Is Fallout 76 Cross Platform and Offers Crossplay?
7 minutes
Last Updated: May 28, 2024
Fallout 76 cross platform integration has been a hot topic recently. At the end of 2023, Bethesda made the title free to play for a weekend. Those who managed to get in on it for free, are now looking for ways to team up with their friends and enjoy Bethesda’s first online multiplayer title.
But unlike the best paid crossplay games on the market, Fallout 76 crossplay is lagging behind. This feature has been integral in making titles like Fortnite and Apex Legends worldwide hits. Granted, those titles are free to play, but having flexibility is nice. So, is Fallout 76 cross platform? Keep reading to find out how accessible Bethesda’s MMO is in 2024.
Is Fallout 76 Cross Platform?
As of January 2024, Fallout 76 still does not support cross platform play. This means that if you and your friend are playing the game on different platforms, you won’t be able to access the same online multiplayer servers.
Users playing on a PC will be able to team up only with other PC users. The same goes for PlayStation and Xbox console owners, who will be able to access servers designated for their platforms.
This is rather disappointing considering Apex Legends crossplay has been big for the growth of the game. The same rings true for Fortnite, which was released a year prior to Fallout 76. So it seems unlikely that this feature will be added.
While this was a realistic possibility at the time of release in 2018, it seems that the ship has sailed 6 years later. At least, those who have purchased the title through the Steam platform can team up and play against those who acquired the title through the Xbox Game Pass.
Is Fallout 76 crossplay
As of January 2024, Fallout 76 does not have crossplay or cross generation play enabled. This means users are confined to the bounds of their platform of choice. Even if you and your friends both have PlayStation consoles, they need to be of the same model.
This is heartbreaking for many gamers around the globe because it’s a rather limiting structure. Given that Elder Scrolls Online, Bethesda’s older and more successful MMO, still hasn’t incorporated this feature, it’s unlikely that Fallout 76 will receive this kind of attention and resources.
Fallout 76 has consistently grown and expanded since its controversial launch, adding a lot of new features fans have been asking for. But as of now, crossplay capabilities are not one of them.
Despite getting off to a rocky start, Fallout 76 has grown significantly and now boasts a large and dedicated player base. They’ve managed to overcome numerous game-breaking glitches and design problems, but with these key features still missing, it’s tough to think the game can prosper.
Fallout 76 Cross Platform PC Xbox?
At the moment, there is no Fallout 76 crossplay between the Xbox and PC versions. Despite both platforms falling under Microsoft ownership, this feature has not been implemented.
The PC version can be purchased through the Steam platform. At the same time, the Xbox version is available through the Xbox Game Pass. This means that the PC and Xbox versions are separate entities that use separate multiplayer servers.
Fallout 76 Cross Platform PC PS5?
As of 2024, there is no Fallout 76 cross platform integration between the PC and PS versions of the title. Regardless if you own the PS5 or its predecessor, the PlayStation 4, players on PC servers cannot join PlayStation servers.
Fallout 76 Cross Platform PS4 PS5?
What’s more worrying is that Fallout 76 doesn’t have cross-generation support as well. This means that PS5 and PS4 users are separated. Putting even more stress on an already small and fragile player base.
Fallout 76 Cross Platform Xbox PS5?
Right now, there is no Fallout 76 crossplay enabled between the Xbox and PS5 versions of this game. Sony and Microsoft have been at odds and fighting over market share for a long time, so implementing cross platform integration has been really hard. That’s why players on Xbox servers cannot play with players on PS5 servers.
Is Fallout 76 Cross Progression?
Unfortunately as of 2024, Fallout 76 cross progression is still not available to users. This means that players are unable to share and build upon their progress across multiple platforms. If you have created your account on one platform, you can’t use that same account on another platform.
This is rather heartbreaking considering all of the hours you spent to achieve that progress are basically locked into your initial account. If you purchased a new console or just got tired of playing Fallout 76 on your PC, this is the sad reality..
The lack of these features is a major downside when it comes to player experience. Despite massive budgets and a highly successful Fallout franchise, Fallout 76 still lacks features that we have come to expect from AAA titles.
Will Fallout 76 Get Crossplay and Cross Progression?
At the time of writing, Bethesda has not announced any plans to release crossplay or cross progression for Fallout 76. This doesn’t mean that it’s not possible to have those features, it’s just not likely.
Bethesda executives have been vocal for years that Sony isn’t really cooperative when it comes to crossplay integration. Considering that Bethesda, the studio behind Fallout 76 is owned by Microsoft, it’s unlikely this will ever be the case for a title this old.
Microsoft owns the Windows operating system that runs on most PC rigs as well as Xbox and its consoles. So the closest we can hope for cross progression and crossplay compatibility features is within Microsoft’s ecosystem.
This seems unlikely as well. Bethesda probably have new and more exciting projects to look forward to, so growing the Fallout 76 player base doesn’t seem to be a priority. Going by that, it doesn’t make much financial sense for Microsoft to even pursue these developments.
What is Fallout 76?
Fallout 76 is the first multiplayer Fallout game and the ninth title in the highly successful Fallout series. It serves as a prequel to the rest of the games in the series and was developed by Bethesda Game Studios, the authors behind the entire franchise.
This multiplayer role-playing entry was released for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One platforms in 2018. In it, the action takes place in the year 2102, 25 years after the nuclear war that devastated the Earth.
Users are cast in the role of Sanctuary 76 citizens, which was a society constructed to support the post-apocalyptic world. Their goal is to explore Appalachia, West Virginia, and find out what happened to the previous society following the nuclear war.
Despite being a major ground breaker for the franchise in general, Fallout 76 received mixed reviews from the critical audience. While the title received praise for its open world, gameplay, and settlement-building system, there was a lot missing. Technical problems have become a hallmark of the project from the get-go, the lack of storytelling is rather disappointing and balancing issues have persisted to this day.
Since its release in 2018, Bethesda has been gradually adding new content to the game through multiple large-scale updates. They’ve worked to fix technical issues and improve the balancing aspect.
This has led to a jump in interest surrounding the title, and making it free-to-play has had its benefits. As a result, the player base has grown significantly, which is why the crossplay question has become a hot topic.
Fallout 76 gameplay
Unlike its predecessors, Fallout 76 introduces a multiplayer aspect. The gameplay combines elements of RPGs and FPS titles, making for an intriguing experience. Players can play alone or team up with up to 3 friends as they encounter other survivors in the expansive open world.
The game features a dynamic environment and a lot of new systems that make it different from other entries in the franchise. Starting with a day-night cycle and changing weather conditions, that influence how a diverse range of creatures and factions interact with the players.
The SPECIAL progression system is a major shakeup. It allows players to advance and customize their character to their needs and wishes. You can level up your character’s strength, perception, endurance, charisma, intelligence, agility, and luck.
This is done by spending skill points to boost their attributes. Which in turn unlocks unique perks that are enabled at certain thresholds in the form of passive abilities and other gameplay bonuses.
Fallout 76 also offers various opportunities to interact with other players, including cooperative questing, trading, and PvP battles. This is because one of the standout features of Fallout 76 is the massive open world. It offers a stunning, detailed landscape filled with iconic landmarks and dilapidated towns, all waiting to be explored by you.
The crafting and building system allows players to construct their own settlements and fortifications. Apart from this, players can also cooperate to complete quests and events that would further help their survival.
Wherever it’s weapons building or eliminating common threats, Fallout 76 manages to foster a sense of community within its post-apocalyptic setting. This would be a lot easier if Fallout 76 cross platform integration was a thing, but for the time being, this is all we have.
