Will the release of The Outer Worlds A.K.A "Fallout in space" spell trouble for Fallout 76 and Its new subscription service?
It's no secret that Fallout 76 has had some serious issues since it's release almost 12 months ago, and while Bethesda seem to be slowly dragging it back from the dead with ongoing content, updates and support, there's now a new obstacle for Bethesda to overcome. An obstacle they seem to be assisting in succeeding!
Fallout as a franchise has a cult following however Fallout 76 has been universally "Not well received" and failed to ever get off the ground as the follow up to much loved Fallout 4. Despite the hate and despite its glaring issues on release Bethesda has managed to get Fallout 76 at least somewhat on its way back to being the game that people hoped it would be before release. Consistent updates, new content and promises of what's to come have given the player base something to look forward to, and those that don't play it a reason to consider jumping in.
However that does come at a cost.... Today Bethesda announced an all new subscription service for Fallout 76 costing around $100 a year which has left even it's most loyal fans furious. With tomorrow being the release day for The Outer World's a game that looks to be essentially "Fallout in space" this could spell trouble for Fallout 76 and Its resurgence.
The Outer Worlds is an action role-playing video game featuring a first-person perspective. In the early stages of the game, the player can create their own character and unlock a ship, which acts as the game's central hub space. Though the player cannot control their ship, it serves as a fast travel point to access different areas in the game and the player's inventory. The player can encounter and recruit non-player characters as companions who have their own personal missions and stories. When accompanying the player, the companions act as an aid in combat. Each companion has its own individual skills and special attacks, and it can also develop its own skill specialization. When exploring, the player can bring up to two companions alongside them, while the rest stay on the ship. The player can make numerous dialogue decisions, which can influence the game's branching story. They can also respond to NPCs in various ways, such as acting heroically, maniacally, or moronically.
During combat situations, the player can use various weapon types such as melee and firearms, which have three ammo types: light, medium, and heavy. These weapons can be customized to add elemental damage. The player can use stealth or social skills (persuasion) to avoid combat altogether. As the player progresses, they gain experience points, which the player and their companions can use to level up and unlock new skills. The player can develop their technical skills, which are further divided into three categories: Science, Medical, and Engineering. For instance, the player can use a shrink ray to shrink down an enemy. The player is able to invest points into these skills, which will unlock new perks that enhance combat efficiency. The player can also enter a "Tactical Time Dilation" state, which slows down time and reveals opponents' health statistics, which grants the player tactical advantages. As the player leads their companions, they improve their companions' combat strength and resilience. The player can also gain a "flaw" that occurs when the player fails repeatedly in certain gameplay segments. Flaws debuff the player in some way, but also give additional perks and advantages. Sounds very "Falloutish" right?
Well from what I have seen so far and I will attach a video of some gameplay footage below, The Outer Worlds seems to be very much "Fallout in space" leaving me scratching my head as to why Bethesda would essentially nudge players in its direction with this ill advised and ill timed subscription service launch. Gamers in general hate the idea of a subscription service for even the best games out there, so to do it for a game already on its knees could prove to be the killer blow for Fallout 76, as The Outer Worlds looks set to leave it dead in the water especially woth the news it will come free to Xbox players as part if the "Xbox Game Pass", a subscription service with a similar price point to the ridiculous Fallout 76 service. Check out The Outer Worlds Gameplay Trailer for yourself and let us know what you think... Is this the final nail in the coffin for Fallout 76?
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