After a rocky start and plenty of disappointing reviews, Fallout 76 has managed to deliver decent improvements to the game, and the content keeps on coming.
The next major update scheduled to be released this summer in June, on an as yet undisclosed date, is titled “Once in a Blue Moon” and guarantees to deliver new content, new additions to the environment, and plenty of improvements. Recently the update has been introduced to Public Test Servers, and we got a glimpse into what to expect.
Once in a Blue Moon update will feature a new Costa Business questline. Costa Business is a new set of seven daily quests centered around Vinny Costa and the Blue Ridge Caravan Company. Each quest offers a unique Blue Ridge-themed reward, focusing on different caravan company members. The quests are not repeatable and can only be completed once per character, with a delay between each quest, and after completing the quest line, an eighth secret quest called Protocol Adonais becomes available for characters who have completed two quests related to Aries.
With the main questline, Two new public events have been announced as well, including two new cryptids.
New adjustments to Expeditions and their rewards have been announced, as well as changes to the display of weapon and armor mod effects and updates to the crafting user interface. New icons will be added that will show coordinated changes when modding, and dynamic values to show the current bonus.
Balance changes include the Bleedout Syringe Barrel now dealing physical damage, Burning mods for Energy Weapons now dealing fire damage, and adjusting the Two Shot Legendary Mod to deal its damage similarly to ballistic weapons.
You can read more about the upcoming update and how to join the Public Test Server on Bethesda’s official site.
Valentina Kraljik is a writer and editor at Game Horizon with a deep love for everything related to video games. With a degree in Information Sciences, she brings a well-informed and unique perspective to her work. Valentina's writing is known for covering a wide range of video game genres, but she truly shines in her expertise in open-world RPGs. From offbeat euro-jank games like "Gothic" to critically acclaimed titles like "The Witcher," Valentina is well-versed in this exciting genre. Her passion for imaginative storytelling is reflected in the topics she writes about, with favorites like "Disco Elysium," "Elder Scrolls: Morrowind," "World of Warcraft," and "Mass Effect" influencing her tastes in games. Even though nothing beats a good high-fantasy setting, she often wanders into the realm of first-person shooters, occasionally even hitting the target. With a commitment to objectivity and insightful analysis, Valentina strives to bring a fresh perspective to the subjects she covers, even when exploring genres that may be unfamiliar to her. Her blend of academic rigor and creative flair sets her apart in the world of media writing.
The Fallout franchise brought us a fantastic world of post-apocalyptic United States of America and stories of people trying to survive a world full of radiation and factions wanting to be powerful. Stories around the Wastelands of the United States are the most interesting parts of Fallout, and the likes of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas “sucked us in” with their powerful storytelling. When Fallout 4 came out, it presented us with new features that were novelties in the Fallout franchise, but some fans were not really happy about what Bethesda offered to their fans. In this article, we will discuss why some people hate Fallout 4.
Fallout 4 was a more hated game than the other installments because it strayed away from the game aspects that made the Fallout franchise so good. Fans didn’t appreciate removing the role-playing aspect of the game to support first-person shooting features, criticized the shallow and flat storyline, removed karma and reputation features, revamped the SPECIAL system, settlements, and more. Fallout 4 was accused of moving away from the Fallout franchise, and fans hated it.
We will discuss this topic by explaining each criticism of the game, the circumstances around the game’s release, and how Fallout 4 fares today amongst the fans. If you are interested in this topic, stay with us until the end of the article.
Why do fans dislike Fallout 4?
Poor graphics for a game that was released in 2015.
The biggest disappointment of Fallout 4 was the poor graphics, which was unacceptable for a triple-A game released in 2015. We are used to Bethesda releasing games full of bugs but eventually removing them with patches or updates. A simple patch, however, couldn’t remove the poor graphics, which the majority of fans were mad about.
