E3 2018: Bethesda Confirms Fallout 76 Is An Always-Online, Multiplayer-Focused Game

We have finally learned exactly what Fallout 76 is. At the Bethesda E3 2018 briefing, director Todd Howard confirmed that Fallout 76 is a multiplayer-focused, always-online game. The characters you come across in Fallout 76 are real people. The game is entirely online, marking a dramatic shift away from the single-player-only nature of earlier games in the series.

However, you can also play by yourself, Howard confirmed. "Of course you can play this solo," he said. Regarding why Bethesda is taking Fallout in such a new and different direction, Howard said, "We've always wanted to see what our style of game could be with multiplayer."

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Bethesda came up with the idea for Fallout 76 four years ago, Howard said. That would mean Bethesda started working on the game before Fallout 4 came out in 2015. And overall, he describes it as a "softcore survival" game.

Howard also clarified that after you die, you'll keep your character progression, which is good to hear. "Death never means the loss of progression or your character," he said. It had been believed prior to the full reveal that Fallout 76 would resemble Rust, a game where progression can be lost.

Along with a variety of details and trailers, we also learned Fallout 76's release date is set for November 14. It's also getting two different special editions, one of which--the Power Armor edition--comes with a wearable helmet that is equipped with a working voice modulator and headlamp.