Bethesda is Planning a Lot of Post-Launch Content for Fallout 76
While it should come as no surprise, given Bethesda’s track record with DLC; it sounds as though there will be no shortage of Fallout 76 post-launch content coming from Bethesda. Speaking in a recent interview during the annual Gamelab conference, director Todd Howard addressed the studio’s plans for the game after the November release date.
Fallout 76 Post-Launch Content
Speaking with industry journalist Geoff Keighley at Gamelab, Todd Howard covered a range of issues related to Bethesda and his personal work. At one stage, the conversation turned to Fallout 76 and the sorts of post-launch content which fans might expect. Howard’s first concern, as expected, appeared to be related to multiplayer; “If everything works out perfectly with launch,” he stated; “which won’t be the case, we’ll be able to make a lot of content, but we know our priorities. It’s a big new thing for us.”
Howard’s concerns about things working that launch is certainly justified. Practically every major multiplayer title struggles with server problems at launch. The game will have a public beta prior to launch, which is certainly a sensible step. However, there are nonetheless bound to be a variety of issues that need to be addressed. However, Bethesda certainly has a reputation for investing in post-launch content. While the “Oblivion Horse Armor” DLC may have become an unfortunate joke among gamers who remember that debacle, Bethesda has delivered a variety of DLC and post-launch additions to their games.
Oblivion’s “Shivering Isles” DLC, the “Far Harbor” expansion for Fallout 4, “Dragonborn” for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim; Bethesda has certainly set a trend for developing major post-launch expansions. Indeed, Fallout 4 had more post-launch DLC than any Bethesda game prior. Another major factor to consider with Fallout 76 is that Bethesda plans to introduce a new business model for DLC; the game’s DLC will be entirely funded by cosmetic micro-transactions. What that means for gamers is that all of Fallout 76’s post-launch content will be free. It remains to be seen whether that model will prove successful; it’s certainly bold. Nevertheless, the promise of free DLC seems likely to sway the usually negative player opinions on micro-transactions.