Fallout 76 Doesn't Let You Get A Dog Companion (At Least Not At Launch)

One of the most famous video game dogs, Dogmeat from the Fallout franchise, apparently won't be in the new Fallout 76 due out next month. During a panel at PAX Australia today in Melbourne, Bethesda marketing boss Pete Hines confirmed that you cannot acquire any dog companion in Fallout 76.

The audience booed loudly. Seeing the room turn against him, Hines then clarified that if players really want to have a dog in Fallout 76, developer Bethesda Game Studios will add it to its list of features it might consider for the game after launch. The audience cheered loudly to this. However, it remains to be seen if Bethesda would add Dogmeat or a different dog to Fallout 76.

Hines also spoke about how Fallout 76, which is an always-online, multiplayer-focused game unlike previous entries in the series, will use the games-as-a-service model. He defended this model, saying games-as-a-service can be beneficial for a game like Fallout 76 because it allows Bethesda to listen to fan feedback and add new content and features to the game over time.

Fallout 76 launches on November 14 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. A pre-order exclusive beta is going on right now on Xbox One, and it comes to PS4 and PC starting on October 30.