Idea of an MMO game set in the post-apocalyptic retro-future of the Fallout series initially sounded fantastic and intrigued the fans for years but when it was finally realized by Bethesda Softworks in 2018 that dream turned out to be rather underwhelming. While the setting and the world-building of Fallout 76 were as good as ever, technical issues, barren in-game environments and lack of engaging activity left players in want. Looking at Fallout 76 vs. Fallout 4, the fourth installment from 2015 remained the flagship game of the franchise even after the release of Fallout MMO. Nevertheless, this is about to change with the latest Fallout 76 DLC – Fallout 76 Wastelanders update.
Bethesda is willing to introduce major new additions to their game on April 7th, 2020, in order to turn Fallout 76 into a post-apocalyptic MMO everyone has always wanted. This upcoming upgrade can be considered analogous to what Hello Games did with their No Man’s Sky project. When making a comparison of Fallout 76 vs. Fallout 4, the 2018 game finally has a chance to take the lead. In this article, we’re going to take a look at the differences between these two installments in light of the new Fallout 76 Wastelanders update.
Now might be the best time to start your Fallout 76 journey, as Bethesda has also dished out a surprise Fallout 76 Triple XP event announcement on Twitter!
Is Fallout 76 coming to Steam?
While the game was initially released on all major platforms, including PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, with the release of Wastlanders DLC we will also get to see the launch of Fallout 76 on the Steam platform for the very first time. For a while now, the Steam release was one of the advantages of the fourth installment when discussing Fallout 76 vs. Fallout 4, as the former game was only available to the PC players who purchased it on the official Bethesda.net website. The situation shifts on April 14th, one week later counting from the launch of Wastelanders DLC, making the following Fallout 76 Steam release fully packed with new content to enjoy.
Is Fallout 76 the same as Fallout 4?
While core gameplay mechanics of the two titles are largely identical and both of these games run on the same Creation Engine, the major difference when comparing Fallout 76 vs. Fallout 4 lies in the fact that the later is a purely single-player experience. This was the case with all of the previous Fallout games, that’s why the demand for a multiplayer mode was so high among the Fallout fandom.
Exploring post-apocalyptic Boston in ways that far surpassed anything presented in Fallout 3 or Fallout: New Vegas was exciting for a while, however, people kept dreaming about the MMO version of Fallout as the setting of the series would suit this kind of game format perfectly. That’s why among the advantages of Fallout 76 vs. Fallout 4 debate is the opportunity to see your own personal story unfold within the bounds of MMO post-apocalypse.
Is Fallout 76 already good?
On April 2nd, today, Fallout 76 is still shaky but this is likely to change in the upcoming future. And as for today, it’s worth returning to the game prior to the launch of Wastelanders DLC due to the mentioned Fallout 76 Triple XP event that will provide the current player base with a significant boost before the arrival of new content. While the game will be upgraded in multiple ways, the progress and stats of player-controlled characters will be transferred into the renewed experience.
Another advantage of Fallout 76 in regards to Fallout 76 vs. Fallout 4 debate is its unique placement in the Fallout timeline. The game is set merely 20 years after the Great War between alternate US and China – a war that plunged the world into a new dark age. The major factions seen in previous Fallout games are yet to form as the older titles are set centuries after the Great War. The Wastlanders DLC will further elaborate upon this aspect of Fallout 76 by giving the game a new main quest and updating the old campaign.
New guns and Power Armor
Comparing Fallout 76 vs. Fallout 4, the Wastelanders DLC will allow players to enjoy new gear and weapons never before seen in the series. For the first time ever, we’ll get to try out a larger variety of the magnetic Gauss weaponry: Gauss pistols, Gauss shotguns, even a Gauss minigun will be added. Fallout 4 only had a Gauss rifle. The trailer released by Bethesda also features a glimpse of wieldable gauntlet with a spinning saw as a new melee weapon, Plasma caster heavy weapon and the brand new Secret Service Power Armor.
Are there any new NPCs in Fallout 76?
One of the most prevalent drawbacks of Fallout 76, in comparison to Fallout 4, has always been the emptiness of the world. Bethesda wanted a Fallout-themed post-apocalyptic MMO game that would be populated only by real players. They sought this with the purpose of greater immersion but this ambition heavily backfired, leaving the open-world of post-war West Virginia barren, bland, populated mostly by rogue robots, mutant animal life, and audio logs of quest givers. Developers have learned their lesson and now we will see the return of human NPC characters!
There will be two human factions returning to Appalachia – the raiders and the settlers. If we look at Fallout 76 vs. Fallout 4 on the basis of factions, both games offer the possibility to join the cause of a particular group and make decisions that shape their future. The game will consolidate changes in the online environment with the consequences of your own decisions in a way that is apparent only to you personally.
Reputation will once again play a large role in your relationship with each faction. Doing favors for the builder faction (settlers) might trigger a hostile response from raider gangs who seek to protect their turf. Dialog once again serves as a possible diplomatic solution in such situations. Comparing Fallout 76 vs. Fallout 4 in regards to dialog options, this time around the sentences your character can say are going to be written in full length on the dialog menu. This used to be the case in Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas – a conversation system like this one was a lot less confusing when compared to Fallout 4.
Do you have to pay for the Fallout 76 Wastelanders update?
One of the main questions on everyone’s mind right now might be this one: does the Fallout 76 Wastelanders update come for free? Good news, the Wastelanders DLC itself is completely free of charge for everyone who already owns the game. So, if you’re not in the mood to wait for the game’s launch on Steam and want to exploit the upcoming Triple XP event before the Wastelanders launch, feel free to visit Eneba game store and purchase Fallout 76 cheaper on your preferred platform.
