In the Atomic Shop of Fallout 76, repair kits have been available for purchase for some time. Many players saw this as a breach of a promise made by Bethesda beforehand, and criticism poured in. Now Project Lead Jeff Gardiner and Development Director Chris Mayer are responding to it.
Which items are involved? A few weeks ago, with the patch on April 23, 2019, Fallout 76 introduced new repair kits in the Atomic Shop. The kits can be purchased with atoms that players earn in-game or with real money.
Unlike the otherwise purely cosmetic items in the shop, the repair kits also have an effect in the game. Those who use them can repair equipment directly from their inventory without using additional materials.
Shortly after the announcement of the kits, there was a loud backlash from the community. Bethesda had promised beforehand that the Atomic Shop would only contain cosmetic items. Some fans saw the kits as a “pay2win” factor.
This is the attitude towards repair kits
This is what Bethesda says: In an interview with PCGamer, Jeff Gardiner spoke about this very problem. However, Gardiner does not see anything in the repair kits that would provide an unfair advantage:
We think the repair kits are a convenience for people who don’t want to grind for glue and other things. It’s just a way to shortcut the system, definitely not pay2win. I will disagree with anyone who claims that repair kits will let them win the game.
Gardiner further explains that players in Fallout 76 are not playing against each other anyway – except in the new PvP mode. According to an earlier statement from Bethesda, they are observing how players are handling the repair kits and what complaints arise. If necessary, the kits will be adjusted.
What do fans think about it? Recently, the topic has come up less frequently or not at all in forums or on reddit. Players demanding that the kits be removed are rather reprimanded by the community. After the initial outcry, most players have probably just accepted or ignored the kits.
Some of the “casuals” are even more satisfied with the kits because they save them work and they can easily farm them in the game through challenges rewarded with atoms:
As a low-level player, I never had the resources to repair my weapons. So I did quests that earned me atoms to buy repair kits without spending money. As a low-level player, you really appreciate such little things and it makes adventures much more fun.
Rotakw on reddit
Only features like trading the kits, for example in player shops, are occasionally mentioned as wishes.
What do you think about the kits?
Fallout 76 has faced criticism repeatedly. The director sees some of it as justified:
