Bethesda has held its first-ever Fallout Day broadcast, using it to reveal more of what’s coming to Fallout 76.
Fallout Day is today, October 23, because in Fallout lore the Great War started and ended on October 23, 2077, when nuclear weapons devastated the world. However, there were no announcements around new Fallout games or major reveals for Fallout 5, which Bethesda has confirmed is in development, potentially after The Elder Scrolls 6. Instead, Bethesda developers discussed new features for the MMORPG Fallout 76.
Bethesda began its broadcast by stating it has seen more players in Fallout this year than ever before, with record numbers across nearly every title in the franchise. Fallout 76, now nearing its sixth anniversary, has surpassed 20 million players—a milestone achieved earlier this year fueled by the popularity of Prime Video’s Fallout TV show. To mark Fallout Day, Bethesda announced that players can access Fallout 76 for free until October 29 as part of a free play week.
Regarding new features, Fallout 76 is finally getting camp pets later this year. The feature will launch with two pets: a cat and a dog. As expected, players can interact with and dress them, as well as add furniture like scratching posts or a bone-filled dirt pile for their enjoyment. Bethesda hinted at more pet additions in the future, stating, “and maybe some that are not so furry.”
Additionally, in December, player titles will be introduced, allowing players to combine a prefix and a suffix to create personalized nicknames as rewards.
For endgame players, the upcoming Gleaming Depths raid will challenge seasoned participants. Players will need to be around level 300 and have an organized, well-equipped squad of up to four players to progress. This raid, set in an abandoned Enclave research lab, features the Ultracite Terror, a giant irradiated snake as the final boss.
Furthermore, Fallout 76 will soon introduce 4-star legendaries, representing the highest tier of weapons and armor in the game.
In an early 2025 first for Fallout, players will be able to transform into a ghoul. During the Fallout Day broadcast, Bethesda showcased ghoul gameplay mechanics.
Upon reaching level 50 and completing the Ghoulification quest, players will gain immunity to radiation damage, with radiation healing them instead and unlocking unique abilities. Players will also be free from the need to eat but will need to keep an eye on a new feral meter instead of hunger and thirst.
Going feral comes with several perks, such as becoming a berserker capable of powerful hand-to-hand combat, including the ability to “rip the face off a Deathclaw.” Ghoul-specific perk cards, like Battle-Genes, will provide added benefits during combat (gaining 1HP per second). Bethesda anticipates that this new mechanic will allow for various innovative playstyles.
Unique narrative options will arise as players navigate the faction dynamics, notably the Brotherhood of Steel‘s aversion to ghouls. Bethesda alluded to potential tricks players might employ to navigate story quests, allowing ghouls to engage with normally hostile factions. If players find embodying a ghoul undesirable, they can revert back to human form.
Finally, Bethesda teased the addition of fishing in Fallout 76, a feature long requested by fans.
The Fallout Day broadcast concluded with Bethesda development chief Todd Howard expressing gratitude to fans for their support and excitement for the future of the Fallout franchise, which has been developing for over 20 years.