In a special presentation today, Fallout 76 has unveiled what’s coming next for the title, and it appears that World Pets and Hideouts are the next big updates hitting the wasteland.
Fallout 3 fans, brace yourselves: The Slasher (aka The Pint-Sized Slasher in the Capital Wasteland) is here for spooky season. Fallout 76 has unleashed a new season among Wastelanders that sees players investigate a copycat for the pre-war wasteland’s most notorious urban legend. While Vault Dwellers are getting to the bottom of the mystery during spooky season, Bethesda Game Studios has uncorked everything in the pipeline for the Fallout MMO, including the timeline for the next two seasons. First up, Fallout 76 is deploying World Pets, which will allow explorers to bring their furry companion of many sizes out of C.A.M.P. for adventure, and the following season, Hideouts, will explore more Bounty Hunting (and more rewards, of course).
Fallout 76: World Pets – You Can Now Bring Your Dog!
Fallout 76: World Pets transforms every journey into a shared adventure with a loyal companion by your side, so you don’t have to abandon them at C.A.M.P. This new (and free) update allows players to explore Appalachia alongside customizable pets that can fight, level up, and grow next to them. On top of being allowed to take a hog for a walk, Bounty Hunting activities are expanding into Skyline Valley, and significant visual improvements across the region will be implemented.
From the basic domesticated fare of Dogs and Cats, to fearsome Radhogs and even a Deathclaw, pets can be good company for players throughout Appalachia. Pets will also level up alongside you, as they perform well in combat and find items to pick up and give to the player. Pets aren’t just a pretty face and companion to travel around with; Fallout 76 puts them to work, and all pets can uncover rewards and assist in combat and exploration.
- Pets can be handled and sorted through a new selection on the Pip-Boy menu. Pets are selected, swapped, and even healed on the fly from a new PETS section of the Pip-Boy, found under STAT.
- Pets can be controlled by the player. By using the command wheel, you can give your companion orders like Stay, Follow, Attack and Defend, and they will also listen to some emotes.
- Although a Deathclaw looks different from a Radhog (who would’ve thought?), they both level the same, and deal the same damage. A Radhog melee attack would look markedly different, but the damage is the same across all pets. Pets also level up via species, not individual pet. So, two differently named player dogs will both be level seven if one of them is.
- Pet armour is cosmetic only, and Fallout 76 made this decision for fairness.
- Each species has unique passive buffs: Dogs find Stimpaks and extra Legendaries on Bounty Hunts; Cats find Improved Baits and extra Fish Bits; Radhogs find Toxic-Goo and High-Radiation Fluids; and Deathclaws find Black Titanium and extra Legendaries in an Infestation. Each pet has strengths and weaknesses, and it’s up to the Fallout 76 player to adapt.
- Lastly, Pets cannot join shelters or raids; they’re helpful travel companions only.
Fallout 76 then moved on to what’s beyond World Pets, with Fallout 76: Hideouts. Fallout 76: Hideouts introduces a new feature expanding on the Bounty Hunting system, bringing fights to the Wasteland’s most challenging gangs. This (also free) update takes players to all-new interior locations in Burning Springs and Skyline Valley, where gangs are hiding. Players can group with up to three friends (or strangers) to find the Hideout, take on the gang, and defeat the boss.
On top of the random enemy fare, Hideouts introduces players to a new threat: The Drifter. Players on greater difficulties may come face to face with The Drifter—a Diablo IV, The Butcher-adjacent ruthless bounty hunter who will not hesitate to eliminate the competition. The Drifter is a Raid-level encounter that could appear at any Hideout location, and he will put your party down. Fans who want to test fate can use a “Marked” Hideout Lead, and he is guaranteed to show up.
To take on a Fallout 76 Hideout, players must earn a Hideout Lead by exploring the map, completing Public Events and Head Hunts, or participating in other gameplay activities. Players can then combine the leads to make an even more powerful encounter. While Fallout 76: World Pets is forecasted to drop sometime this Winter, Hideouts is coming in the Spring of 2027.
Beyond that, Fallout 76 is going back to the Capital Wasteland with a new map expansion, Raven Rock. Raven Rock lets players explore the Capital Wasteland in its prequel state before the events of Fallout 3, and players can return to the location that kicked off the modern ARPG Fallout franchise. The revealed roadmap from Bethesda Studios can be seen below.
That just about wraps up all of the news from Fallout 76 announced today. Fans looking for more information can head to the official game site!
