When Fallout 76 comes up in conversation, many players may still think of the comedy of errors Bethesda suffered at the game’s launch. From the canvas bag disaster to players nuking servers offline, there were weeks of headlines that surrounded the multiplayer RPG in bad PR. This doesn’t happen in 2021, as the masses have moved on to more recent laughing stocks and other controversial topics. Those folks may be surprised to learn that Fallout 76 has thrived since launch, generating a dedicated community that now lives up to the promises Todd Howard made on the Bethesda stage all those E3s ago.
A lot of this is due to Fallout 76’s Wastelanders update, which adds in NPCs and traditional Fallout storytelling across 76‘s depiction of Appalachia. While the narrative isn’t as in-depth as most numbered sequels in the series, finding someone to talk to at the end of a trek through an abandoned building is a much greater reward than sitting in one spot listening to a survivor’s audio log. These tapes, once burdened with the entire weight of Fallout 76‘s narrative, now serve their proper purpose as side content that builds out the world of the game for those interested.
It’s more than just NPCs that have improved the Fallout 76 experience. Howard’s original pitch for the game included the idea that players would serve as vendors and NPCs in the world. The latter point obviously did not pan out, as communication with random players in-game is still limited mostly to a string of emotes and maybe dropping an item on the ground. However, happening upon a player’s C.A.M.P. is now an enjoyable experience more often than not. Those who love Fallout 4‘s base-building mechanics craft intricate homes for themselves in Fallout 76, and even those who prefer to go at it in single-player will find themselves shopping the massive stockpiles of veteran players over the meager offerings of the robot vendors they’ll find along the way.
Fallout 76 Is Perfectly Fun Solo
Speaking of, despite Fallout 76‘s intent as a multiplayer-first experience, the game now definitely works for lone wanderers looking for a brief Fallout experience every so often. Thanks to the game’s new battle pass-style progression system and the new quests added by Fallout 76’s multiple major updates, there’s now more than enough to do without teaming up with anyone. No one questioned that Bethesda created a beautiful open world when Fallout 76 came out, and there’s now good reason to explore every corner of it in both solo play and multiplayer.
Despite falling out of mainstream favor almost instantly, the Fallout 76 players load into in 2021 is a vibrant online world that captures the essence of the series. With the game often on heavy discount and currently sitting alongside other Bethesda hits on Xbox Game Pass, there’s never been a better time to take a step outside the vault and experience Bethesda’s online experiment. Fallout 76 will likely never live down its disastrous launch, but the efforts of the developers at Bethesda to turn the game around and continue with major updates into the future has produced a fascinating open world experience that more players should sample.