If we compare Fallout 4 with other triple-A games released in 2015, Bethesda’s project looks outdated. Games like Witcher III, Metal Gear Solid V, Bloodborne, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, and Batman: Arkham Knight had superior graphics. It didn’t help that Todd Howard, director and executive producer of Bethesda, blatantly overhyped the game before its release – let’s just say Fallout 4 flopped hard when it comes to graphics.
The quality of the main story is lackluster, especially comparing it to Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas.
What the Fallout franchise did consistently well is the development of its storyline. Each Fallout game had an interesting and unique plot that held players’ attention from the beginning to the end. When you combine the story with world-building, you get a special atmosphere during gameplay that makes the Fallout franchise stand out from the rest.
Memorable characters like Joshua Graham were in New Vegas, but Fallout 4 lacks in that aspect.
Fallout 3 had a linear storyline, but it was enjoyable. The Lone Wanderer was an appealing player character, and NPCs elevated Fallout 3 storyline tenfold. Side quests were also exciting and entertaining, extending the already rich world of Fallout 3. New Vegas changed how role-playing games were conducted at the time – the story was impeccable.
Fallout: New Vegas is undoubtedly one of the best RPGs ever created because it gave players freedom that we rarely see in the games. Do you want your player character to be a female spy who only carries melee weapons and dislikes the NCR regime? Don’t worry; New Vegas allows you to be just that.
The Courier is your character, and it’s your job as a player to create the whole story of the main protagonist. Fallout 4 fails in both cases. The game has linear storytelling like Fallout 3, but it’s shallow and restrictive, which is vastly different from what we experienced in previous games. Fallout 4 follows the story of Sole Survivor who go on their journey to save their son Shaun.
Unfortunately, the plot’s mystery is revealed the moment Sole Survivor starts communicating with other NPCs – the mention of The Institution reveals a lot of the main plot. Frankly, companions are the most enjoyable part of the game, but even that cannot save the storyline that doesn’t pay off the game’s progress. Endings are also limited, which isn’t the point of Fallout games.
In conclusion, Fallout 4 is inferior to its predecessors regarding the story.
The role-playing aspect of Fallout 4 decreased significantly, which is the staple of the Fallout franchise.
We already mentioned the reason for removing the role-playing element of Fallout games. This issue is glaringly obvious, especially with adding settlements where a player needs to scavenge for materials and build them for NPCs who don’t have any identity. Now, that seems harsh, but one of the biggest strengths of Fallout was the unique NPCs with a purpose in the game. Usually, they give player character quests and expand the game’s lore.
Fewer NPCs means less interaction, and less interaction means less role-play which devalues the true Fallout gameplay. Fallout 3 and New Vegas are great in this aspect, making them better games than Fallout 4.
Fallout 4 just isn’t “a true” Fallout game.
This brings us to the last reason – Fallout 4 isn’t a proper Fallout game. Again this seems a bit over the top, but Fallout 4 is “the least Fallout game” in the franchise. Fallout was always indented for players who value lore and story over the action sequences. Most Fallout fans will agree that Fallout story and gameplay peaked with Fallout: New Vegas.
Bethesda seems like they wanted to make Fallout accessible to a wider and new player base and, unfortunately, alienated the veteran players that have been playing Fallout games for years. Changes are great, but when they make sense – removing karma and reputation from the game made gameplay stale. Players didn’t feel the consequences of their foul actions like they did in the previous games. Revamping the SPECIAL system was detrimental to Fallout 4 because it became “grindy.”
The player character can be good at every skill if they try to collect experience and special items, which is the opposite of the Fallout games we know. In previous games, players could customize their characters uniquely by focusing on the strengths and weaknesses that will help or be detrimental on their journey across the Wasteland. For example, The Courier from New Vegas is a scientist who knows how to handle energy weapons, and those are the skills one is bumping up, not everything else.
Is Fallout 4 worth playing?
Despite all of the criticism Fallout 4 received over the years, the game is playable, primarily because of the mods that the modding community regularly releases daily.
