Fallout 4

Fallout 4 is a post-apocalyptic role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the fifth major installment in the Fallout series (eighth overall). It was released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on November 10, 2015, except in Japan, where it was released on December 17, 2015, due to the country's requirement to censor some footage and references to atomic war, while still keeping the plot intact.Bethesda: Fallout 4 Development is 'Basically Done' - IGN A VR version of the game was released in 2017 and is treated as an independent standalone game.
The story of Fallout 4 focuses on a spouse, the Sole Survivor of Vault 111, as they search for their missing child, Shaun. Fallout 4 is set in and around the Boston area in 2287, 10 years after Fallout 3. Along the way, the Sole Survivor discovers a world in fear of a mysterious organization known as the Institute, consumed by paranoia of a race of robotic yet also biological human-like beings known as synths. As a result of the synth-focused narrative, the Sole Survivor, as well as the player, are faced with ethical questions such as how far people should experiment with science, the morality of creating sentient living machines that express emotions and suffering, and what it means to be human. Story elements from previous games are present, primarily Fallout 3; the main story of Fallout 4 takes elements from The Replicated Man quest from Fallout 3.
In 2022, Bethesda announced that a free next-gen update patch would be released for Fallout 4 on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Released on April 25, 2024, this patch includes bug fixes, performance mode features for high frame rates, quality features for 4K resolution gameplay, and new Creation Club content. There are three new quests, including one which brings back the Enclave.
==Gameplay==
Fallout 4 is similar to Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas in some ways; the gameplay allows the ability to switch from first to third-person view. Enemies such as mole rats, mirelurks, raiders, super mutants, deathclaws, and ghouls return to the series. The player character, the Sole Survivor, accesses the in-game menus through a Pip-Boy to manage statistics, maps, data, and items. The player may continue playing even after they have finished all of the main quests, a feature returning from Broken Steel, which allows players to experience the aftermath of their decisions. There are plenty of side quests to pursue, many of which can also be experienced after the main story ends.
===Changes from Fallout 3 and New Vegas===
The protagonist now has fully voiced dialogue. However, players can no longer see the full response from the onset, only short phrases which give a general idea of what the protagonist can say. Conversations are also more cinematic, making use of camera angles to also show the Sole Survivor's expressions and face. It is now possible to sprint instead of jog.
The companions now have an affinity system, in which they can have positive or negative opinions of the protagonist depending on the choices made. Companions can react differently to the action; for example, one companion may like it if the protagonist acts selfish while another may hate it. Seven companions can be engaged in a relationship with the protagonist, including same-sex relationships, although Fallout 4 does not let players have sleeping partners like in New Vegas. Instead, Fallout 4 companions in relationships are more focused on the non-physical side of it, such as expressing their love and emotions verbally, though it is implied when sleeping in a bed with a max affinity romanced companion that sexual intercourse took place, and the pop-up for Well Rested is replaced with Lover's Embrace.
While the previous games featured some minor elements of crafting, crafting in Fallout 4 is much more of a focus and the crafting system makes use of every lootable object in the game as a source of raw material and more. Players can also find game cartridges with retro themed mini-games which can be played on the Pip-Boy. There was a free phone app called Fallout Pip-Boy which allowed players to sync the game to the phone app and use their phone like a Pip-Boy.
===Character customization===
Skills have been removed, replaced with a 7x10 perk chart. At each level-up, the player can acquire a new perk, each with prerequisites based on SPECIAL attributes and level, and most have multiple tiers. A consequence of the new advancement system is that there is no hard level cap, allowing players to experience a little more freedom when it comes to exploring and combat.
===Equipment===
A new equipment system allows a wide variety of upgrades and customization for weapons and armor. Unlike the previous two Fallout games, weapons and armor do not deteriorate with use and no longer require constant maintenance. Armor is now a split-piece system for different limbs such as left arm and right leg, allowing players to mix sets together. Power armor now requires batteries called fusion cores to ensure they run at full performance.
===Combat===
A returning gameplay feature is the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S.), which can play a critical part in combat. While using V.A.T.S., real-time combat is slowed down, and action is played out from varying camera angles in a computer graphics version of "bullet time." Attacking in V.A.T.S. costs Action Points, limiting the number of actions available at a time, and the player can target specific body areas for attacks to inflict specific injuries; headshots can be used for quick kills or blinding, legs can be targeted to slow enemies' movements, and opponents can be disarmed by shooting at their weapons.
One change is how Fallout 4 handles critical hits. Before, they were random while striking enemies. Fallout 4 gets rid of the Critical Chance statistic and now there is a critical meter that will fill up and players can decide when to execute a critical hit. It is also now possible to equip grenades as a secondary weapon.
===Settlements===
A new feature to the series is the ability to build settlements. Within the boundaries of a settlement, players can scrap objects and structures for resources and use them to build their own structures, including housing, vegetable gardens, defenses, stores, and crafting stations. Each settlement can also connect to others by brahmin caravan, which then share resources. Towns can be powered with electricity, using a dynamic power line system, as well as equipped with water pumps and crops/gardens to keep a steady income of food and drink. Merchants and non-player characters can inhabit player towns and help keep the settlements running as a community. Players can build various defenses around their settlements, such as turrets, guard towers, and traps, to defend the settlements from raids and attacks.
