Bethesda shares Fallout 76's roadmap of free content updates for 2019

Bethesda has unveiled a new Fallout 76 roadmap, outlining the year ahead for its much-maligned online survival game.

"We know the game had a difficult launch, and we've made mistakes along the way," the developer wrote in its post detailing the coming year, "We share in your frustrations when we do. We'll probably make a few more, and when we do, we will work to correct them as quickly as possible."

While the looming spectre of yet more mistakes piled onto the already shambolic, teetering mass of everything that's come before, probably doesn't strike quite the reassuring note Bethesda was aiming for, the studio does say "we're fully dedicated to making this game the best it can be - and even more so, a platform for endless Fallout adventures for years to come."

To that end, Bethesda has offered a broad overview of its plans for 2019, taking the form of three core updates - Wild Appalachia, Nuclear Winter, and Wastelanders. The latter two are the least well defined, with Nuclear Winter, due in the summer, promising the titular new game mode, high level Vault raids through Vaults 96 and 94, and a new prestige system enabling those over level 50 to reset their characters with "all new more powerful abilities".

Wastelanders, expected this autumn, brings a "new main quest, new events, new features, and more". Most of which is likely still too vague to elicit much in the way of excitement.

Wild Appalachia, however, which is due to launch on March 12th, is laid out in some considerable detail. Release day sees the introduction of brewing and distilling as a new feature, and a new limited-time event, the Fasnacht Parade, starts the following week on March 19th, promising "unique rewards" in the form of Fasnacht Masks to those that complete it.

Appalachia's big addition, a new Survival mode which has already raised a few eyebrows, arrives on March 26th, and is described as a "higher-stakes PvP experience with fewer restrictions, increased rewards, and new challenges". It's followed by more new features in April, with player-built vending machines for camps arriving on the 9th and cameras due on the 16th. The 9th also brings new quests and encounters in the form of Shear Terror, in which players are asked to "uncover the 'encryptid' secrets of the Appalachia".

More quests are expected on May 7th, with Ever Upwards introducing "new stories for the legendary Pioneer Scouts" alongside a customisable backpack system. And, finally, May 23rd sees the arrival of the Legendary Vendor (AKA the Purveyor), who exchanges unwanted legendary items for new legendary gear. All of the above, Bethesda notes, are free updates.

"Thanks again for sticking with us. It's a privilege to have such passionate and caring fans," the publisher's post concluded. "We have big plans for 2019 and we'd love to hear your continued feedback on everything we're doing... Your voices push us to do better and your support has meant everything to us. We'll do our best to earn it."