Fallout 4 is one of the most modded games today, and the modders are doing their best to make the game more enjoyable. Fallout 4 has some good sides, primarily the companions and side quests which are more fun than the main ones. A good mod can easily fix poor graphics, and if you are looking for a good open-world sandbox, Fallout 4 is a solid game to play and enjoy.
Do you want to have the same companions as previous games? There is always a good mod available online. Furthermore, always look for a good bug-fixing mod that will remove most bugs and lags from the game, which is available for most Fallout games.
Fallout 4 can be a fun experience, mainly if you have never played the previous games. Fallout 4 is simply different from the rest of the franchise, and it steered away from what Fallout games indeed are – RP games that value story more than everything.
Dora Naletilic started developing her gaming skills on Game Boy and the first PlayStation consoles, with Tekken, Crash Bandicoot, and sports games dominating her repertoire. However, Dora truly fell in love with video games when she stumbled upon the Warcraft III game, which changed her perspective on gaming. After seeing the ultimate demise of Arthas and invading of the undead known as Scourge of Lorderon, Dora became a fan of DOTA, which made her a MOBA fan. Her nerves are tested daily on Summoner's Rift, but she still loves League of Legends very much. Dora especially loves action role-playing game franchises like Fallout and Mass Effect and has a special place for Mafia II, Uncharted, and the Metal Gear Solid franchise. Although she admits to being bad at shooters, Call of Duty and Destiny 2 have dominated her gaming life for years, while GTA made her excited about in-game bank heists.
Why Did Fallout 4 Power Armor Disspear & How to Get It Back?
Power Armor is among the most iconic items in the Fallout franchise. It’s a true game changer that vastly enhances a player’s survivability in the game. Having said that, it’s obvious that such a valuable piece of equipment is rare to find when compared to other gear in the game. No matter how hard it is, getting your hands on Power Armor is crucial. But what happens when your framer just vanishes into thin air? This is a problem that many players faced over the years, and because of it, we’ve decided to create this guide. Let’s see why did your Fallout 4 Power Armor disappear and how to get it back?
If your Power Armor is missing, it most likely got stolen by a settler or a raider. If you don’t remove the fusion cores, your Power Armor is fair game for just about any NPC with the ability to equip it. To get your Power Armor back, you can always pickpocket the fusion core from the NPCs inventory, or in the case of your companions, you can kidly ask them to exit the Power Armor, which they will obey. In severe cases when neither of the options is available, you might need to reload the previous save game.
Now that we’ve covered that your Power Armor can, in fact, get stolen, it’s time to analyze why this happens. If you’re interested in more and want to know how to get it back, stay with us and keep reading!
Power Armor missing in Fallout 4; why it happens?
You’ve just exited your Power Armor in Fallout 4, and you’re ready to upgrade it and paint it. You’re done with the job, and you remember there are a few things you need to do around the Settlement before you’re done for the day. You leave your Power Armor frame, and when you return, for a few minutes (or hours), your precious upgraded set is lost. It’s gone. It’s nowhere to be found.
You know how Fallout 4 has a pretty advanced AI system that was implemented in order for the world to feel alive? Turns out that it’s almost too realistic since your settlers and even some aggressive NPCs can steal your Power Armor.
If your Power Armor is missing in Fallout 4, it most likely got stolen, and the way to deal with this depends on who stole it. Sometimes if you’re Settlement is under attack, settlers will jump into your Power Armor as a means of protecting themselves and dealing some damage.
If your Settlement has been raided, chances are great that raiders will steal your Power Armor if you leave the fusion cores in. This is a bit more complicated when it comes to retrieving the stolen armor, however. And this is exactly what we’re going to guide you through in the next part of our post.
How to get your Power Armor back once it’s been stolen in Fallout 4?
When it comes to retrieving your Power Armor after it’s been stolen, you have several options at your disposal. You can pickpocket the fusion core of the NPC that stole it, or you can destroy the fusion core while NPC is wearing the Power Armor. Rarely you can simply ask the NPC that currently wears your Power Armor to exit it. Now let’s analyze all three approaches in a bit more detail.
