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Fallout 76 commanded a huge panel this weekend at QuakeCon 2018. Here you can watch the entire show, in which Bethesda Game Studios’ Chris Meyer (development director), Jeff Gardiner (project lead) and Todd Howard (game director) explain how the Fallout franchise’s single-player systems like progression and combat will translate in an open-world MMO.
Highlights (video is at bottom):
- SPECIAL, the attribute framework governing player creation, does return, but players will find it supported by a card-based perk system. In other words, the higher a player’s number for their attribute, the more perk cards they may apply. Higher SPECIAL traits mean players can rank up cards, too, boosting their effects.
- Bethesda is mindful that with a PvP combat system there may be malefactors bent on running around and killing other human players. The developers have thought of ways to deal with their misbehavior. “We turn the assholes into interesting content,” Howard said. Killing other humans will put a bounty on your head, and a revenge system lets them come back to kill their adversaries for double the usual payout.
Other details:
- There will be numerous customization options during the character creation process. Characters’ appearance may be changed at any time.
- Mods will be supported in some form. Howard acknowledged the strong mod support culture for Bethesda Softworks games. “Given the online nature [of Fallout 76] it’s going to be very complicated,” he said, “but we’re committed to it.”
Fallout 76 launches on PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One on Nov. 14. A multiplayer beta will is coming in October.