===Survival mode===
Survival mode is a hardcore difficulty where autosaving and manually saving from the menu are disabled. The only way to save the game is to sleep in a bed, on a mattress or in a sleeping bag. The exit save function is still available but it is a temporary save that is deleted automatically upon loading. There is no fast travel and the player is subjected to hunger, thirst and exhaustion. Companions require healing in order to get back up. There are also many other aspects which increase difficulty not listed here.
===Mod support===
Fallout 4 is the first Fallout game to have native mod support for consoles. During E3 2015, Todd Howard revealed the Xbox One version would offer mod support following the release of the Creation Kit for PC, which became available for download on April 26, 2016. The Xbox One mod support was released on May 31. Mod support for PlayStation 4 was initially announced to be due sometime in June but was delayed; by September, mods on the PlayStation 4 were reportedly canceled.Bethesda news on Creation Kit - Bethesda (dead link) However, Bethesda and Sony later came to an agreement and allowed mods to come to PlayStation 4 after the release of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition. Mods were eventually implemented for the console, but they are limited to using assets already found within the game files.PS4 Skyrim And Fallout Are Getting Mods After All, But They Will Be Limited - Kotaku (archived)
==Setting==
The events of Fallout 4 occur in 2287; a decade after Fallout 3 and six years after the events of Fallout: New Vegas.
The game takes place in the Commonwealth which is composed mainly of the former state of Massachusetts and is set heavily in the eastern portion of the state. The largest and central city of the game is Boston but also includes the surrounding towns and cities of Cambridge, Concord, Lexington, Malden, Nahant, Natick, Quincy, Revere, and Salem. Other real-world locations are represented in less detail, such as Bedford which has been replaced simply with Bedford Station. The game also includes some fictional towns, such as Sanctuary Hills where the game begins.
Famous local landmarks like the Paul Revere Monument, the USS Constitution, as well as the Massachusetts State House with its unique golden dome, are included in the game world. Other locations that make an appearance in the game are Scollay Square, renamed Goodneighbor, Bunker Hill, and the baseball stadium Fenway Park which has become a shantytown called Diamond City.
In Fallout 4, the Boston area has been quite flooded compared to real life, with new rivers. A large and still inhospitable nuclear blast site called the Glowing Sea is to the southwest. The starting area in the northwest contains low-level enemies and is relatively safe, but the enemies get progressively tougher towards the southeast area of the map.
==Story==
===Synopsis===
The player is the Sole Survivor of Vault 111. Although the player can decide the Sole Survivor's name, gender and appearance, the father is commonly referred to as "Nate" while the mother is commonly referred to as "Nora" due to them being the names given to the player's spouse. Fallout 4 briefly begins on October 23, 2077 (the day of the Great War), showing the player living with their spouse and child, Shaun. After a series of events, they emerge after the Great War.
The story of Fallout 4 guides the player into its world, discovering leaders of different factions with varying views of synths. These include Preston Garvey of the Minutemen which lacks a strong opinion on synths, Desdemona of the pro-synth The Railroad, Arthur Maxson of the anti-synth Brotherhood of Steel and even the leader of the Institute behind the synths, "Father." Synths being a main focus in the game encourages the player to empathize with the characters' distrust and uncertainty as to who they should trust, adding a level of paranoia with character interactions. During the game, it is revealed that seemingly innocuous characters are actually synths. Every major faction has at least one synth within their organization.
===Plot===
On the morning of October 23, 2077, a father stares at his reflection in a foggy mirror and remarks war never changes. His wife tells him to stop hogging the mirror. The player may play as the mother or father. The protagonist walks around their house and speaks to their Mr. Handy, Codsworth. A representative from the Vault-Tec Corporation arrives and says because of the contributions of their family to the country, they have been chosen to be allowed in the local Vault, Vault 111. The protagonist decides to verify their information. After the representative leaves, Shaun cries and his parent spins a mobile over their crib to calm him down. Codsworth implores the family to see a TV broadcast, confirming that America is being nuked. Sirens begin blaring in Sanctuary Hills, causing all the residents to flee to the local Vault, but only those who are approved access are allowed past a security gate.
The protagonist descends into the Vault seconds before they are hit by the explosion. Inside, the new residents are welcomed by the Vault 111 overseer, given their jumpsuits, and a doctor implores them to enter a decontamination and depressurization chamber. After what appears to be a few moments inside the pod, the protagonist witnesses a mysterious man open their spouse's pod and try to take Shaun. The spouse refuses and so the man kills the spouse and steals the baby. The man then looks at the protagonist and calls them the "backup" before leaving.
After what seems to be more moments, the pod opens and mentions that they were actually inside a cryogenic chamber; the other residents asphyxiated to death in their pods. The protagonist mourns their spouse, takes their wedding ring and says they will seek vengeance. The protagonist makes their way outside the Vault which has become infested with giant roaches, realizing they are the Sole Survivor. Back on the surface, the Sole Survivor sees the ruins of Sanctuary Hills and discovers from Codsworth that 210 years have passed since that fateful morning.
After a sweep of the neighborhood, the Sole Survivor discovers no evidence of Shaun. They learn that survivors may be in Concord so they head there and meet Preston Garvey of the Commonwealth Minutemen. They are told Diamond City may be a good lead and at the front gates, they meet Piper Wright, a reporter who has been banned from the city because she wrote a speculatory article suggesting the mayor could be a synth. Piper uses the Sole Survivor to get back into the city; inside, they meet Nick Valentine, a friendly synth detective who has been allowed to live in the city. Nick encourages the Sole Survivor to investigate Conrad Kellogg, the suspect of Shaun's kidnapping.
They find a cigar in Kellogg's house which Dogmeat tracks to Fort Hagen where the Sole Survivor kills Kellogg. Upon leaving, a Brotherhood of Steel airship flies to the Boston Airport where the Sole Survivor can learn about the group and possibly join them; if done, the Sole Survivor can discover Paladin Danse was secretly a synth all along who was unaware, and either let him go or execute him per Arthur Maxson's orders. Kellogg was a cyborg and a device connected to his brain allows the Sole Survivor to dive into his memories with the assistance of Doctor Amari at the Memory Den. Inside Kellogg's memories, the Sole Survivor witnesses moments of Kellogg's life, sees Shaun has grown up to be a young boy, and discovers the secret of how the Institute manages to lay low: teleportation.
Kellogg's memories and Amari's advice indicate that the Sole Survivor should locate an escaped Institute scientist, Brian Virgil, who escaped to the Glowing Sea after intentionally transforming himself into a super mutant to escape the Institute. Virgil informs the Sole Survivor they need to collect a "courser chip" for the teleportation so they kill a courser, Z2-47. To use it, Virgil tells the Sole Survivor to find a synth liberation faction called the Railroad. Using the Freedom Trail, which is a red colored brick pathway in Boston's streets, the Sole Survivor finds them located under a church led by a woman named Desdemona. She implores the Sole Survivor to keep their location hidden, but is willing to let them join if they desire.
With the help of either the Minutemen, Brotherhood or the Railroad, the Sole Survivor builds a teleporter to enter their facility where they discover Shaun, but not in the way they expected. The Sole Survivor quickly discovers there is something off about "Shaun" during their conversation, especially when their child appears to be disturbed by the reunion and is deactivated like a synth. The real Shaun enters the room, who is actually an elderly man who has become the leader of the Institute, due to being removed from the cyro pod many decades ago and growing under the Institute's wing long before the Sole Survivor woke up.
Shaun allows his parent to wander around the facility in order to learn more about the Institute and get to know its employees. The Sole Survivor learns the Institute is an advanced technological site of innovation, capable of teleportation and making artificial humans and gorillas, but they are also incompetent when it comes to keeping their synths in check, making them require "coursers" to go after escaped synths, and even dedicate an entire sub-organization called the Synth Retention Bureau. Despite their inventions, they can not cure Shaun's cancer either. Before leaving, the Sole Survivor meets Madison Li who gives them the ability to teleport into the Institute. In the Sole Survivor's free time, they may also discover the reason why synths are able to escape the Institute in the first place.
After leaving the Institute, the player is encouraged to take a faction's side which will result in angering another faction due to their differing views on synths and inability to compromise, especially due to Shaun's rigid belief that synths are not sentient. As a result of Shaun's, Desdemona's and Maxson's differences of opinion, the three leaders instead demand the Sole Survivor to go on a murder spree and wipe out the other factions. However, if the player purchased the add-ons, the player can instead take a boat ride to Far Harbor and the Island or a subway train to Nuka-World, before deciding on a faction. The former story involves the mysterious disappearance of a teenager named Kasumi Nakano and focuses on synths, while the latter story focuses on three gangs trying to dominate the abandoned theme park.
===Endings===
Fallout 4 has four main endings, one for each main faction, with some variations regarding the relationships of the factions involved. For example, it is possible to complete the Minutemen ending while keeping both the Railroad and Brotherhood alive but destroying the Institute. One is able to mix the steps they take towards any particular ending since not all faction quests necessarily force those of another to fail. For example, it is possible to warn the Railroad after being sent by the Institute to destroy it, then destroy the Prydwen as part of the Railroad, and then return to Father and get the Institute ending slideshow.
Endings 	Endings 	Endings
Faction 	Description 	Visuals
Commonwealth Minutemen	The Sole Survivor performs an action that results in them being banished from the Institute, causing the scientists to then target the Minutemen's stronghold at the Castle. After fending off waves of synths and Coursers, Sturges works out another way into the Institute. Once inside again, the Sole Survivor helps modify the teleporter so that the Minutemen can enter and attack the Institute's defenders directly. The Sole Survivor meets with their elderly son Shaun one last time, optionally issuing an evacuation order to save the scientists, then rigs their nuclear reactor to detonate and destroy the Institute. Before leaving, the Sole Survivor encounters the child synth Shaun and can choose whether to take him. On a rooftop, they push the detonator button and witness the Institute's destruction from afar. 	
