There is one word to explain Fallout 76, sadly it’s not “good.” I understand that there are a whole three people that still play 76, but it was a farce of an announcement, release, and continued updates. It was the equivalent of Bethesda saying, “You don’t like our stories; ok, here’s a world and play with your self.” This wasn’t helped when at E3, where it was announced following leaks, the most memorable thing was the torture device known as Andrew W.K, then the following year it was all the free-to-play mobile phone games. Yes, among the haze of E3 of 2019 you might have forgotten Bethesda said they were bringing human NPCs soon.

Since then we were given private worlds that we were promised the year prior, lots of cosmetics, and a few controversial items. However, that update bringing human NPCs was delayed back in October with the assumption by Bethesda that it would be ready for Q1 2020. Bethesda has provided an update in a blog with a release date and some extra details, but the game’s crucial update bringing human NPCs into the shallow sandbox MMORPG is pushed only slightly into Q2 of this year. Releasing on April 7th, on Xbox One, PS4, and PC. However, with the update comes the long-awaited Steam release of the game too.

Of course, the update is coming free to all players of the game, bringing people back into the game and thus to many, making it “a Fallout game, finally.” Though, for those that would rather pay for some extra content, Bethesda has you covered too, with more cosmetics. Split into two factions, the raiders and the settlers will get some themed content that can be bought within the game’s store. The former of which contains: the raider marauder power armor skin, a stash box, mine car planter, raider-styled C.A.M.P., raider pathfinder outfit, faction flag, raider conquest loot bag, and raider pillager backpack.

The settler bundle features the settler vigilante power armor skin, settler stash box, faction flag, settler mechanic outfit, settler relief backpack, settler traveler loot bag, settler C.A.M.P., and garden truckbed trailer planter. Functionally all the same, just with a slightly different skin from what is already in the game and each other. Not to detract from the artists, but it is entirely their work that’s on display with most of the coding for these items already done. I guess if you want to prop up that class-warfare that started with “Fallout 1st,” you could pick factions, but you’d still have to pay to be in the non-subscription paying group.

As I said near the top, you will finally be able to play the game through Steam instead of the Bethesda launcher. The Steam versions will come in two variants as the Fallout 76: Wastelanders and Fallout 76: Wastelanders Deluxe edition. Both editions will be available on April 7th along with the update, and players will also be able to pick up Atoms, Fallout 1st memberships, and other content from the Steam store. Interestingly enough, the Atoms you have earned from playing through the Bethesda.net launcher are non-transferable between the launchers. Atom purchases through Bethesda.net will not continue for Steam players.

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