Fallout 76 is one of this year’s most-anticipated games, and the wait seems to be unending for fans. The good news is that Bethesda has released a new trailer for the game and finally confirmed the release date for the Fallout 76 beta, but to the disappointment of fans, the beta release is still a month away.
Fallout 76 beta is not 24/7
When revealing Fallout 76 at E3 2018, Bethesda revealed its intentions to beta-test the game. At the time, the studio only said the beta would launch sometime in October, and we finally know exactly when it’s coming.
The Fallout 76 beta will first land on the Xbox One on Oct. 23, confirming the earlier reports that the game will launch on the Xbox before other platforms. The beta will land on the PlayStation 4 and PC a week later, on Oct. 30.
According to Bethesda, the primary objective of releasing the beta is to “stress test and break the game,” which means the game’s servers will be “online during targeted timeframes [not 24/7] so we can get as many people as possible playing at the same time.” Though the company has not revealed the specific times, it did say the play sessions will last four to eight hours.
“Focusing as many players as we can into these windows is our prime objective,” Bethesda said. “Then we’ll fix what we need to fix and do it again and again from the start of B.E.T.A. until a few days before launch.”
The game developer is asking players to give feedback and flag any issues they come across. Further, the company says players must not be surprised if they see things go awry, as it is only the beta version.
Expect an “array of issues” with the beta
Bethesda admits that players may come across a “glorious array of issues,” some of which the developers are aware of and some that will be new.
“Our goal, with your help, is to identify and fix any issues that arise in preparation for the November 14 launch,” Bethesda said.
For this reason, the company wants as many players as possible to play the game during the time the servers are online. The studio says it will let players know when the servers are online by posting updates on its social channels, forums and status page.
To access the Fallout 76 beta, you must pre-order the game from participating retailers or directly from Bethesda. The beta is about 45GB in size. The company currently has no plans to let players pre-load the software. You will need a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold membership.
PC players will not have to re-download the game after its final release. Those playing on consoles will have to download the launch version. The final PC version of the game will be available via Bethesda’s own launcher but not Steam. The studio plans to allow players to carry over the progress made in the beta to the final version.
To learn more about the Fallout 76 beta, head to the FAQ page on Bethesda’s website.
Fallout 76‘s opening cinematic revealed
Fallout 76 will officially launch on Nov. 14 for the PS4, Xbox One and PC. The game marks a big moment for the Fallout franchise and Bethesda as well. The series has traditionally been single-player, but the upcoming game will be multiplayer.
With the new trailer, Bethesda also revealed Fallout 76‘s opening cinematic. The trailer sets the stage for Reclamation Day, which is when Vault 76‘s inhabitants return to the surface, and this is where the game starts. The game is set in West Virginia and picks up 25 years after the nuclear war destroyed the planet.
“While players ultimately will experience unique adventures, stories, and exciting moments along their Fallout 76 journey, they’ll all begin the same: within the safe confines of Vault 76 on Reclamation Day,” Bethesda explains.
Earlier this week, Sony announced cross-play support for some third-party titles, starting with Fortnite. As of now, there is no information on if Fallout 76 will get cross-play support. Bethesda marketing boss Pete Hines tweeted that Fallout 76 does not currently support cross-play for several reasons, adding that cross-play is not a focus now as they are busy with the beta and final launch.
