Fallout 76 will not start on Steam, but on Bethesda.net. Pete Hines explained the decision.
Traditionally, most games from Bethesda have been closely tied to Steam. For example, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has a complete database of mods that can be installed via Steam.
However, with Fallout 4 Bethesda moved away from the Steam Workshop and offered mods through Bethesda.net. As has been known for some time, Fallout 76 will now not be available at all via Steam. Pete Hines from Bethesda has now commented on the reasons.
Own service probably simplifies communication with players
This is what Bethesda says about the rejection of Steam: According to Pete Hines, vice president at Bethesda, the Bethesda Launcher is important for Fallout 76. Because the online game is after The Elder Scrolls Online the second always-on title that is distributed through the platform.
It is significantly easier to directly engage with the customer and fanbase without a third party involved in the process.
It makes things a little easier, and we believe it helps us deal with issues and challenges we have seen in the past.
What about future titles? This should not be interpreted as a departure. So far, almost every Bethesda title has also been released on Steam; even TESO is offered there as an alternative.
Since large single-player titles like Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 are upcoming after Fallout 76, one can expect a Steam launch.
Fallout 76 will be released on November 14th for PC, Xbox One, and PS4. The Fallout 76 Beta will start for Xbox players on October 23rd, while PS4 and PC players will have to wait until the 30th.
If you want to stay updated, check out our Facebook page about Fallout 76.
