Today, Bethesda held its annual E3 press event in Los Angeles. A variety of new games were announced and we got an in-depth look at Fallout 76 alongside other titles. The shared-world game is launching on November 14, 2018 and contains numerous new mechanics. An awesome "Power Armor Edition" was also revealed which includes a massive helmet and other coveted items.
Fallout 76's gameplay looks absolutely breathtaking. The game is definitely a considerable improvement over Fallout 4 in the technical sense. It features sixteen times the detail and you can even view distant weather systems across the map.
There are six distinct regions to explore which have their own look and inhabitants. Apart from that, the creatures vary as well. For example, you may encounter a giant sloth in one locale and a deadly mutated bat in another. Both of them present unique challenges and there are specific ways to take them down.
Even though Fallout 76 is entirely online, it isn't a massively multiplayer online game. At any given time you'll be playing with dozens of people, not thousands. It's similar to titles like Anthem and Destiny 2. However, if you don't like playing with other gamers, you can also experience the title on your own. However, it's much easier if you have help, especially when it comes to gathering resources and building.
Fallout 76 isn't a hardcore survival game like Ark: Survival Evolved or Conan Exiles. Bethesda's Todd Howard called it "softcore survival" but it's unclear what that means. It seems that the focus will mostly be on completing quests rather than mining resources or chopping down trees.
The publisher also showcased a series of videos at its E3 event which featured a small group of gamers taking on various foes and building elaborate houses. The gameplay footage was thrilling to say the least. The best part is that you can build wherever you want and even move those structures to other locations.
However, you have to be weary of other players because there are multiple nuclear missile sites scattered throughout the West Virginian hills. You can target enemy settlements and creature nests, but other individuals might also bomb you because it gives them access to new resources. It's unclear if you simply respawn or lose your entire settlement.
Lastly, Bethesda confirmed that the game would run on dedicated servers so that it remains a stable experience for years to come. In order to make sure the online component is stable, a beta test will take place in the coming weeks.
Hopefully Fallout 76 will be a polished experience when it launches this winter. It's great to see that Bethesda spent a considerable amount of time clearing misconceptions surrounding the game after its initial reveal. More publishers should do this if they sense gamers aren't understanding the concept or there isn't more information available.
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