Fallout 76 releases in November, and many gamers have tons of questions about the project. While we generally know what to expect from a traditional Fallout game, Fallout 76 adds online multiplayer for the first time in the series, so the experience will be different from any other Fallout game. Just how different? We finally have some answers thanks to Game Informer.
In terms of the Fallout 76 world, there is a max cap of 24 players on a given map and a max player group size of four. Seeing as how the Fallout 76 map is four times the size of Fallout 4's, that means this isn't going to be a crowded world. That said, any time you see another human walking around, it will be another player controlling it. All NPCs will be robots or other non-human characters.
The map is divided up into six different zones, each with their own difficulty. Players are free to wander into any zone at any time, but expect to face a difficult challenge if you end up in an area that is a higher level than your character. Specifics for each zone haven't been mentioned except for the cranberry bog zone, which is said to be incredibly difficult.
Leveling is important in a Fallout game, but changes have been made to Fallout 76 for player progression. It's still possible to get XP for doing just about anything, including completing quests, discovering new locations and killing enemies. There isn't a level cap in Fallout 76, so players are rewarded based on hitting certain level milestones.
The first 50 levels gain bonuses to one of the seven S.P.E.C.I.A.L. traits found in previous Fallout games. Once you up a trait's value, you can pick a perk card for that trait. For example, if you upgrade Endurance, you'll be able to pick an Endurance-related perk card. After hitting level 50, players stop receiving the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. bonus and are only rewarded with additional cards. Bethesda's Todd Howard is quoted in the Game Informer article saying there are hundreds of cards, including gold versions of each perk, which provide the most benefits. Cards cannot be purchased via microtransactions, so the only way to get more is to keep playing.
Other players can kill you, but it's a little more complex than that. If one player finds another, and shoots at them, the bullets don't do that much damage. It's more like a warning shot that you are being attacked. If the attacked player returns fire, bullet damage is returned to full. Killing a player earns you rewards, but puts a bounty on your head. If the person you killed comes back for revenge, that player earns double the rewards.
If a player attacks another, and the attacked player doesn't fire back, the attacker needs to stop. If you kill a player that doesn't fight back, you don't earn any rewards and become a wanted criminal. The criminal is marked on the map for everyone playing, and a bounty is placed on the player's head. The first to kill the criminal earns a reward taken from the criminal's stash. Basically, if you're a dick to another player, you'll have the whole map looking to get revenge on you. (But maybe that's what you want?)
Ultimately, Fallout 76 builds up to player-controlled nuclear missile strikes. The main quest line ends with a player launching his or her first nuke, but other missiles can be found and launched. Firing off a missile creates a temporary new zone based on the radiation from the blast. This new area has rare loot drops and the most dangerous enemies in the game, along with hazardous levels of radiation. Be careful if you want to go exploring.
On the flip side, if you see a nuke coming your way, it isn't the end of the world. Yes, all your stuff will be destroyed, but any camp you have built is saved with a blueprint system. This means you'll be able to rebuild everything quickly after a disaster. Dying in Fallout 76 also isn't that big of an issue. Players lose all their junk when they die, but don't lose money or levels. If you return to where you died, you can get all your stuff back (assuming nobody else has come along to pick it dry).
Fan-favorite aiming mode V.A.T.S. does make a return, but don't expect it to be the time-altering feature it's been in previous Fallout games. It's possible to take aim at specific body parts and the like, but you'll have to do it all in real-time.
Finally, it's possible to play Fallout 76 as a solo player if you want. That said, you may find yourself playing with others even if you don't mean to. There will be in-game events that pop up, that act as limited-time multiplayer quests. Anyone nearby can participate in completing the quest, which rewards players with better loot than what you'd find lying around.
Fallout 76 releases for PC, PS4 and Xbox One on Nov. 14.
So what do you think? Are you more excited about Fallout 76 now that you know more information? What else would you like to know before the game launches? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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