Game news This video game rated 9/20 is making a comeback: its number of players is exploding and reaching 20 million!
A once-low-rated video game is enjoying a spectacular revival, with a player base reaching 20 million thanks to a hit TV adaptation. This franchise seems to be making a comeback to the delight of its fans!
When it launched in 2018, Fallout 76 was met with a barrage of negative reviews, scoring only 9/20 on JV. The game then seemed destined for a quick failure. However, development studio Bethesda persevered and continually improved Fallout 76’s content and performance. This determination paid off, as evidenced by the steady and sustained growth of the player base. In December 2023, the game already had 17 million players, and this figure continued to increase to reach 20 million players in May 2024!
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The Amazon Prime effect
Fallout 76, when it released in 2018, was very poorly received by players and critics. The main reasons for this poor reception lie in numerous technical problems, omnipresent bugs and unstable performance which made the game difficult to play. The recent rise of the franchise’s latest title can largely be attributed to the success of the television adaptation of Fallout on Amazon Prime Video. Broadcast since April, the series captured the attention of 65 million viewers in just 16 days, becoming the second most-watched series on the platform. This craze for the latter had a snowball effect on the games in the franchise. Fallout 76, in particular, saw its player count increase dramatically.
We’re looking at a 4-6x increase in players per day, which is beyond anything I’ve seen in my 30 years of doing this – American video game producer – said Todd Howard in an interview for Variety
Todd Howard, director of Bethesda, pointed out that this explosion in the number of players is unprecedented in his 30-year career. The arrival of new players discovering the Fallout games for the first time is a unique moment for the studio. As a result, other games in the series, such as Fallout 4 and Fallout New Vegas, also saw a significant increase in users. The success of the television series reignited interest in Bethesda’s other titles.
A promising future for the franchise
Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 are now among the seven most played games on Xbox Game Pass, alongside popular titles like Starfield and Skyrim. Additionally, Bethesda is preparing a major content update for Fallout 76, titled “Skyline Valley”, which will include a map expansion and other improvements. The future of the Fallout franchise looks bright. Todd Howard mentioned that the TV series, which has already been renewed for a second season, will continue to explore the adventures of established characters. Bethesda is also focused on preparing new content for its existing games, while also patiently planning the release of a possible new Fallout title. Ultimately, Fallout 76 went from a disastrous launch to an impressive revival, marking a true turnaround!
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