Bethesda Explains How the Brotherhood of Steel Appear in Fallout 76
Among the many revelations which came out of the recent Greenbrier Fallout 76 press event was confirmation that the Brotherhood of Steel will appear in the game. Note that there won’t be any actual living members of the faction, as there are no human NPCs, of course. However, players will find their equipment and evidence of their existence. The discovery prompted some fans to react negatively, saying that they couldn’t feature in the game due to the lore. Now, Bethesda has offered fans a brief explanation into how there could be a Fallout 76 Brotherhood of Steel.
Bethesda’s Explanation For the Fallout 76 Brotherhood of Steel
The Brotherhood of Steel began in California and spent over a century inside a protective bunker. Given that Fallout 76 takes place on the opposite side of the United States, and after the fledgling Brotherhood seals itself inside the bunker, fans were confused as to how the faction could appear in Appalachia. Pete Hines made comments that Bethesda’s writers were taking lore and canon very seriously. However, he hinted that they might be willing to revise or retcon elements of the original Fallout lore written twenty years ago; before Bethesda even acquired the game.
Now, it seems Bethesda has revealed the explanation, or at least part of it. The official Fallout Twitter account Tweeted a screenshot of a player in Brotherhood of Steel power armour; “November 2077,” says Bethesda; “a month after the Great War, army captain Roger Maxson arrived with survivors at the Californian bunker of Lost Hills. There he formed the Brotherhood of Steel, who used a functioning satellite to extend their reach across America… all the way to Appalachia.”
November 2077, a month after the Great War, army Captain Roger Maxson arrived with survivors at the Californian bunker of Lost Hills. There he formed the Brotherhood of Steel, who used a functioning satellite to extend their reach across America… all the way to Appalachia. pic.twitter.com/NjcX8NVGMj
— Fallout (@Fallout) October 17, 2018
It’s the mention of a satellite which is new. It looks as though Bethesda’s addition to the Brotherhood of Steel canon is actually less intrusive than many fans believed it would be. It sounds as though the Brotherhood which everybody knows well from previous games is safe and sealed away in their bunker; as everybody expected them to be. However, by using a satellite, they could potentially broadcast and inspire other groups of survivors to form splinter factions of the Brotherhood all across the US. Perhaps the Appalachian Brotherhood of Steel is one such splinter group, inspired by the real Brotherhood’s broadcasts? Fans will have to wait and see.