🔗 Share this article

This marks the sixty-fourth significant update since its initial release, Fallout 76 is gearing up to launch its biggest content update yet in December. Called the new expansion, this comprehensive update will introduce new weapons, new missions, and transport players to the freshly added territory of the Ohio wasteland.

A Remarkable Journey

Previously, the notion of Fallout 76 getting such a substantial update a considerable time after release would have appeared impossible. When the multiplayer game originally released in 2018, it was met with skepticism from reviewers and gamers who found the initial version unpolished and conceptually incomplete. Some thought it would meet similar ends as similar online attempts of that era.

We have continuously trusted in this project, stated the development lead. The initial release was kind of like the beginning of our journey. Users come out and they initially find much content, and they explore their surroundings. For us was primarily remaining dedicated and continuing to develop the experiences that we believe our players will love, and that we as players ourselves.

Discovering Fresh Ground

The new content represents the biggest ever expansion to date. The primary element is the geographical extension, allowing players to cross the border into the Ohio region and explore what circumstances have occurred there. Spoiler alert: Danger lurks!

For the development team that entering a new state after extended time in West Virginia presented an ideal situation to develop an untouched location within the Fallout universe.

We hadn't extensively covered Ohio in the game's history in depth, commented the creative director. Starting from the existing territory, if you move east, you eventually reach the Washington DC area. We've explored quite familiar. The Ohio territory was touched on significantly. So, Fallout 76 being taking place first in the timeline offers us various development possibilities. The team wanted to discover what's happening in Ohio!

Taking Cues from Previous Games

What immediately surprises about the game's version of Ohio is that it's developed as a arid landscape. This might seem surprising given the typical climate of Ohio, but there's a strategic explanation for this design decision: The appearance was directly influenced by the Capital Wasteland and the Mojave Desert.

Instead of directly replicating features from classic installments, the creators prioritized representing the essential spirit of those experiences within the new expansion.

Our approach wasn't centered around studying those games and saying we need specific elements, clarified the development lead. The objective aimed to accomplish was embracing the distinct tone of those Fallout games and ensuring it properly represented in this expansion. What I told the designers when we commenced creation on the new region was: It needs to feature desert environments, dangerous monsters, and hostile factions. To me, that captures what Fallout 3 and New Vegas characterize. Those are the key components that define the characteristic feel of those titles, and so I wanted that mirrored here.

Amazon Show Connection

The success of the Fallout television series generated a significant rise in user engagement for the online game, with reports indicating a multiple times player growth. The creators understood they needed to capitalize on this circumstance, but were without the adequate schedule to create a comprehensive connection instantly.

The solution came through organic development when the creators found the natural intersection with Walton Goggins' character, who functions as a quest giving character within the new expansion.

We were establishing what this new region would contain, what the overall tone would be, and then what the hallmark aspect of the fresh territory would develop into, that's contract missions, commented the creative director. What person better to host these missions than The Ghoul? He being a knowledgeable admirer of the series too, he was extremely enthusiastic to work with us and make this happen. Therefore it wasn't planned from the beginning, but it evolved through natural progression of the gameplay.

Future Plans

Burning Springs doesn't represent the last expansion for the MMO. The creators is already working on the premier next year's content and organizing further updates continuing as far as the future content drop.

There was a period where we didn't believe there would actually happen an update 76, commented the production director. Now we're at a phase where things are so great, for both the show and the online experience. It's truly quite remarkable to consider that there's an that milestone that might eventually align with, as you might imagine, whatever comes next!

Ongoing popularity of Fallout 76 serves as a evidence of the development team's dedication and steady approach to building upon their founding vision while seamlessly incorporating fresh content that improve rather than disturb the existing universe.