First released in 2015,Fallout 4was another solid addition to the popular Bethesda franchise. It featured many familiar elements from previousFalloutgames, including a post-apocalyptic landscape that players could explore, a toggled first and third-person perspective, and returning enemies like Ghouls and Mutants.Fallout 4also introduced some newer aspects like crafting, base-building, and higher levels of customization, and overall fans were pleased with the new entry despite some shortcomings. However, Bethesda may have squandered a chance to turn the newest installment into a standalone multiplayer game.
Three years after the release ofFallout 4,Bethesda surprised fans withFallout 76. The online action RPG was Bethesda Game Studios' first multiplayer game and it served as a prequel to the previous titles released in the series. While this sounded like an exciting concept that would hopefully bring something new to the franchise,Fallout 76was plagued by performance issues and cursed with forgettable quests. The disastrous launch that the game experienced might make one wonder whether Bethesda would have had more luck with a multiplayer spinoff forFallout 4instead.
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Fallout 4’s Narrative Consequences
Fallout 4had a much stronger foundation for a follow-up multiplayer title than creating a brand-new prequel did, and it seemed a shame that Bethesda didn’t look at expanding the world of The Commonwealth as an alternative toFallout 76. From narrative threads that remained unresolved to mecahnical aspects that could’ve been explore more,Fallout 4still had plenty of potential for a post-launch life. Like the majority of Bethesda’s expansive RPGs, the community has continued to implement mods and shapeFallout 4’s landscape, including work on a potential multiplayer aspect.
This is unsurprising, considering how popular online multiplayer has become in the last few years, but fans can only speculate about what aFallout 4multiplayer spinoff might have looked like.Fallout 4’s storyshowed long-time players a new side to the post-apocalyptic environment they knew so well, with new crumbling landmarks, creepy vaults, and fresh areas to encounter. Gamers had a lot of freedom when it came to shaping their protagonist and their story, including how the narrative ultimately concludes.
Depending on which side the player’s Sole Survivor chooses, there are various consequences for the factions they’ve met along the way and the surrounding area they’ve called home throughout the story.A multiplayer game based onFallout 4could have explored how these consequences played out, as well as seeing how gamers dealt with remaining factions – whether they remained neutral or opted to wipe out any competition.
Fallout 4’s Many Factions
A successful element of many multiplayer titles is having organizations or factions that players can join. This not only adds an interesting element to the gameplay but also gives groups of players a reason to work together or even work against one another.Fallout 4already established a number of contrasting factions that players could choose to align themselves with, like theanti-synth Brotherhood of Steel, the secretive Institute, the humble Minutemen, or the synth-friendly Railroad. Choosing to support any of these four main groups had an impact on the story and the overall ending ofFallout 4.
If a multiplayer title had been created that was inspired byFallout 4, it would have been easy to pit these four groups against each other once more, with players able to pick which one they wanted to associate with or if they wanted to be a free agent instead. Having faction strongholdsspread throughout The Commonwealththat gamers could customize, attack, or occupy depending on their affiliation would have been a great fit for a combative multiplayer, with a territory control element similar to games likeGreedFall. It would help players feel invested, and factions would also incentivize cooperation as well as combat with potential perks for dominating an enemy group.
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Fallout 4’s Settlement Mechanics
One of the coolest new features inFallout 4was the chance to fully customize a base. New mechanics can be a bit hit or miss for iterative entries in a franchise, with studios sometimes trying to add new aspects for the sake of it, when really the original formula didn’t need any substantial tweaking. However, Bethesda offered surprising complexity in thebase-building feature inFallout 4that was well-thought-out and well-executed for the most part. The ability to create a new home for both the playable character and other survivors was fun inFallout 4, but a multiplayer game could have taken this to a new level.
Alongside the more practical elements like having enough beds, growing food, and ensuring thata settlement inFallout 4was supplied with water and power, players had to ensure their homestead was defended. Building the best and most well-protected base would add another layer of competition to a multiplayer title, as well as provide a challenge to gamers hoping to infiltrate or take over another’s players stronghold. Adding more tools to help make an impenetrable settlement like traps, different types of weaponry, and other physical obstacles would make the task of creating as well as capturing a base satisfying as gamers work to outwit each other.
The Future Of The Fallout Franchise
Fans know thatFallout 5is on the way thanks to confirmation fromBethesda’s Todd Howard, but it seems like it could take a while. Not only is the studio preoccupied with the fast-approaching release ofStarfield, but it will also be focusing on the highly-anticipatedElder Scrolls 6before work onFallout 5can properly get underway. Players might be lucky to see the next installment this side of 2030, but at least they know it’s coming.
Obviouslydetails onFallout 5are practically non-existent, but by looking at what worked and what didn’t withFallout 4, fans might have some idea of where Bethesda could take the future entry.Fallout 4was generally well-received, with many feeling it was a worthy chapter in the long-running sci-fi series. However, fans might also be looking for a multiplayer element to make the next title a complete package, and this time hopefully it won’t be scrapped the same wayFallout 4’s was.
Fallout 4is available on {C, PS4, and Xbox One.
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