Exclusive Update: Bethesda Provides Insight into Fallout 4's Next-Gen Transformation
Bethesda's PR head clarifies the absence of the long-awaited Fallout 4 next-gen update, addressing fan concerns Find out the reasons behind the delay and what this means for eager players
Highlights
Bethesda finally addressed the status of Fallout 4's next-gen update, which will include updated graphics and additions to the Creation Club system.
The studio's delay in the update can be attributed to its prioritization of the highly anticipated game, Starfield, scheduled for a September release. Some speculations propose that the next-gen update might coincide with the premiere of Amazon's Fallout TV series, although there is currently no substantiating evidence for this theory.
Bethesda Softworks' representative has finally addressed the much-anticipated next-gen update for Fallout 4 during a Twitter exchange with a fan. Although the details of the update are scarce, it is expected to include enhanced graphics and new additions to Bethesda's Creation Club system.
Originally released in 2015 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, Fallout 4 received positive reviews from both critics and fans. However, it faced the challenge of following Fallout: New Vegas, developed by Obsidian Entertainment. Regarded by some as the best installment in the Fallout series due to its strong focus on narrative elements and the impact of player choices, Obsidian Entertainment is also now under Microsoft's ownership, along with Bethesda.
Fallout 4's graphics are still good and can run smoothly at 60 FPS at 1080p on a high-performance gaming PC. However, the game currently lacks support for 4K resolution. In late 2022, Bethesda announced a next-gen update for the game as part of Fallout's 25th anniversary celebration. The update would include Performance and Quality modes. Although the exact release date was not specified, it was expected to be sometime in 2023.
As most of 2023 has already passed, a fan on Twitter reached out to Pete Hines, the Senior Vice President of Global Marketing & Communications at Bethesda Softworks, to inquire about the update's status. Hines, in a somewhat curt response, explained the company's priorities, with the focus currently on Starfield. Starfield is Bethesda Game Studios' first original IP in over twenty years and its first game since the release of Fallout 4 in 2015. With less than a month remaining before its September 6 release, the studio is likely fully dedicated to ensuring that Starfield is ready for launch.
Bethesda's rumored delay of the promised next-gen update, potentially timed with the premiere of Amazon's Fallout TV series featuring Walter Goggins and Jonathan Nolan as co-showrunner, has left fans speculating. Though there is no concrete evidence to support this theory, the possibility of disruption caused by ongoing writers' and actors' strikes cannot be ruled out. Alternatively, Bethesda may be giving priority to their long-awaited first major release in almost ten years. As of now, Fallout 4 can be played on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
