NPCs are set to be introduced in Fallout 76 with the Wastelanders update in 2020. However, hackers have now found a way to insert non-player characters into the post-apocalyptic wasteland. Not all players find this amusing.
What have the hackers achieved? With a script that was posted on Reddit, it is possible to insert NPCs into Fallout 76 – and that even before the release of the Wastelanders update. While they are not full-fledged non-player characters, they still serve a purpose.
Spawn your personal bodyguard
What can the NPCs do? The NPCs usually spawn without clothing after the script is executed, and not all of them have weapons. However, they don’t just stand around idly.
- The NPCs defend the player
- In combat, they track the enemy until they are defeated
- They take cover and retreat when necessary
- They roam around the camp
Spawned NPCs can be quite useful, especially in fights. They essentially act like companions and assist the player.
What do the players think about it? It is a hack that is actually not allowed. This alone leads to controversial discussions.
Of course, it is also cool and interesting that it is possible to spawn NPCs and see what they can do.
However, an important point is that they interfere with the game. This particularly affects the battle royale mode. NPCs that even defend players have an impact on balancing and lead to chaos in the game.
As a result, there are now demands for Bethesda to focus more on effective anti-cheat measures for the PC version of Fallout 76, so that such things are no longer possible.
- Ampersanders commented on Reddit: “You have the money, now invest it in the platform that has the longest lifespan!”
- Papa_Shekels explained: “The problem is not only that they use a lousy, outdated engine with publicly available modding tools, but also that they allow cheaters to run wild and have not taken proper measures to handle something as catastrophic as now.”
Why is this still a problem? The spawning of NPCs implies that other things can also be spawned. This includes items. For instance, a zeppelin of the Brotherhood of Steel was once seen in the sky, which players apparently had spawned.
It is currently unclear how big this problem actually is. We have contacted Bethesda for a statement regarding the situation and will update the article as soon as we receive it.
