Five Years After It Came Out, Fallout 76 Has 17 Million Players

Bethesda has discussed what’s coming to Fallout 76 in 2024, and confirmed the multiplier-focused post-apocalyptic role-playing game now has more than 17 million players.

Fallout 76 suffered a disastrous launch back in November 2018. It was labelled broken and unplayable by many, but it was also criticised for offering a lifeless, Appalachia-set open-world to explore, devoid of many of the features fans loved from Bethesda’s single-player Fallout games.

Since then, Bethesda has worked to turn the game around, with 2020’s Wastelanders update, which finally added fully voiced NPCs, seen as a crucial milestone. Now, five years after launch, Fallout 76 is considered a success and its player base happy, as it currently has a ‘mostly positive’ user review rating on Steam.

Following the release of the Atlantic City – Boardwalk Paradise update, Bethesda art director Jon Rush penned a blog post detailing the Fallout 76 roadmap, and within it said “over 17 million players have experienced new Fallout tales and characters with Wastelanders.”

So, what’s in store for 2024? Atlantic City – America’s Playground, due out in the spring, includes an additional mission in which players confront the legendary Jersey Devil, along with new story driven quests, more areas to explore and rewards. 

Then, later in 2024, Bethesda will expand the game’s map southward deep into the wooded heartland of Shenandoah. “This uncharted, once-tranquil expanse in the heart of Virginia will bring a new questline, factions and rewards,” Rush said. The concept art, below, teases what’s to come.