The Railroad 	The Sole Survivor maintains their cover working in Institute while secretly helping synths escape such as during the Battle of Bunker Hill. The Brotherhood of Steel locates the Railroad's base and attacks them in force. Though the Sole Survivor fends them off in the church, one of the members Glory is killed. Deciding the Brotherhood must be destroyed, the Sole Survivor, Deacon, and Tinker Tom steal a Brotherhood vertibird from Cambridge Police Station and infiltrate the Prydwen to destroy it with explosives. Once the Institute decides to attack the Railroad, the Sole Survivor starts a synth rebellion within the Institute and helps modify the teleporter so that the Railroad can enter and attack the Institute's defenders directly. The Sole Survivor meets with their elderly son Shaun one last time, optionally issuing an evacuation order to save the scientists, then rigs their nuclear reactor to detonate and destroy the Institute. Before leaving, the Sole Survivor encounters the child synth Shaun and can choose whether to take him. On a rooftop, they push the detonator button and witness the Institute's destruction from afar.	
Brotherhood of Steel 	The Sole Survivor carries out Elder Maxson's orders for the Railroad to be slaughtered. They complete the final steps to power up Liberty Prime and then follow the giant robot as it travels to the CIT ruins and then blasts a way into the Institute so that the Brotherhood can enter and attack the Institute's defenders directly. The Sole Survivor meets with their elderly son Shaun one last time, optionally issuing an evacuation order to save the scientists, then rigs their nuclear reactor to detonate and destroy the Institute. Before leaving, the Sole Survivor encounters the child synth Shaun and can choose whether to take him. On a rooftop, they push the detonator button and witness the Institute's destruction from afar. Maxson then promotes them from a Paladin to a Sentinel of the Brotherhood. 	
The Institute 	The Sole Survivor carries out Father's request for the Railroad to be slaughtered, followed by the Institute deciding the Brotherhood must be destroyed as well to remove all their enemies. At the Boston Airport, the Sole Survivor escorts a synth with a virus used to corrupt Liberty Prime's systems into making it think the Prydwen is a communist vessel and destroy it, killing the Brotherhood as well. The Sole Survivor meets with their elderly son Shaun one last time. A memorial for Father is built in the Institute and the Sole Survivor becomes the new Director. 	
All Factions 	Regardless of any faction ending, after either witnessing the Institute's destruction or visiting Shaun on his deathbed, the Sole Survivor delivers a monologue about remembering their old life in the pre-War era, reflecting on how the change it brought to them and how the Commonwealth they explored is not the one they wished for. But it is still their home, in the process of being rebuilt. They have come to accept that it is impossible to go back to a time before the bombs fell, but they now feel ready to face the challenges that lie ahead. 	
 Although there has been no officially sourced confirmation of this as of yet, which canonically takes places in 2296, 9 years after Fallout 4 in 2287, an airship that both heavily resembles the Prydwen and has the name marked on its hull appears in multiple scenes during the first season, indicating that it and the East Coast Brotherhood canonically survive the events of the game, that the Sole Survivor either allied with them or with the Minutemen (and did not destroy the Brotherhood), and that the Institute and Railroad endings (which both require destroying the Prydwen) are most probably non-canon.
===Main characters===
This is a list of the game's main characters. Only those who are part of the main story quests are included:
* Sole Survivor: The protagonist who is either a father or a mother of a son named Shaun.
* Nate / Nora: The spouse of the Sole Survivor who falls victim to a tragic incident in Vault 111.
* Shaun: The son of the Sole Survivor, locating him is one of the Sole Survivor's main motives.
* Codsworth: A Mister Handy owned by the Sole Survivor before the Great War, he may become a companion.
* Conrad Kellogg: A mysterious man who entered Vault 111 and abducted Shaun.
* Preston Garvey: An officer who now leads the Commonwealth Minutemen, he also alerts the Sole Survivor when settlements need assistance.
* Piper Wright: A reporter in Diamond City and a possible companion.
* Nick Valentine: A synth detective in Diamond City who is willing to find clues to locate Shaun, he is also a possible companion.
* Dogmeat: A dog who proves useful tracking Kellogg, Dogmeat is also a possible companion.
* Amari: A scientist in Goodneighbor who assists the Sole Survivor in exploring Kellogg's memories.
* Desdemona: The leader of the Railroad, a faction which frees synths.
* Arthur Maxson: The elder and leader of the Brotherhood of Steel situated at Boston Airport.
* Brian Virgil: A runaway member of the Institute transformed into a super mutant.
==Development==
Initially, in 2004, Bethesda Softworks licensed from Interplay Entertainment the rights to create and publish three Fallout games (Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas and Fallout 4). Later, in 2007, Bethesda purchased the entire franchise, and Interplay licensed back from Bethesda the rights to a Fallout MMORPG. The legal dispute concluded in January 2012, with Bethesda Softworks and its in-house development studio retaining the rights to all of the Fallout franchise, including an MMO.
