Fallout 76

Fallout 76 is an upcoming multiplayer game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the next installment in the Fallout series (ninth overall) and will be released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on November 14th, 2018.

Setting and story
The game is set in the state of West Virginia in the year of 2102, 25 years after the Great War and before any previous Fallout game. It involves Vault 76, one of the 17 control vaults, designed without a social experiment. The player character emerges from Vault 76 following a celebration of Reclamation Day, having been sent on a quest by the Overseer.

Gameplay
According to Todd Howard, the game is four times the size of Fallout 4. It utilizes an open-world environment. The game is entirely online but solo play is possible; via avoidance of other players. The game has been confirmed to have no interactive human NPCs, though there are still robots and other creatures that can give out quests. Almost all characters met by a player character will be those of other players.

The game has been labelled as a "softcore survival game." Death does not result in loss of progression, and food and water may also be needed to survive.

In addition to this, a crafting system, which allows players to construct their own dwellings, is a key feature. The system is shared between allied players. Dwellings are constructed using the Construction and Assembly Mobile Platform (C.A.M.P.).

Nukes can be obtained and used. When utilized, the nuclear blast uncovers valuable resources, however, player characters will need strong anti-radiation equipment to access the site.

The game is run from multiple servers, each holding a few dozen players at a time. Further to this, mods and private servers are planned for the game, however they will be implemented post-release.

Interaction with other player characters is done via the emote wheel.

Quest system
In an interview with Geoff Keighley at E3, Todd Howard stated that the quests will be akin to found-world quests. Per Jeff Gardiner, quests will be largely received through holotapes, terminals and notes. Howard also stated in an IGN interview that robots will be utilised to deliver the story of the quest and other traditional roles played by NPCs in past iterations.

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 of 76 commenced at the Austin, Texas, branch of Bethesda Game Studios shortly before the release of Fallout 4.

The game was officially unveiled at E3 2018. A beta version, the B.E.T.A. (Break it Early Test Application), will be available to those who pre-order the game.

Power Armor edition
The Power Armor edition of Fallout 76 is planned to feature a wearable T-51b power armor helmet, a canvas West Tek duffel bag, an exclusive Tricentennial steelbook, twenty-four collectible Fallout figurines, a glow-in-the-dark world terrain map of West Virginia, various Tricentennial Edition bonus in-game items, and access to the Fallout 76 B.E.T.A.

Tricentennial edition
The Tricentennial edition of Fallout 76 features: