Since releasing in 2018, Fallout 76 has seen players explore every corner of the post-apocalyptic Appalachians in hopes of surviving the threats of all kinds, whether it be monsters or other humans. The next major expansion, though, looks to be taking players away from this slice of West Virginia to the neighboring state of Pennsylvania and venture into dangerous ruins of Pittsburgh, now known as The Pitt. As part of Microsoft's Xbox and Bethesda Showcase, Bethesda gave players a new look at what this journey will entail and the threats awaiting them inside this city's ruins.
Fallout 76 is an online-RPG from Bethesda set inside the post-apocalyptic, retro sci-fi world of Fallout and serves as a prequel to the main Fallout game series. Players awaken 25 years after the world is ravaged by a great war. Players take the role of survivors from Vault 76 in West Virginia's Appalachians and must explore, scrap, and fight to survive in this irradiated world.
Bethesda gave players a new look at Fallout 76's next major content expansion, Expeditions: The Pitt, during the June Xbox and Bethesda showcase. The trailer shows players receive a mysterious transmission from the titular city requesting aid for a survivor settlement residing in the ruins. Players will then find themselves embroiled in a war between The Union, a group of self-described freedom fighters, and The Fanatics, a dangerous raider group which is attempting to wrestle control of The Pitt from The Union.
The trailer also showcases the areas of Pittsburgh's ruins players will get to explore as they help The Union defend the city from the violent raiders. It appears there will be two distinct areas of The Pitt for players to explore: the ruined city that plays host to the warring factions' main settlements and the tunnels under the city where irradiated creatures roam in greater numbers.
Given Bethesda's repeated commitment to Fallout 76, it makes sense for the studio to offer players a change of scenery to keep them invested in the game. It also means, going forward, the game could explore other corners of the Fallout world in major expansions, similar to Elder Scrolls Online's world growth with expansions like Blackwood and, most recently, High Isle. The formula has proven to work for Elder Scrolls, so it would make sense for Bethesda to apply the same thinking to Fallout 76 in order to keep the game alive.
Fallout 76 next expansion, Expeditions: The Pitt, will release on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox Game Pass, and Xbox One in September 2022.