In 2009, Bethesda's Pete Hines said, "The whole reason we went out and acquired the license and that we now own Fallout is that we clearly intended to make more than one." He also added, "This is not something we're going to do once and then go away and never do it again. When that will be or how long that will be God only knows, but we acquired it specifically because we wanted to own it and develop it and work on it like we do with The Elder Scrolls."Bethesda confirms to TVG that a fourth title in the series is very much in the pipeline... - TVG (archived)
Development began right after Fallout 3s release, in 2008. The game had minor development due to Skyrim being developed at the same time. After Skyrim was released in 2011, Fallout 4 became the primary project for Bethesda.
During voice recording, Fallout 4 was given the codename of Angelina, ostensibly a space sci-fi game, according to the audition sides.Fallout 4 Cast & Crew Reunion ft. Courtenay Taylor, Matt Mercer, Keythe Farley, & MORE!, MrMattyPlays, 17:59Danny Shorago: "See, I thought I was recording a game called 'Angelina.'"(affirmation from various actors)Matthew Mercer: "Yeah! It was like 'space sci-fi' in all the audition sides for it." Voice recording for video games was a much more secretive process at the time of Fallout 4s development, and many actors initially did not realize what they were working on, before reading dialogue that clued them into the fact that it was a Fallout game.Fallout 4 Cast & Crew Reunion ft. Courtenay Taylor, Matt Mercer, Keythe Farley, & MORE!, MrMattyPlays, 17:06)Peter Jessop: "I've played all the Fallout games, I'm a pretty addicted gamer. But the most exciting part to me was when I first got into the booth, we started doing the dialogue... and they don't tell you what the project is, what it's gonna be. And...I said, 'I see a group of ferals up there!' I was like, 'oh! This is Fallout! This is so great!' So that was very exciting to me."
The game features just over 111,000 lines of dialogue, more than all of the dialogue in Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim combined.Bethesda Game Studios on Twitter (archived)
===Announcement===
Todd Howard revealed in an August 2010 interview with Eurogamer that Bethesda was working on two projects; one had been in development for two years (beginning after Fallout 3 was released), and the other was still in pre-production.Bethesda's Todd Howard: On the new game, the one after that, and ladders - Eurogamer (archived) It is now known that the title farther along in development was The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, while Fallout 4 was the title in pre-production.
On January 9, 2013, the voice actor behind Three Dog (Erik Todd Dellums) was given permission by Bethesda to hint towards his appearance soon. On his Twitter account, he stated, "To all my #Fallout3 and #ThreeDog fans: There may be more of the Dog coming! Fingers crossed!"Erik Todd Dellums on Twitter (archived) However, in July of the same year, Dellums tweeted that the game he is working on is not being produced by Bethesda Softworks, therefore, it was not the anticipated new Fallout title.Twitter Todd DellumsDJ Three Dog not returning in Fallout 4 - VG247
Bethesda Game Studios announced on Bethblog on April 15, 2013, that they had completed all new content for Skyrim and were moving the studio's attention to an as of yet unknown title that had previously been in pre-production since 2010.Bethblog (dead link) Although Bethesda Softworks did announce The Evil Within during the same week, it was developed by another studio and had no direct impact on the project Bethesda Game Studios was working on.Pete Hines on Twitter "@WhiteBoyAnton 200 years"
In December 2013, Kotaku claimed information about Fallout 4; it was being developed, set in Boston, revolves around the Institute, there are characters named Preston Garvey, Travis Miles and Sturges, and the protagonist enters a cryogenic sleep chamber near the beginning.Leaked Documents Reveal That Fallout 4 Is Real, Set In Boston - Kotaku
Todd Howard was interviewed on Rock, Paper, Shotgun on February 18, 2014, and said that a new game announcement would be very far away. "We don’t [have a timeframe for our next game announcement]," he said, "but I think it’s gonna be a while." He was described as "forever positive" and enthused that "PC is resurgent." "Skyrim did better than we've ever done on PC by a large, large number. And that's where the mods are. That feeds the game for a long time. And it's exciting that the new consoles are very PC-like. That opens up avenues for us going forward to do things that we've wanted to do in the past. There are kind of random ideas we're working on right now, and it's like, 'Wow, I think there's potential here to do some really cool stuff,'" he said.Apparently We Won't Hear About Fallout 4 For 'A While' - Rock Paper Shotgun (archived)
A countdown timerCountdown timer on June 2, 2015 was set on Bethesda's Fallout website on June 2, 2015, expiring the next day at 10:00 AM EDT. On June 3, seconds before 10:00 AM EDT, the Fallout 4 trailer was released on YouTube. The Fallout website also debuted in full Fallout 4 style, including a working teaser phone number, previously used during the Fallout 3 release.Fallout 3's Vault-Tec toll-free number wants you to hold forever - Engadget (archived)
Bethesda's first ever E3 showcase took place on June 14, 2015, at 7 PM PST. The E3 showcase was streamed on YouTube and Twitch. Bethesda revealed gameplay footage including combat, a refined VATS system, a new crafting system, concept art, and a release date, which was confirmed to be November 10, 2015. A major new feature shown during the press conference was the ability to craft and deconstruct settlements.
