Fallout 76 is going to shake things up in Summer 2027 when the Raven Rock update launches and expands the map even more. As the game’s long-awaited 76th update, Raven Rock will bring players to a region that has yet to be explored in Bethesda’s multiplayer spin-off: the Capital Wasteland. This major Fallout 76 update sets up a prequel to Fallout 3, and as exciting as that is, it also puts the franchise in a really tricky position that might cause more friction than intended.
The big issue at the heart of an update as exciting as Fallout 76‘s Raven Rock expansion is that Bethesda also has the Fallout 3 remaster in the pipeline. Having a double dose of Capital Wasteland on the way sounds like good news at first, but it also runs the risk of extinguishing some of the hype surrounding the upcoming remaster. Now that there are two Fallout releases on the way that are set in the same location, Bethesda has to strike a balance that makes the two games feel cohesive instead of one outshining the other.
The Newness of Fallout 76’s Raven Rock Update Could Steal the Fallout 3 Remaster’s Thunder
Before I get too far ahead of myself, it’s important to make it clear that there is no official Fallout 3 remaster release date set in stone yet. Even though Bethesda has remained tight-lipped about any impending launch date, that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from throwing out some possibilities. Leaks and rumors have suggested that a 2027 launch is possible. These kinds of claims should be taken with a grain of salt, of course, but it’s still intriguing.
If both Raven Rock and the Fallout 3 remaster launch in the same year, it might be difficult for the latter to capture the same feeling of newness that the former is promising. Raven Rock is going to be a completely new take on the Capital Wasteland, while the Fallout 3 remaster is simply the same version that many fans have already seen, but with a new coat of paint.
Fallout 76’s Raven Rock Update Teases a Different Side to the Capital Wasteland
- Set roughly 200 years before the events of Fallout 3
- A plot focused on a Cold War-inspired conflict within the Enclave
Fallout 76‘s place in the Fallout timeline makes it a prequel for the entire series, which opens the doors for devs to explore what the franchise’s wastelands were like before each game’s story took place. The Great War happened only 25 years before the events of Fallout 76, so the Capital Wasteland is bound to look far different from what longtime fans are used to.
The Raven Rock update specifically takes place 27 years after the bombs fell, and it has left Washington, D.C. a shell of its former self. The area is covered in an ashy black snow that serves as a reminder of how recent the nuclear devastation was. It’s not like Fallout 3‘s Capital Wasteland is some kind of cozy utopia, though. It’s still very much a grimy and unforgiving place, but Raven Rock has the benefit of bringing players a never-before-seen chapter in the wasteland’s history.
Raven Rock and the Fallout 3 Remaster Hopefully Strike the Perfect Balance Between the New and Old
There is already a lot of excitement and anticipation surrounding the Fallout 3 remaster. Beyond that, Bethesda is even working on a New Vegas remaster. If the two Fallout remasters and the Fallout 76 Raven Rock update all launch in 2027, next year has the potential to be huge for the franchise. Fallout 76 has been carrying the gaming corner of the Fallout franchise for eight years at this point, and it’s time for Bethesda to bring more to the table. Granted, remasters aren’t as exciting as brand-new games, but it’s a solid start after such a long hiatus.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)
Every Fallout Game in Development
- Fallout 3 remaster
- Fallout: New Vegas remaster
- Untitled Obsidian Fallout game
- Fallout 5
In one of many of Xbox’s big 2026 shake-ups, Obsidian has now been put under Bethesda’s management, with both developers creating separate Fallout projects. After the remasters launch, all eyes are going to be on the new Obsidian Fallout game and the long-awaited Fallout 5 from Bethesda.
It’s currently too early to say for sure, so I’m just speculating here, but Raven Rock would be a great way to kick off the start of these upcoming Fallout games. There’s always the chance that the Fallout 3 and New Vegas remasters could debut before Summer 2027, but that would be a bit surprising. Raven Rock presents the perfect opportunity for Fallout 76 to be a strong appetizer ahead of the new and improved Fallout 3. Bethesda may be risking overkill with two Capital Wasteland-focused releases on the way, but Raven Rock lifting the veil on Fallout 3‘s past also has the potential to make fans even more excited about exploring D.C. again.
- Released
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November 14, 2018
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
