5 Things to Do Before the Fallout 76 Release Date

If you’re thinking about buying Fallout 76 or if you’ve already put in a pre-order, there are a few things you’ll want to do before the game’s release date arrives this fall.

Fallout 76 pre-orders are live at a large number of retailers ahead of the game’s release date in November. Bethesda and its retail partners are currently selling three versions of the game including a standard edition, the Tricentennial Edition, and a $200 Power Armor Edition bundle.

Those who pre-order a copy of Fallout 76 gain access to the Fallout 76 beta which is set to launch on Xbox One, PS4, and Windows PC sometime before that November 14th release date.

Deciding on a Fallout 76 pre-order is just one thing you should do before the game’s release date this fall. There are a few other things you should do in the months leading up to the release date starting with the beta.

Enter Fallout 76 Contests

Love Fallout? Want to win free stuff? Make sure you’re on the lookout for occasional Fallout 76-related contests.

In June, Bethesda launched the first Fallout 76 contest. The prize? A custom Fallout 76 Xbox One X. Entry was simple and free.

Our winner was selected! Thank you to all who participated. Be on the lookout for chances to win more prizes.

— Fallout (@Fallout) July 9, 2018

Bethesda says it plans to launch additional contests in the coming weeks so if you’re a Fallout fanatic or simply like winning free stuff, make sure you track the company on social media.

Try the Fallout 76 Beta

If you love the Fallout series, but you’re unsure about an online adventure in the wastelands of West Virginia, you’ll absolutely want to try the Fallout 76 beta when it arrives in October.

The main purpose of the beta will be to help Bethesda squash bugs and performance issues ahead of the game’s release date, but it’ll also give those of you on the fence a chance to try the combat and other game mechanics early.

It should be pretty robust, Bethesda says it’s hoping the beta turns into the final version of the game, and that means it should answer many of your questions about the game.

While some of you might fall in love with the game’s survival concept, others might dislike the style. If you fall into the latter group, you should be able to cancel your pre-order without incurring any charges.

For more on the Fallout 76 beta, take a look at our guide.

Pick the Right Edition

There are some great reasons to pre-order Fallout 76. There are also some reasons why you might want to hold off for a few more weeks or, in some cases, even longer.

If you do decide to pre-order Fallout 76 you’ll want to order the correct version.

The game comes in three editions, each with a different price point. The standard version costs the usual $60. The Tricentennial Edition is $80 and comes with in-game bonus items. And finally you have Bethesda’s $200 Power Armor Edition, a bundle that comes with a glow in the dark map and a wearable Power Armor helmet.

Most people are fine going with the $60 version, but some of you might want to splurge on the deluxe version or the Power Armor bundle.

We’ve put together a guide that will walk you through each edition and help you decide which is right for you and your budget.

Look for Fallout 76 Deals

Keep an eye out for Fallout 76 deals as we approach the game’s release date.

There aren’t a whole lot of deals out there right now, but Amazon Prime and Best Buy Gamers Club Unlocked subscribers can save the usual 20% on a pre-order. Best Buy isn’t accepting new GCU members, but current members can grab the usual deal.

You can also get a $10 reward certificate to use on a future purchase when you order Fallout 76 at Best Buy.

We could see retailers like Green Man Gaming and NewEgg offer pre-release deals so make sure you poke around before you commit to the full price of the game.

Think About Buying an Xbox One X or PS4 Pro

If you own a 4K television or if you’re planning to buy one this year, you should think about buying Sony’s PS4 Pro or Microsoft’s Xbox One X.

Fallout 76 will look and perform better on the PS4 Pro and Xbox One. The game is enhanced for both consoles and includes 4K and HDR support. If you want the best version of Fallout 76 you’ll need one of these consoles or a high-end Windows PC.

With the Fallout 76 release date coming in November you should be able to find a PS4 or Xbox One X deal before the release date or right around it.

We expect to see plenty of Xbox One X and PS4 Pro deals popup around Black Friday and the start of the holiday shopping season.

Buy If You Love Online Games & Fallout

> 1 / 10

If you like the sound of an online Fallout-style RPG, you might want to buy a copy of Fallout 76.  Fallout 76 is an online survival RPG inspired by games like Rust and DayZ.  It's much different than the Fallout games you're used to, but it still has quests, a leveling system, V.A.T.S. (though it's nothing like the V.A.T.S. from previous games) and tons of enemies to kill just like Bethesda's traditional single-player RPGs. It also has base building (dubbed C.A.M.P.), something Bethesda introduced in Fallout 4 back in 2015. Fallout 76 allows you to build anywhere on the map. Fallout 76 is more Fallout Online/Elder Scrolls Online than Fallout 5. If sharing an open, evolving Fallout world with friends sounds amazing, think about buying a copy of the game today, tomorrow, or sometime in the near future.

> 1 / 10