===Music===
The soundtrack of Fallout 4 was composed by Inon Zur who previously did the soundtracks of Fallout Tactics, Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. Because Zur felt that Fallout 4 had a more personal story, he made the piano take a more prominent role in the game's score.
==Products==
===Pip-Boy Edition===
The Pip-Boy edition of Fallout 4 features: a wearable Pip-Boy that can, according to a Forbes article, hold the iPhone 6, iPhone 5/5s, iPhone 4/4s, Samsung Galaxy S4, the Samsung Galaxy S5 and many other smartphones using foam inserts.Here Are The Phones That Will Fit Your 'Fallout 4' Pip-Boy Edition - Forbes (archived) a Pip-Boy pocket guide, a Vault-Tec perk poster, a RobCo Industries stand (for your Pip-Boy), a capsule case, and the game in a collectible metal case.
===Fallout 4 Nuke Pack===
The Fallout 4 Nuke Pack features a Fallout 4 lunchbox, a 37x10" Fallout 4 Print, a Vault Boy mini bobblehead, and the game in a collectible metal case. The Nuke Pack is sold exclusively in Australia and New Zealand, distributed by EB Games.This Fallout 4 Collector's Edition Comes With a Lunchbox, Is Exclusive to Australia - GameSpot (archived)
===Fallout 4 Mighty Bundle===
The Fallout 4 Mighty Bundle features: a 100-page hardcover Fallout 4 Franchise Book "...detailing in words and hi-res imagery the history of Fallout over the years", a Fallout Vault Boy Pop! Vinyl figure, and a copy of the game.Fallout 4 Mighty Bundle at Mighty Ape NZ (archived)
===Game of the Year Edition===
Fallout 4 Game of the Year Edition was released on September 26, 2017, for PC, PS4 and Xbox One; this edition includes all 6 main add-ons. 
To celebrate the Game of the Year Edition, Bethesda released a limited quantity of Fallout 4 G.O.T.Y. Pip-Boy collector editions, exclusively available in North America at select retailers. The Pip-Boy Edition includes Fallout 4 Game of the Year Edition and retailed for $99.99 USD, and was also released on September 26.Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition (dead link)
==Downloadable content==
Bethesda announced that DLC would come and start in early 2016, as well as smaller updates along the same lines Skyrim saw.Fallout 4 Launch and Beyond (dead link) A season pass for all add-ons could be bought at a price of $29.99 USD, €29.99 Euro before March 1, 2016, and a price of $49.99 USD, €49.99 Euro afterwards. The released DLC includes Automatron, Wasteland Workshop, Far Harbor, Contraptions Workshop, Vault-Tec Workshop, and Nuka-World, along with the free High Resolution Texture Pack. 
===Automatron===
===Wasteland Workshop===
===Far Harbor===
===Contraptions Workshop===
===Vault-Tec Workshop===
===Nuka-World===
===High Resolution Texture Pack===
==Next-gen patch==
In 2022, as part of the Fallout 25th Anniversary, Bethesda announced that a free update would be released. It includes bug fixes, performance mode features for high frame rates, quality features for 4K resolution gameplay, ultra-widescreen support, and new Creation Club content. It was initially announced to release in 2023, but was delayed to April 25, 2024. Fallout 4 is now Steam Deck verified. These three short quests were also added:
* Echoes of the Past: Investigate the last known location of the missing caravan; this quest brings back the Enclave
* All Hallows' Eve: Listen to the mysterious signal; this quest will unlock 38 new Halloween decorations for settlements
* When Pigs Fly: Investigate the merchant workshop; the player can obtain two grenade launchers, a Nail Gun, Baseball Launcher, Saw Blade launcher, and piggy bank based weaponry (the Piggy Bank Fat Man)
Atlantic Offices has been taken over by the Enclave, and there are three small new locations: Eastern Enclave encampment, Western Enclave encampment and Southern Enclave encampment.
Additionally, these four previously released Creation Club quests are now free and integrated into the main game, making them canon:
* Best of Three: Listen to Vault-Tec Distress Signal (quest reward: Tesla cannon)
* Crucible: Investigate Saugus Ironworks (quest reward: Heavy incinerator)
* Pyromaniac: Find and kill Pyro (quest reward: Hellfire power armor)
* Speak of the Devil: Browse Wattz Consumer Electronics (quest reward: X-02 power armor)
==Creation Club (microtransactions)==
Fallout 4 has a microtransactions store known as Creation Club, which is similar to the Atomic Shop from Fallout 76. However, unlike Atoms in 76 which can be obtained by playing the game, the currency of Creation Club uses Bethesda Store Credits which can only be obtained using real-world money. Such content includes cosmetic items, armor, weapons and gameplay mechanics. Creation Club was added to the game on August 28, 2017. Content available on the Creation Club is fully compatible with the main game, official add-ons, and achievements.
