Bethesda Game Studios and Fallout 76 Add Bizarre Subscription Model

Bethesda’s Fallout 76 is considered by gamers to be one of the biggest busts of all time.

The effort to keep that reputation was reinforced, as Bethesda announced a new subscription model for the game. For just $12.99 USD a month, or $100 USD a year, you can support the legend. The new model is called Fallout 1st.

Related: Fallout 76 Limited Edition Helmet Replica Recalled Due to “Risk of Mold Exposure”

Keep in mind that the game has not gone free to play. The base game still retails anywhere from $24 t0 $40 USD in most major retail outlets.

What do you get for your Fallout 1st subscription?

Subscribers get private server access, exclusive items including a “survival tent” that players can use as a make-shift base and fast travel point, and some unique outfits and emotes.

The subscription also provides 1,650 Atoms a month. Atoms are in-game currency used for microtransactions, and can be purchased in bulk increments from Bethesda for real money.

Related: Bethesda’s Todd Howard on Fallout 76: Gamers “Love These Games And They Are Super Important To Them”

Author and content creator Joseph Anderson, explains it well in this tweet:

Fallout 76 has been plagued with issues since day one. Repeated broken promises about game features, unfixed bugs, poor graphics, and a tone deaf stance regarding player concerns have eroded trust in Bethesda.

If that wasn’t enough, exclusive Fallout merchandise offered for sale to fans has either proven defective, hazardous, or sometimes just not delivered at all.

Related: Fallout 76: Bethesda Softworks Tech Error Results in Leaking Customers’ Personal Information

With the reputation that the game has, and the public image issue among gamers that Bethesda has, this announcement is inexplicable.

If Fallout 76 had gone free to play, this model would be somewhat understandable.

If Bethesda had taken steps to earn back the droves of disappointed gamers who rightly quit playing, it might’ve worked.

The reality is, those things likely will never happen. That fact alone makes this subscription model terrible.

Fans will say, this is a final money grab. Hard to argue that, considering all that’s happened in this title’s sordid past.

Related: Fallout 76: New Nuke Feature Sees NPCs Not Understand the Meaning of Fun

Here’s what some fans and players have to say about the announcement:

What do you think, Fallout fans? Comment below.

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