Summary
Almost six years have passed sinceFallout 76first released and the game continues to evolve through a growing list of post-launch updates. With several more updates in store for just 2024 alone, there’s no end in sight for whatFallout 76’s future updates will bring to the game.
As much asFallout 76continues to grow, it should slow down and consider pumping the breaks with one particular feature. More specifically,future updates forFallout 76should hold off on introducing any more new factions, and instead focus on giving the spotlight to some of the existing factions from the franchise.
Fallout 76 Being a Prequel Puts It in a Delicate Situation
WithFallout 76taking place before any of the existing games ontheFalloutfranchise timeline, this puts it in a unique situation. On the one hand, this givesFallout 76the chance to shed new light on uncovering some of the franchise’s deepest, long-running mysteries, like the origins of the iconic Brotherhood of Steel faction. However, this also puts limitations on any new developments that are introduced at this point.
For instance,Fallout 76’s Scorched Plaguecould have paved the way for a major new type of mutant to be a recurring threat throughout the shared post-apocalypticFalloutuniverse. In hindsight though, the Scorched not appearing in any otherFalloutgame that takes place later in the franchise pretty much seals the fate of the Scorched Plague withFallout 76’s Scorched vaccine conclusion.
This may be an extreme example of howFallout 76’s nature as a prequel comes with certain limitations, though it’s still a recurring problem that future updates would be wise to be aware of. Consequently, with this in mind, and how some of the existing factions still arguably have room to grow,future updates forFallout 76after Milepost Zeroshould prioritize exploring some of these existing factions over introducing any more new ones.
IfFallout 76does continue to add new factions in future updates, it might be best to put some of the existing ones at the top of the list, for instance, like the Institute or the Children of Atom. That way,Fallout 76can take full advantage of its position as a prequel and set up some of the origins of these factions.
More Fallout 76 Factions Deserve the Blue Ridge Caravan Company Treatment
InFallout 76’s next big update,the Milepost Zero update, the game will be further exploring the Blue Ridge Caravan Company with a new, repeatable activity. Not long before this, the Blue Ridge Caravan Company was featured in the Once In A Blue Moon update where new quests and public events explored the faction. In light of these recent and upcoming updates taking a deeper dive into the Blue Ridge Caravan Company, some of the other factions inFallout 76could stand to benefit from this kind of treatment going forward.
Among the different factions inFallout 76, some of the ones that could benefit from a deeper dive include:
Overall, giving these factions a reputation system likeFallout 76’s Settlers and Raiders reputation systems, complete with repeatable quests and exclusive rewards could be a fun addition. Otherwise, on a more personal basis, it could also be worth furthering these factions with new storylines inFallout 76. This way, the fate of some of these factions can finally be explored, giving fans answers to why these factions may or may not show up later on in futureFalloutgames.