Real money to Creation Club credits conversion table on Steam	Real money to Creation Club credits conversion table on Steam	Real money to Creation Club credits conversion table on Steam	Real money to Creation Club credits conversion table on Steam	Real money to Creation Club credits conversion table on Steam	Real money to Creation Club credits conversion table on Steam
Credits 	USD 	GBP 	EUR 	CAD 	BRL
750 	$7.99 	£5.99 	€6.99 	$9.99 	R$26.90
1500 	$14.99 	£10.99 	€12.99 	$18.99 	R$49.90
3000 	$24.99 	£18.99 	€20.99 	$29.99 	R$79.90
5500 	$39.99 	£29.99 	€34.99 	$49.99 	R$129.90
==Reception==
Fallout 4 received a Metacritic metascore of 84/100 on PC,Metascore for Fallout 4 on PC (archived) 87/100 on PS4,Metascore for Fallout 4 on PS4 (archived) and 88/100 on Xbox One.Metascore for Fallout 4 on Xbox One (archived) The game received several awards and nominations, including 2016 D.I.C.E. Game of the Year and 2016 Game Developers Choice Awards Game of the Year.IMDB Game Awards - Fallout 4 Fallout 4 shipped 12 million copies to meet day one demand.Fallout 4 has shipped 12 million units - VG247 (archived)
IGN gave Fallout 4 a 9.5/10, mentioning, "The world, exploration, crafting, atmosphere, and story of Fallout 4 are all key parts of this hugely successful sandbox role-playing game."Fallout 4 Review - IGN PC Gamer gave it an 88/100 and praised the amount of customization, feeling, "It's a highly customisable RPG in a world that's packed full of things to do. Its systems are intricate, and invite you to tailor them to your liking. When you do, it can be wonderfully satisfying, but also—in the sense that you can be a huge stealth machine carrying an antique, irradiated sword—a little bit dumb. Fallout 4 willfully trades immersion for an enjoyable, freeform sandbox of possibilities."Fallout 4 Review - PC Gamer
The game's reception has been hurt due to technical issues, and was considered to have a worse PC version; it sits at user Metascore between 5-6 for PC, while the PlayStation 4 version is shy of a 7. Common issues of the PC version included freezing, crashing and quest progression locking up. Bethesda eventually released a bug and stability patch almost a decade later.
Fallout 4 was less well-received among some older Fallout fans due to some stylistic choices. Some players felt there was less role-playing compared to New Vegas, with some calling it more of a "looter shooter" than an RPG, and complained about a lack of quests having moral decision making that could end in different ways. The forced voice acted protagonist with a more solidified backstory, as opposed to being more of a blank state, was met with mixed reception. For example, the Sole Survivor is forced to have a spouse of the opposite sex, resulting in the game being criticized by some LGBT+ players for having imposed heteronormativity. Fallout 4 was also criticized for the way it presented its dialogue system, only showing short keywords instead of full dialogue, with SPECIAL checks, perk and skill requirements removed; SPECIAL checks were brought back in the next mainline installment Fallout 76.
Some aspects of the story and writing, which was overseen by Emil Pagliarulo, received criticism. GameRant felt that while Fallout 4 is a great open-world RPG, its main story is full of plot holes, inconsistencies, and "things that simply don't make sense."Fallout 4: 10 Reasons The Main Story Makes No Sense - GameRant For example, there is a contradiction on whether or not synths need sleep; Max Loken says synths don't need to sleep,The Sole Survivor: "What makes them superior?"Max Loken: "The list of improvements is exhaustive. I can talk for an hour and still not cover all of it. Imagine what you could accomplish if you could live without fear of hunger or disease. Imagine what you could create if you could use every waking moment of your life as you saw fit, with no need of sleep? Like I said, a momentous time."(Max Loken's dialogue) while Curie discusses the need to sleep when in her synth body.Curie: "All of these bodily functions. How do you keep track of them all? I am hungry, I am sleepy. The list goes on."(Curie's dialogue) The story has some apparent retcons. GameCritics felt there were many "thinly-written" characters.Fallout 4 Review - GameCritics Chris McMullen of The Escapist felt that in contrast to James from Fallout 3, the player's spouse and child do not spend enough time with the player and that this is a major story issue because the game expects the player to care about a baby they only spend half a minute with.I’ll Never Forgive Fallout 4 for Telling Me to Care - The Escapist
The Guardian felt that enemies do not react to attacks enough and that they feel like bullet sponges, complained about the slow pace of leveling up and noted bugs.Fallout 4 review – spectacular, messy and familiar - The Guardian Cheat Code Central was disappointed by the lack of a cover system in which players could lean out and shoot from behind cover.Fallout 4 Review - Cheat Code Central
==Behind the scenes==
* If the game's in-game clock is October 31 or December 25, there will be festive decor at Diamond City.
* There was supposed to be a giant 300 feet glowing ghoul in the Glowing Sea called May-Pole that was inspired by the video game Shadow of the Colossus. It was cut due to technical issues.
