Fallout returns in September as long-awaited new-gen update set to land

After years of redefining itself amid a woeful launch, Fallout 76 has slowly become one of the best games in the franchise, redeeming itself from that disastrous 52/100 Metacritic score.

With nearly a decade of live-service support, including a wealth of DLCs and performance upgrades, the open-world multiplayer title continues to reward the loyal players who stuck through the hard times.

The last 12 months specifically have already proved to be a great year for the crawlers of Appalachia, with the Burning Springs expansion being hailed as the community's 'favourite', as the Fallout TV series' popular icon, The Ghoul, arrived as a bounty-offering NPC.

Bethesda

Following on from the Backwoods expansion, which brought infestations to the game earlier this year, a new update has been announced to arrive in September, which coincides with the promised new-gen ports.

Fallout 76: Season 26 finally brings the new-gen update

Arriving on September 26, the new Fallout 76 Season 26 update, titled 'Beware the Blood Moon', will bring forth Bethesda's new 'Gen 9' boost that will benefit all new-gen console users.

In a social media post, Bethesda claimed that the new upgrades will massively increase the user experience and offer the developers even more opportunity to continue enhancing the title.

"Along with [DLC] content, our Gen 9 boost that benefits players on XBOX Series S/X, PS5, and older consoles will arrive," the developers wrote.

"All console players will enjoy better performance, stability, and visual fidelity. This upgrade also affords our team the opportunity to optimize each platform individually down the road."

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This all coincides with a new ongoing side quest for Fallout 76 that will serve as an ongoing murder mystery story that will take players through to a chilling Halloween climax.

Named 'The Slasher', the familiar alias has been adopted by a 'pint-sized' imposter who has been on a killing spree throughout the country.

Players will need to "hunt for clues, dig up unmarked graves, and fight off fanatics INFESTING the map," as they earn stellar rewards including a unique Power Armor set as well as a new instrument of murder, the 'Super Slasher'.

For Bethesda, it's a welcome change of pace to have a Fallout update being received well by its fans, having upset long-standing players with an arguably unnecessary update to Fallout 4 that disrupts modded playthroughs.

But it sets up the Fallout revival perfectly, as the famed studio gathers momentum to a massive new release window, featuring the fifth mainline game instalment and remasters for Fallout 3 and New Vegas.

Vault dwellers do be feasting.