Fallout 76, Bethesda’s multiplayer Fallout spin-off, is coming to Steam soon. But don’t worry PC players. If you already own the game on Bethesda.net, you can get it on Steam for free. Here’s how.
A major update is coming to Fallout 76 on April 14. Referred to as the Wastelanders update, it will introduce new monsters, items, quests, and for the first time, human NPCs! Bethesda will also be releasing the game on Steam for PC on this date. Prior to this, the PC version of the game was only available on the Bethesda.net launcher.
Bethesda Game Studios, the creators of Skyrim and Fallout 4, welcome you to Fallout 76, the online prequel where every surviving human is a real person. Work together, or not, to survive. Under the threat of nuclear annihilation, experience the largest world ever created in Fallout. Play solo or join together as you explore, quest, and triumph against the wasteland’s greatest threats. When Fallout 76’s Wastelanders expansion launches on April 14, the entire game (including Wastelanders) will also be launching on Steam. Of course, many of our PC fans who have played the game through the Bethesda.net Launcher would also like to have the option to play on Steam, so we have a special offer just for you.
How to Get Fallout 76 on Steam for Free
There are a few conditions required to get a free Steam copy of the game, and only for a limited time. Fortunately, the process is simpler than you might think. If you own a digital copy of Fallout 76 on Bethesda.net, then all you need to do is link that account to your Steam account.Do that here. That’s it, you’re done. When the game releases on Steam, your account should automatically redeem its copy.
The catch? You won’t be able to do this at any point in the future. You have to do this before April 12. If you don’t, you won’t get the game for free. This also doesn’t apply to anyone with the console versions of the game, digital or physical. This isn’t a huge window, only 10 days at the time of writing.
Things to Keep in Mind With the Steam Transfer
Most of everything will be a seamless transition. Progress will transfer and sync, you can cross-play between the two PC launcher versions, and it will have achievements.
But there is one limitation: Atoms and Fallout 1st subscriptions will not transfer. Due to the technical limitations regarding payment systems, they cannot reliably sync these microtransactions between launchers. Purchases made with Atoms will still sync. So if you intend to make a dedicated jump, best spend those Atoms you’ve been saving.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, check out the Bethesda post about the update.
I know that Fallout 76 gets a lot of hate for its rough launch. But I remain appreciative of Bethesda’s commitment to the game. I really enjoy it at its base level. It has a wonderfully interesting world to explore, a rich mountain of lore and indirect storytelling, and allows for a fun level of customization. Plus, it’s seen numerous updates since release, fixing bugs and adding new content. I’m not a big fan of the microtransaction system, but if it means these updates stay free, then sure, power to them. I hope to see everyone there in the wasteland.
For the longest time, Fallout 76 was the butt of many gamers' jokes. The multiplayer game lacked the cohesive narrative of its RPG-based predecessors. Bethesda's attempts to support the game also faltered, as new updates would cause new glitches. However, the game's latest Wastelanders expansion attempted to restore some goodwill - and it seems to have succeeded.
Wastelanders hasbrought Fallout 76 to the series' roots by introducing NPCs and a storyline. With these additions, Bethesda has been able to introduce some classic Fallout elements to the latest game's open world, like dialogue options and factions. Since the update was released,Fallout 76's negative reviews have been gradually replaced with brighter reviews from fans.
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After sitting at 'Mostly Negative' or 'Mixed' for a year and a half, Fallout 76 now has a 'Mostly Positive' score on its Steam page. While the game has several negative reviews that were posted after Wastelanders was released, many players have re-evaluated the game or left positive reviews after giving the game another try. One review claimed that the update should have been what Bethesda 'actually released' at launch. Another player who used a five-star system in their initial Steam review, raised the game's original one-star rating to three stars.
This positivity has also spread to social media. Even highly critical Fallout subreddits have chimed in and admitted that Wastelanders addressed many of their problems with Fallout 76. Although Bethesda executive Pete Hines has said that 'content generation is [not] the answer' to Fallout 76's problems, it's clear that the open-world multiplayer had strayed too far from the core gameplay of previous, story-based Fallout games. Although generating an ongoing storyline might be unsustainable, it's clear that Fallout's community will need time to adjust if Bethesda is insistent on taking its focus away from a narrative campaign.
Until Bethesda has more content to offer Fallout 76 players, diehard fans will have plenty of storylines and mysteries to unravel in-game. From the Mysterious Cave's code to talking to every new NPC, Wastelanders' massive reforms show that Bethesda is listening to player feedback, and is dedicated to continually improving Fallout 76. Hopefully, the game's future updates will continue to build on the foundation that this overhaul has established.
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Fallout 76 is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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MORE: Will NPCs be the Game Changer Fallout 76 Needs?
Source: Steam