* Todd Howard mentioned there was supposed to be a BioShock style Vault with a sentient octopus. This would be the setting of the 20 Leagues Under the Sea quest.
* Fallout Shelter Online, an Asia-exclusive sequel to Fallout Shelter developed by an outside studio (Shengqu Games), is primarily set in the Commonwealth and serves as a prequel to Fallout 4. However, the game's place in the main continuity is not established.
==Gallery==
===Promotional===
Fallout4LogoOfficial.png|Logo
Fallout4 PowerArmor CoverArt.jpg|Logoless cover art
Fallout4 E3 PipEdition.png|Pip-Boy Edition
FO4 pre-order boxes.png|Pre-order boxes
FO4 Shaun crib.png|Baby Shaun with his parents in a trailer
FO4 trailer nuke.gif|The Great War in October 2077 in a trailer
===Screenshots===
Fo4 trailer main image.jpg|A garage seen on the main menu
Fallout4 E3 FaceCreation1.png|Character creation
Fallout4 E3 FaceCreation3.png|Character creation
FO4 Nora in pre-War home.jpg|Nora resting on a couch
Fallout4 E3 Salesman.png|The Vault-Tec rep arrives to promote Vaults
Vault111PeopleOutside.png|Entering Vault 111
Vault111-Fallout4.jpg|The bombs of the Great War drop on Boston in 2077
Press Fallout4 Trailer Vault.png|Vault 111 door
Fo4 V111 TV 15.png|Vault 111's "decontamination" chambers
Fallout4 E3 Codsworth1.png|The male Sole Survivor reuniting with Codsworth
Fallout4 E3 Codsworth2.png|The male Sole Survivor reuniting with Codsworth
Press Fallout4 Trailer End.png|The male Sole Survivor meets Dogmeat
Piper launch trailer.png|Piper Wright, a controversial journalist of Diamond City
Nick in office.jpg|Nick Valentine, a synth detective of Diamond City
Fallout4 Preston.png|Preston Garvey of the Commonwealth Minutemen
Fo4 launch trailer BoS leader.png|Arthur Maxson of the Brotherhood of Steel
Danse.png|Paladin Danse of the Brotherhood of Steel
FO4 Desdemona.jpg|Desdemona of the Railroad
Diamond City overview.jpg|Diamond City
Press Fallout4 Trailer City.png|Goodneighbor
Salem-Fallout4.jpg|Salem
Press Fallout4 Trailer Deathclaw.png|Deathclaw
Press Fallout4 Trailer Highway.png|Highway
Press Fallout4 Trailer Protectron.png|Protectron
Fallout4 MinigunKill.png|Minigun shooting
Fallout4 E3 CityVista.png|City Vista
Fallout4 E3 Jetpack.png|Jetpack
Fallout4 E3 PipBoy.png|Pip-Boy 3000 Mark IV
Commonwealth Tractor.png|Tractor
Fallout4 E3 Wasteland.png|Glowing Sea
Fallout4 E3 Workshop.png|Vault Boy pixel art created in a settlement
Damaged synth.png|A Generation 2 synth
Park post-War trailer.png|Dogmeat
Nakano Residence Kasumi's Room.png|Kasumi Nakano's bedroom
Fallout4 FarHarbor Arrival.png|Far Harbor
NukaTown-NukaWorld.jpg|Nuka-World
===Concept art ===
Fallout4 Concept Blast.jpg|Nuclear blast concept art, released after the E3 Conference, June 2015
Fallout4 Concept Garage.jpg|Garage
Fallout4 Concept Raiders.png|Raiders
Fallout4 Concept RedRocket.jpg|Red Rocket
Fallout4 Concept Salesman.jpg|Vault-Tec rep
Fo4 Concept Pip-Boy Mk4 Build.png|Pip-Boy 1.0
Fallout4 Concept VbirdwDog.jpg|Vertibird
Museum of Freedom Mural.jpg|Museum of Freedom concept art, released on the 4th of July, commemorating Independence Day
Fo4-mirelurk-concept2.png|Mirelurk ship
Fo4 trailer lithograph.jpg|Promotional lithograph
Fallout4 Concept Bridge.jpg|Bridge
Wreck of the USS Riptide concept art.jpg|The Art of Fallout 4 USS Riptide
Fo4 centaur concept art.png|Centaurs
Fo4 FeralGhoulFinal.jpg|Feral ghouls
Art of Fo4 wasteland outfits concept art.jpg|Wasteland folk
==Videos==
Fallout 4 - Announcement Trailer
Fallout 4 - Launch Trailer
Fallout 4 - Intro Cinematic Opening (Live Action) 1080p
Fallout 4 Gameplay Demo - IGN Live E3 2015
Fallout 4 - Microsoft E3 Press Conference Gameplay Demo
Fallout 4 Base Building Gameplay - IGN Live E3 2015
Fallout Retrospective - Boston
==See also==
* 
* The Art of Fallout 4
==External links==
* Fallout 4 on Steam
==References==
Non-game
 
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