Pickpocketing fusion cores from NPCs
You can retrieve your Power Armor in Fallout 4 by pickpocketing fusion cores from an NPC. that stole it. Fusion Cores serve as fuel for Power Armor, and without them, the Power Armor is pretty much useless. And even though NPCs have the capacity to steal the armor and even use it to some limited extent, they do not have the capacity to obtain more cores to power it. Pickpocketing the Fusion Cores will result in the NPC exiting the Power Armor nearly instantly, and in that case, you can retrieve it back pretty easily.
Destroying the fusion cores
This is an alternative way to retrieve your Power Armor, but it can easily backfire. You can use VATS to specifically target fusion cores, and just like pickpocketing the fusion cores, this will result in NPC leaving the power armor instantly due to the loss of power.
If you kill the NPC that stole your power armor while it is wearing it, you will be able to loot some pieces of the armor, but the frame will be lost to you, which renders it unusable. Frames are rare to come by but not impossible. There are at least 20 of them in the world waiting for you to loot them. Besides, you can always use the commands to spawn one for yourself.
You can kindly ask NPCs to exit your Power Armor
In case you have accidentally given a command to your companion to enter your Power Armor, you can kindly ask it to exit the Power Armor through the dialogue options. Companions will, in general, follow your command. The only exception to this rule is Paladin Danse, who will straight up refuse to leave the Power Armor. When you’re companions are wearing the armor, fusion cores will not degrade over time, and they can use the core-less frames without penalty so keep that in mind.
The option to leave your Power Armor may appear for other NPCs in your Settlement, but not all. It’s a good idea to always attempt to discuss it with the NPCs before moving on to pickpocketing the cores or killing an NPC.
How to prevent Power Armor theft in Fallout 4?
To prevent your Power Armor from getting stolen, it’s best to take out the fusion cores. Without fusion cores, NPCs will pay no mind to it and will never even attempt to enter it. This is the only way to always make sure that your armor will be waiting for where you left it at.
Valentina Kraljik is a writer and editor at Game Horizon with a deep love for everything related to video games. With a degree in Information Sciences, she brings a well-informed and unique perspective to her work. Valentina's writing is known for covering a wide range of video game genres, but she truly shines in her expertise in open-world RPGs. From offbeat euro-jank games like "Gothic" to critically acclaimed titles like "The Witcher," Valentina is well-versed in this exciting genre. Her passion for imaginative storytelling is reflected in the topics she writes about, with favorites like "Disco Elysium," "Elder Scrolls: Morrowind," "World of Warcraft," and "Mass Effect" influencing her tastes in games. Even though nothing beats a good high-fantasy setting, she often wanders into the realm of first-person shooters, occasionally even hitting the target. With a commitment to objectivity and insightful analysis, Valentina strives to bring a fresh perspective to the subjects she covers, even when exploring genres that may be unfamiliar to her. Her blend of academic rigor and creative flair sets her apart in the world of media writing.
Where Does Fallout 4 Save Screenshots? (Steam & Other Platforms)
Open-world games have always been a perfect opportunity to capture landscapes and various gear you have acquired while roaming its vast worlds. Even though Fallout 4 was never known for its amazing graphics, over time, things have changed, and now the game is pretty much filled with amazing opportunities to capture beautiful screenshots, thanks to the modding community. The first step is capturing screenshots, and the second one is finding them, and this is why we’ve decided to prepare this guide. Let’s see where does Fallout 4 save screenshots?
If you’re playing the Steam version of Fallout 4, screenshots can be found in Steam’s userdata folder. If you want to capture a screenshot the old-school way via the “print screen” key, those screenshots can be found in Fallout 4 root folder. Screenshots on PS4 and Xbox One can be captured via the “Share” button on the controllers.
