🔗 Share this article

For the sixty-fourth substantial content addition since its launch, Fallout 76 is set to introduce its biggest expansion yet this December. Called the new expansion, this massive update will add additional firepower, expanded storylines, and take players to the freshly added region of Ohio.

An Impressive Evolution

Previously, the notion of Fallout 76 getting such a substantial update multiple years after launch would have been considered highly unlikely. When the online experience first launched in 2018, it received negative reviews from both critics and the community who deemed the early build buggy and half-baked. Numerous assumed it would meet similar ends as other live-service attempts of that time.

We have consistently had faith in this game, commented the development lead. The initial release was kind of like the beginning of our narrative. Users emerge and they initially find much content, and they become familiar with their world. For us was simply keeping our heads down and continuing to develop the experiences that we believe our players will love, and that we personally enjoy.

Exploring Unexplored Regions

The new content represents the biggest ever update to date. The key aspect is the map expansion, allowing players to venture outside into the Ohio region and explore what developments have transpired there. Fair warning: Trouble awaits!

The designers explained that exploring a new state after considerable duration in West Virginia presented an excellent opportunity to work with an new setting within the game world.

We hadn't really explored Ohio in the Fallout lore extensively, stated the development lead. Starting from the current map, if you travel east, you eventually reach the Capital Wasteland. We've explored thoroughly developed. The Ohio territory hasn't really been touched on extensively. Therefore, this installment being occurring before in the timeline provides us various storytelling options. The team wanted to discover what's happening in Ohio!

Finding Influence from Classic Titles

What immediately stands out about the game's depiction of this new territory is that it's designed as a dry environment. This could appear unexpected given the typical climate of Ohio, but there's a strategic explanation for this creative choice: The aesthetic was directly influenced by Fallout 3 and the Mojave Desert.

Instead of simply copying features from previous titles, the designers focused on representing the essential spirit of those games within the new expansion.

It wasn't centered around examining those games and declaring we want certain features, stated the creative director. The objective sought to create was embracing the characteristic feel of those classic experiences and having that accurately reflected in Burning Springs. The direction I communicated to the developers when we commenced creation on the fresh territory was: It must include desert environments, Deathclaws, and numerous raiders. In my view, that embodies what Fallout 3 and the Vegas title are all about. Those are the key components that create the characteristic feel of those titles, and so I aimed to have that reflected here.

Streaming Adaptation Connection

The success of the Amazon streaming show generated a substantial surge in player numbers for the online game, with accounts indicating a substantial fold increase. The studio recognized they needed to utilize this circumstance, but lacked the sufficient timeline to execute a full crossover instantly.

The solution came through natural progression when the creators found the natural intersection with The Ghoul, who serves as a mission providing NPC within the recent update.

We were figuring out what this fresh territory would feature, what the overall tone would be, and then what the signature element of the new region would develop into, that's contract missions, stated the development lead. What person better to host such activities than this character? He being a dedicated fan of the franchise too, he was extremely enthusiastic to work with us and complete this project. So it wasn't originally from the onset, but it developed through logical evolution of the gameplay.

Coming Updates

This expansion doesn't represent the concluding major update for the multiplayer experience. The development team is already working on the premier next year's content and planning additional content continuing as far as the future content drop.

There was a time where we never thought there would possibly exist an that many content additions, stated the development lead. Currently we are at a phase where circumstances have become so successful, for both the television series and the online experience. It's truly quite remarkable to contemplate that there's an seventy-sixth expansion that could potentially sync up with, potentially, whatever comes next!

Ongoing success of Fallout 76 stands as a evidence of the development team's dedication and steady approach to expanding upon their founding vision while naturally including additional features that improve rather than disrupt the familiar environment.