Fallout Officially Starts a New Era Today
It has been eight years of ups and downs for Fallout 76, but today marks the start of a new era for the multiplayer RPG as it finally gets an update for the current-generation consoles. Fallout 76 has displayed…
It has been eight years of ups and downs for Fallout 76, but today marks the start of a new era for the multiplayer RPG as it finally gets an update for the current-generation consoles. Fallout 76 has displayed impressive resilience after its truly disastrous launch in 2018, managing to reach new heights following the franchise's ongoing television adaptation, which the game later added crossover content for.
On September 15, Fallout 76 is starting a new story arc with The Slasher update. Another major content update is notable in and of itself, but it also coincides with native versions of the game for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Said consoles are approaching their sixth birthdays, and Bethesda has taken its time updating its legacy titles, with Fallout 4 similarly receiving native ports years later.
Fallout 76 PS5 & Xbox Series X/S Versions Arrive with Slasher Update
Fallout 76's PS5 and Xbox Series X/S version is a new game client entirely, meaning the full game will have to be downloaded again. According to Bethesda, this current-gen port targets 60 frames per second and 4K resolution (4K support has also been added on the Xbox One X), and adds VRR support. Interestingly, there is also added support for 1440p on PS5 and PlayStation 4 Pro.
The updates for the higher-end consoles from the last generation are a nice surprise, with the developer noting that this update, Fallout 76 version 1.7.26.13, will provide "the ability to more finely tune the game for Gen 9 and Gen 8 hardware in the future." This seems to set the game up for further performance optimization, though nothing specific has yet been confirmed.
Another nice bonus for Fallout 76 players across the board is a reduction in file size alongside the introduction of The Slasher update. To do so, Bethesda has recompiled the entire game, so an unfortunate side effect is that the update download size is very large—the entirety of Fallout 76. Expect to download 119 GB on PC, 101 GB on Xbox, and 92 GB on PlayStation.
The Slasher Update Brings Weekly Content as New Season Approaches
In a change of pace for Fallout 76, The Slasher's new content is "Set to unfold over the course of the weeks following the update." Players will need to tune into the Breaking News channel on their Pip-Boy's radio, and the new storyline—which appears to bring a reimagining of Fallout 3's iconic Pint-Sized Slasher—will lead directly into Season 26: Beware the Blood Moon.
The Slasher update is simultaneously looking backward; Fallout 76's first Legacy Season is here. For those who missed out on Season 4, Armor Ace and the Power Patrol in Cold Steel, its rewards return to be available concurrently with Beware the Blood Moon's. This appears to be the beginning of new Legacy Seasons with every major update, as Season 10 will return later this year when the winter update drops.
Fallout 76 has turned out to be an enduring success, and the beginning of its current-gen era seems to only solidify its future. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S owners have much better performance to look forward to, but content new and old is keeping Fallout 76 fresh for all platforms.