Now that we’ve covered the Steam and non-Steam versions of the game, it’s time to cover alternative ways to screenshot Fallout 4 and, likewise, where to find your creations. If you’re interested in more, stay with us and keep reading!
How do you take a screenshot in Fallout 4?
If you’re playing Fallout 4 on Steam, the most straightforward way to take a screenshot is to press the F12 key on your keyboard. Taking screenshots this way will upload them automatically to your Steam library most of the time, and you will have the opportunity to view them and organize them through Steam’s user interface. Most of the players are satisfied with this system, as Steam offers you the opportunity to share your creations with the rest of the world instantly, and it saves them forever if you choose to upload them to a cloud.
For players that choose that navigating the Steam app is too much of a hassle, you can always take Fallout 4 screenshots the old-school way by using the PrtScr key. The same goes for players that have non-Steam copies of the game and don’t have the option of managing their screenshots through the app.
Alternatively, you can take a screenshot (and edit them) through Nvidia Experience and AMD software that comes with your graphics card drivers.
To take a screenshot via Nvidia Experience, simply press ALT+F1 or ALT+F2. You can remap those keys to something else at any time.
Some games have support for Nvidia Ansel, which is an extremely useful screenshot editing tool built into the driver that allows you to change the game scene and add certain effects to the screenshots in order to make them even more visually appealing.
For gamers who decide to go for AMD graphics, fear not, as the driver has similar gimmicks. You can take a screenshot via AMD’s game overlay by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+I, and similarly to Nvidia Experience, that key can be remapped.
Playing Fallout 4 on the PS4 console, all you have to do to take a screenshot is to press and hold the “SHARE” button on your controller. The same goes for Xbox One. You can video-capture moments from the game through the same button, although you need to hold it longer.
Where does Fallout 4 save screenshots?
The location of Fallout 4 screenshots depends on what kind of application you’re using to take them, so it would probably be best to use a single option at the time since organizing several screenshots folders and keeping a tab on them all seems burdensome.
If you’re playing Fallout 4 on Steam and you’re using Steam to take screenshots, you can find them C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\ folder. You can likewise access screenshots through Steam’s UI by selecting the “manage screenshots” option. Once there, you will get to choose the “show on disk” option, which will automatically open the folder that holds all your Fallout 4 screenshots.
For non-steam copies of the game, your Fallout 4 screenshots can be found in the root folder of the game. Usually, it’s C:\Games\Fallout 4, depending on where you’ve installed the game. The screenshots are always in the same folder as your “Data” folder, and they are saved in .bmp format.
If you’re using Nvidia Experience or AMD software to take screenshots, they can be found in C:\Users\Name_of_your_PC\Videos\Fallout 4 directory. Nvidia Experience screenshots can also be navigated through the in-game overlay by pressing ALT+Z. The videos taken in both programs can be found at the same location, even though both programs might create an identical folder to store their output.
And that’s pretty much it. As you can see, the possibilities are endless. If you’re interested in more Fallout 4 guides, check out our guide on playing Fallout 4 in offline mode.
Valentina Kraljik is a writer and editor at Game Horizon with a deep love for everything related to video games. With a degree in Information Sciences, she brings a well-informed and unique perspective to her work. Valentina's writing is known for covering a wide range of video game genres, but she truly shines in her expertise in open-world RPGs. From offbeat euro-jank games like "Gothic" to critically acclaimed titles like "The Witcher," Valentina is well-versed in this exciting genre. Her passion for imaginative storytelling is reflected in the topics she writes about, with favorites like "Disco Elysium," "Elder Scrolls: Morrowind," "World of Warcraft," and "Mass Effect" influencing her tastes in games. Even though nothing beats a good high-fantasy setting, she often wanders into the realm of first-person shooters, occasionally even hitting the target. With a commitment to objectivity and insightful analysis, Valentina strives to bring a fresh perspective to the subjects she covers, even when exploring genres that may be unfamiliar to her. Her blend of academic rigor and creative flair sets her apart in the world of media writing.
