as long as 14 days. Past offers are usually returning at some point, though it is impossible to say if or when. An item, such as a nuclear keycard or a repair kit, is available for free every 24 hours.

Setting and story
The game is set in Appalachia, comprised of the former state of West Virginia. Appalachia, as explored in the game, consists of six distinct regions: the Forest, Ash Heap, Toxic Valley to the west, the Savage Divide in the center, and the Mire and Cranberry Bog in the east. Drawing from real-life inspiration, various West Virginia cities have been adapted into Fallout 76 such as Point Pleasant, Charleston, Welch, Beckley, Lewisburg, Summersville, Sutton, Clarksburg, Morgantown, Flatwoods, and Harpers Ferry. However, their locations have been re-arranged compared to a real-life map of West Virginia. Some locations such as Camden Park, the New River Gorge Bridge and Mothman Museum exist in real life, while The Greenbrier was adapted into the Whitespring Resort and Woodburn Circle into Vault-Tec University.

Several creatures from local folklore, such as the Mothman, Flatwoods monster, Grafton monster, Wendigo, or Sheepsquatch, were also taken over for the game.

Original questline
The plot involves Vault 76, which is one of the 17 control vaults designed without an experiment; physical, psychological or social. The players, the Vault Dwellers, some of the best and brightest of America, emerge from Vault 76 following a celebration of Reclamation Day, having been sent on a quest to rebuild Appalachia by their overseer, who left the vault before the rest of the inhabitants. The vault dwellers learn about the Scorched Plague, a virus transforming survivors into Scorched, and the emergence of scorchbeasts spreading the virus which are gigantic mutated bats.

The player is given the task of tracking down the overseer, following her footsteps and holotapes as she travels Appalachia and discovers how the War has changed her former home. In the process, the player becomes familiar with different pre- and post-War factions such as the Responders, Brotherhood of Steel, raiders and the Enclave, and how they coped with the disaster. One focus on the game in particular revolves around a Brotherhood member, Elizabeth Taggerdy, and her unit, Taggerdy's Thunder. Elizabeth pleaded with her superior, Roger Maxson, to grant her team permission to use nuclear weapons against the scorchbeasts but was forbidden by him.

The player attempts to fulfill the overseer's desire to secure one of the missile silos in the region in order to launch a nuclear weapon to fight the scorchbeasts spreading the plague, protecting humanity by preventing the plague from spreading beyond the boundaries of Appalachia.

Wastelanders
Wastelanders was a major content overhaul to Fallout 76, featuring human NPCs. Wastelanders begins on October 23, 2103. In order to begin the Wastelanders storyline, the player finds Isela Mejia and Lacey Drummond outside Vault 76 when they first leave, who are disappointed they are having difficulties locating a rumored treasure. Afterward, the player is directed to The Wayward bar, where they encounter a woman, Maude (also known as "Duchess"), being held at gunpoint by Batter.

After much exploration, the player eventually learns about two new groups that have settled in Appalachia; the brutal Raiders at Crater led by a woman named Meg Groberg, and the friendlier Settlers at Foundation led by a man named Paige. The Scorched Plague is relevant in this storyline, as well as efforts in order to widely spread a vaccine against it. Meanwhile, the player will learn about Vault 79, the site of the rumored treasure, and must choose which of the two factions to raid the vault with.

Steel Dawn and Steel Reign
Steel Dawn and Steel Reign are a story revolving around a recent Brotherhood of Steel expedition arriving from California, the Brotherhood First Expeditionary Force, who were sent to re-establish contact with the original Appalachian Brotherhood. By the time of Steel Reign, the year is 2104.

This questline focuses on two members with conflicting ideals about where the Brotherhood should go; Knight Daniel Shin and Paladin Leila Rahmani, as well as the Scribe Odessa Valdez who acts as a mediator between the two. The story also focuses on some youth involved with the Brotherhood, such as young brothers named Colin Putnam and Marty Putnam who wish to join the Brotherhood to better humanity, an inexperienced member who lacks self-confidence named Erika Hewsen, as well as a young woman who blames the Brotherhood for her family's demise named Marcia Leone. To begin the Brotherhood questline, the player must be at least level 20 and will need to visit Fort Atlas.

Updates
Updates, or add-ons, in Fallout 76 are different from previous games. With the online nature of the game, add-ons function as a series of updates spanning a certain period of time featuring new content. All of this content is free and is incorporated into the game. These include:
 * Wild Appalachia - Released on March 13, 2019, introduced new features, creatures and quests.
 * Nuclear Winter - Released on June 10, 2019, includes a 52-player battle royale gameplay mode. Note that Nuclear Winter is defunct as of late 2021.
 * Wastelanders - Released on April 14, 2020, added human NPCs to the game for the first time.
 * The Legendary Run - Released on June 30, 2020, introduced the seasons system.
 * One Wasteland For All - Released on September 15, 2020, featured a substantial balance overhaul across the entire game.
 * Steel Dawn - Released on November 24, 2020, introducing new questlines and mechanics.
 * Locked & Loaded - Released on April 27, 2021, introduces S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Loadouts, C.A.M.P. Slots, new Daily Ops, and more.
 * Steel Reign - Released on July 7, 2021, introduces a new questline and mechanics with legendary effects.
 * Fallout Worlds - Released on September 8, 2021, featured two new game modes including custom worlds, Daily Ops expansion, and more.
 * Night of the Moth - Released on December 8, 2021, introduces The Mothman Equinox seasonal event, as well as several quality of life changes, including Pip-Boy color settings, legendary loot sharing, and area looting.
 * Tales from the Stars - Slated for March 2022. It features the Invaders from Beyond seasonal event, 4-star Legendary effects and C.A.M.P. pets.
 * Expeditions: The Pitt - Slated for 2022.

Reception
At launch, Fallout 76 received "mixed or average" and "generally unfavorable" reviews on Metacritic, earning a metascore of 52/100 on PC, 53/100 on PS4, and 49/100 on Xbox One.

Since its launch, Fallout 76 received many bug fixes, content updates, and quality-of-life features over the next few years. Fallout 76 has "Mostly Positive" reviews on Steam with about 75-80% of recent players giving the game "positive" instead of "negative". The game continues to gain popularity in markets such as Japan.