As anticipation continues to build around Bethesda’s next mainline Fallout entry in the iconic post-apocalyptic franchise, Fallout 5’s release date is still likely to be ages off at this point. While developers remain focused on The Elder Scrolls 6 at the moment, excitement surrounding the next mainline Fallout game has only intensified following the massive success of Amazon Prime Video’s Fallout adaptation.
The television series transformed the beloved RPG universe into a mainstream phenomenon, earning huge viewership numbers and bringing in a whole new wave of fans that may have otherwise never given Fallout a second thought. Its expansion into fan-favorite locations like New Vegas introduced millions of new viewers to the wasteland while encouraging longtime players to revisit the games.
Fortunately, despite there being no news on Fallout 5, there’s a brand-new release that Fallout gamers will definitely want to check out, and it’s completely free and available to download now (via Bethesda).
Infestations is a brand-new free update for Fallout 76 that gamers will definitely want to check out, marking the game’s 68th free update since launch back in 2018. The update revamps various areas across the wasteland, filling the wilderness with potential dangerous “infestation” areas, “holdouts comprised from a range of factions and forces promising a heck of a fight and handsome rewards to boot.”
Fallout 76‘s Infestations update introduces a challenging new endgame activity that rewards players with some of the game’s most valuable loot. Designed for experienced wasteland explorers, Infestations appear dynamically across Appalachia, with players only receiving a general indication of their location on the map.
When an Infestation takes hold, the area’s usual inhabitants are displaced by a hostile invading faction. At launch, groups including the Blood Eagles, Cultists, Communists, Mole Miners, Scorched, Super Mutants, and Robots can seize control of locations throughout the Toxic Valley, Forest, Ash Heap, Savage Divide, Mire, and Cranberry Bog regions. These enemies are significantly stronger than their standard counterparts and are led by an elite boss equipped with a unique weapon and a random Mutation that can alter the encounter.
Defeating regular enemies offers standard rewards and a chance at 3-Star Legendary gear, but taking down the Infestation boss guarantees a 4-Star Legendary weapon or armor piece. Players can also earn exclusive new 4-Star mods, including Vector, which boosts long-range V.A.T.S. accuracy, and Tarnished, which increases weapon damage as an item’s condition deteriorates.
Further, to mark the update’s launch, infestations will appear more frequently for the first two weeks before returning to their normal spawn rates. The update is also launching alongside a huge announcement of an upcoming next-gen release for PS5 and XBOX Series S/X, entering play-testing throughout June for anyone who already owns Fallout 76.
Fallout 76
7/10
- Released
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November 14, 2018
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Engine
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Creation