Fans have been requesting private worlds for Fallout 76 since before the game ever even launched. Game director Todd Howard even announced that they wanted to add private servers to the game all the way back in QuakeCon 2018. Along with the launch of private servers, Bethesda even said that you would be able to mod those servers.
When Fallout 76 launched back in late November 2018, private servers were nowhere to be found. They were always coming soon or still being worked on. Fans kept inquiring to know when those private, mod-enabled servers would finally arrive.
Well, it turns out that day is today! Bethesda has finally launched the ability to run private servers so that you and your friends can play together in relative peace and quiet.
Ah, but there is a catch. If you haven't caught on already, the catch here is that these private servers are locked behind a new, paid membership for Fallout 76. The service is called Fallout 1st and it just launched today on all platforms. It will run you $12.99 (USD) per month or $99.99 for a whole year.
To be fair to Bethesda, the private servers are not the only things included with Fallout 1st. However, this hasn't really made the fan reaction any less severe. Fans are quite pissed off that a feature that was promised before the game even launched is now behind a paywall.
Fans are also upset at just how little else of actual value is included in Fallout 1st. Let's take a quick look at just what all is included for your $12.99 per month.
- PRIVATE WORLDS - Play in a Private World exclusively for you and up to seven friends.
- SCRAPBOX - Unlimited storage for crafting components in your own new Scrapbox container.
- SURVIVAL TENT - A new placeable fast travel point with a Stash, Sleeping Bag, and more for your basic needs.
- ATOMS - Receive 1,650 Atoms per month to use in the Atomic Shop.
- RANGER ARMOR OUTFIT - An iconic Fallout outfit, exclusively for members.
- ICONS & EMOTES PACK - Unique icons and emotes, available only to members.
Some fans have even gone so far as to call this an "out-of-season April Fools' joke." It's perhaps also important to keep in mind that this paid subscription service comes just one week after Bethesda announced they were delaying the release of the Wastelanders content for Fallout 76.
This quote from Bethesda's Pete Hines from August 2018 has not aged all that well in retrospect.
“There’s always going to be new content, changes in game balance, whatever it takes, and by the way, it’s all free after launch – all our content, there’s no season pass and no paid DLCs."
UPDATE 14 HIGHLIGHTS
- Fallout 1st: Become a member to get exclusive access to a Private World, unlimited crafting component storage with the Scrapbox, a second Fast Travel point with the Survival Tent, monthly best value Atoms, and more.
- Mischief Night Seasonal Event: Put on your favorite costume and head to the Whitespring Resort from October 29 – November 5 to run wild during Mischief Night!
- (NW) New Limited Time Rewards: Unlock six limited-time Halloween themed cosmetic rewards by completing Nuclear Winter Challenges from October 29 – November 12.
- (NW) Color-Coded Item Rarities: Nuclear Winter items are now color-coded so that you can quickly size up their effectiveness as you scavenge during your matches.
- Legendary Scorchbeasts: Ready your weapons and open your loot bags, because these winged terrors now have a chance to spawn as legendary enemies.
- More Frequent Public Events: We’ve significantly reduced the cooldown from the start of one Public Event to the next, meaning more Public Events, more often.
