Since Fallout 76 was released, there has been criticism of the game and the developer Bethesda. Some issues in the past have further led players to become more skeptical. However, the development shows that Bethesda is making a real effort to smooth everything over.
This is what has happened recently: Just before Christmas 2019, hackers found an exploit in Fallout 76 that allowed them to empty other players’ pockets. They only needed to see them and could steal everything, even equipped armor.
Bethesda reacted shortly thereafter, fixed the exploit, and banned the hackers. Only the affected players had to wait a bit longer but should contact support for compensation.
This compensation is now available and is even quite generous. Players are happy about it, and it seems to strengthen the community. There is a good atmosphere despite the shadow of this incident.
What else has Bethesda accomplished? Here is a brief overview of the errors and issues that have occupied Bethesda and that the company has been able to resolve:
- The missing canvas bag for owners of the most expensive version of Fallout 76.
- Too few activities, resolved by a comprehensive roadmap 2019.
- Technical errors and faulty patches, which should now be prevented by test servers.
- The promise to bring NPCs – one of the biggest points of criticism.
- Quick response to hacks and exploits and support for affected players.
We will take a closer look at some of the most prominent issues.
Canvas bags and other problems
This was the major fiasco after launch: The hack is not the first major problem that Bethesda faces. At the launch of Fallout 76, a canvas bag was supposed to be included in the Power Armor Edition of the game.
However, players did not receive these initially. Instead, Bethesda sent nylon bags stating that canvas was too expensive. This heated the community up a bit, especially since some YouTubers did receive canvas bags.
This is how Bethesda resolved it:
- Initially, Bethesda compensated buyers with 500 atoms (5€).
- However, this led to further complaints.
- Subsequently, the company eventually sent canvas bags to pre-order customers.
- This ensured that some players were a bit more reconciled.
Other technical difficulties
These were further issues: However, technical problems also plagued Fallout 76. There were recurring errors and severe bugs. Players could even gain access to a secret room and were banned for it.
The many errors made players want to help. They requested test servers to be able to test new patches and content before they go live. The concern was especially great regarding the upcoming Wastelanders update, which is supposed to completely overhaul Fallout 76 and bring the long-awaited NPCs.
This is how Bethesda has tackled further issues:
- There is now a test for the Wastelanders update to which players will be invited.
- The update was even postponed to make it better than previous updates.
- All of this shows: Bethesda makes mistakes but learns from them and takes care of making things better.
The community is pleased
Here’s how players feel about it: Both the test server and the compensation for the hacks create joy in the community. Some players have even decided to give back to the community some of what they have received from Bethesda.
Reddit user JedediahJedi, who has received over 8,000 atoms and his entire inventory back, is now giving away excess materials and even a Fasnachts costume from the Fasnacht event among other players. These items were time-limited and are not available anymore.
All in all, the community of Fallout 76 may have shrunk a bit but continues to stand together. Bethesda is doing a lot to ensure that this cohesion remains.
