After a difficult first year, Fallout 76 really stepped up in 2020. The general sentiment has clearly improved, just as MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus predicted. Let’s take a look at whether 2021 can get even better.
2020 for Fallout 76 looked like this: As early as late 2019, I predicted a strong year for Fallout 76 in 2020 – and I was right. Despite delays, the spring release of Wastelanders, the major update everyone was waiting for, happened.
That alone made Fallout 76 in a better position than at its release in November 2018, which was plagued by bugs and performance issues, with many players believing the game should have spent more time in development.
During Wastelanders, the mood kept improving, and eventually in late summer/fall, One Wasteland, the update that was supposed to save Fallout 76, was released. Here, Bethesda fundamentally changed how Fallout 76 is played, primarily aiming to strengthen group play.
Even though One Wasteland did not work well for solo players, the update laid the groundwork for what was to come: Steel Dawn. We are currently in this update, and Fallout 76 is doing better than ever.
The three major updates of 2020 really helped the survival MMO. But what makes them so special, and how did they save Fallout 76?
Wastelanders – What everyone was waiting for
The biggest change in Wastelanders: The Wastelanders update introduced non-player characters (NPCs) and addressed one of the biggest criticisms players had at the start of the game.
Along with the NPCs, two factions emerged: the Raiders and the Settlers, which players can join since then. The story continued, and new systems were introduced, such as farmable gold bars for new top-tier equipment.
Wastelanders was designed so that new players could simply “sleep through” the first year and start fresh, while veterans had already done all the groundwork in the story.
This is how Fallout 76 improved: Through the new NPCs, their quests, and the changed areas, the previously dull, lifeless world of Fallout 76 was filled with life. Where before there were only monsters, ghouls, scorched, or at most super mutants wandering around, there are now finally human NPCs and lively characters to interact with.
The NPCs gave Fallout 76 a depth that was previously absent in this form. New players could dive straight into a richer world, and for veterans, there was again something new to discover – such as a horror hotel that was just an ordinary house in the middle of nowhere before Wastelanders.
Wastelanders gave Fallout 76 something that fans of the series missed in the game: interaction with the world. Before the update, players learned more about the story only through holotapes, terminals, or robots. Since Wastelanders, “real” people tell their stories.
The influence was also apparent on Steam, where Fallout 76 was released with Wastelanders. After a weak start there, reviews quickly climbed, and Fallout 76 became a “mostly positive” game.
One Wasteland – The preparation for something big
The biggest change in One Wasteland: Following Wastelanders and the massive story therein, One Wasteland brought the biggest gameplay change to Fallout 76 so far: dynamic levels.
Every enemy in the entire world adapts to the player’s level since One Wasteland – with certain lower limits to maintain a challenge. This has several benefits:
- Rewards adapt to the level – no more “meaningless” farming
- group play is strengthened, as veterans now benefit from “smaller” challenges
- content remains fresh and relevant, as nearly every player can tackle it at any time
Character development remains intact. Through endgame equipment and the new legendary perks, players still become stronger, even as enemies adapt to them.
There was a problem: However, the adjustment of enemies led particularly new and solo players to feel incapable of completing game content alone. Groups or the help of stronger players became almost mandatory.
Features that make this easier, such as legendary perks, become available later in the game, and until then, newcomers have to struggle through. In our special on MeinMMO, author Florian Franck explains why One Wasteland hasn’t been well received by solo players.
Later, with Steel Dawn, more building sites from my list came via the new C.A.M.P. shelters. Only a text chat and more music are still missing, but the changes so far have already helped Fallout 76.
Steel Dawn – The beginning of a new era
The biggest change in Steel Dawn: With Steel Dawn, the last major update for Fallout 76 in 2020, the Steel Brotherhood entered the game. This is one of the most well-known and important factions of the entire franchise.
So far, the knights, paladins, and scholars could only be found as corpses. Now they have their own base, and players can interact with them, earn their trust, and get to know them.
Since Fallout 76 is set before all other Fallout parts, players can witness live how the Steel Brotherhood became one of the most important entities known to the world after the Great War.
This is how Fallout 76 improved: The Steel Brotherhood is a faction that particularly excites fans of the series. It has appeared in every Fallout installment and has already achieved legendary status.
Additionally, Fallout 76 received numerous gameplay changes, such as more weapons and armor, an improved survival mechanic, and C.A.M.P. shelters – your own vaults that you can build underground.
This makes Fallout 76 a more enjoyable experience that offers more freedom and content for players to thrive in various areas.
Players apparently think so too. Shortly after the release of Steel Dawn, reviews on Steam climbed to 85% positive, the highest rate so far. This is a significant difference from the miserable Metacritic scores at release.
In December 2019, I demanded 5 things that Fallout 76 needs to succeed. Among them were specializations and better dungeons. With the legendary perks, something that goes as “specializations” has appeared, and with the daily operations, there are exciting dungeons for up to four players. So One Wasteland already brought two of the things I demanded.
With Steel Dawn, further building sites from my list came via the new C.A.M.P. shelters. Only a text chat and more music are still missing, but the changes so far have already helped Fallout 76.
2021 and the Steel Brotherhood – Here’s what’s next
Steel Dawn and the Steel Brotherhood are just the beginning of a new, large story arc that begins in late 2020 and is set to span across 2021.
In an interview with Project Lead Jeff Gardiner and Lead Quest Designer Brianna Schneider here on MeinMMO, we learned a bit about how the story will progress in 2021. The Steel Brotherhood will remain an important factor for players.
Some further content has also been announced, which partially addresses the criticism players still voice:
- the storage space will be increased
- the inventory will be more organized
- the map will provide more detailed information on what can be found in corresponding vending machines
- perk loadouts are coming, allowing you to create your own “classes”
Before that, Season 3 will already introduce new companions into the game, the so-called “Companions lite.” Yasmin Chowdhury will provide you with food and drink and sell you rare cooking recipes. Solomon Hardy offers medical supplies and can heal you for a fee.
The changes that are currently known for 2021 promise an even better year than 2020. As Fallout 76 can already build on the strong innovations, it now has the chance to evolve into a top title in the genre.
MeinMMO author Florian Franck is already of the opinion, that Fallout 76 is finally a full-fledged MMORPG after 2 years.
