Fallout 4 PC Discs Don't Contain Full Data, Partial Steam Download Required

Fans who purchase a physical copy of Fallout 4 on PC will be required to download a portion of the game from Steam, as the disc doesn't contain the full data required to install it.

In a series of Twitter posts, Bethesda boss Pete Hines responded to questions regarding the contents of the Fallout 4 PC disc.

"[Fallout 4 on PC] comes with a disc and a steam authentication key. if you don't have a DVD drive, you can just use the [Steam] key," he explained. "The game disc has actual install data ... though you will still have to download from Steam. The disc doesn't contain the entire game."

Explaining why the content had been split in this way, in comparison to the console versions, Hines noted that "PC requires activation on Steam" while "console does not." He added the console versions "ship on Blu-rays, PC ships on DVDs."

Hines also cited piracy as one of the reasons and, responding to an irate follower suggesting this would only encourage piracy, said this strategy has been the norm for Bethesda for numerous years.

"We've been doing it this way more or less for 10+ years. Seems to be doing ok. Lots of people bought Skyrim, Wolfenstein, etc ... This isn't new. We have been doing this for all our PC games for a while now."

The Fallout 4 release date is set for November 10 across PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. Bethesda recently published the last episode in its "S.P.E.C.I.A.L." video series, showing how a little luck can get you far in the Wasteland.

Bethesda's online store is holding a week-long Fallout-themed sale dubbed the Great War Sale Event. Along with discounts, new Fallout-branded merchandise will be introduced throughout the week. So far, a very snazzy Xbox One controller has been revealed.

On Steam, meanwhile, there are discounts on the Fallout franchise.

Some of the best deals include:

• Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition -- $10
• Fallout 3 -- $3.39
• Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition -- $10
• Fallout: New Vegas -- $3.39
• Fallout Tactics -- $3.39

Those that preorder Fallout 4 on Steam will also get a free Mister Handy announcer pack for Dota 2. Head to the Fallout Franchise Steam Sale page here to see everything that's on sale this weekend.