Fallout 76’s most recent update, Once in a Blue Moon, has continued Bethesda’s trend of expanding on some of the stranger elements of the franchise’s lore while adding new Events, bosses, and items for players to collect.
From new unique weapons and outfits to an adorable turtle plush and a Hollywood sound stage, Once in a Blue Moon’s content gives players plenty to work toward asthe Atlantic City Expeditionlooms large on the horizon. Jon Rush, art director forFallout 76at Bethesda’s Austin-based studio spoke to Game Rant about Once in a Blue Moon’s new content and gameplay balancing.The following transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.
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Q: What went into the process of choosing and designing new cryptids like the Blue Devil and Ogua?
A:“Cryptids” is a concept I hadn’t fully been aware of until we started working onFallout 76. I knew of the Mothman, Sheepsquatch, etc… but what I didn’t realize was how many more there were out there, even in the West Virginia area alone.
It almost goes without saying that researching the variety of local cryptids was a lot of fun and presented many viable options. We wanted to zero in on the cryptid additions that would offer a distinct experience from our current cast.
The Ogua had been on our Design teams’ radar for a while, so it was only a matter of time before it crawled out of its shell. On a conceptual level, the Blue Devil felt in line with the type of mythical creature that would terrorize our unsuspecting Blue Ridge Caravan, eliciting a similar sense of dread as a werewolf.
Q: What was the decision to tie together so many side quests for the Costa Business capstone like? How do you hope players respond?
A:We’ve steadily introduced smaller stories going all the way back to therelease of Wild Appalachia. Our Design team wanted to offer players a sense of closure to some of the lingering mysteries. As we don’t usually lock content behind multiple layers of releases, we’re all excited to see how the players respond.
Q: What prompted Season 13 and its associated rewards to all be Hollywood themed?“Pre-war Hollywood” is a theme we have yet to explore much in the Fallout universe.
A:When ideating a new seasonal theme, we’re on the lookout for an experience that will be new to our players and offer quality thematic items to enrich their experience.
For instance, this season brings our players anew “movie set” type shelter space for their camps. This will expand the potential for our players to tell their own stories through images, or player-made movies. A unique feature of this shelter is that the player has full control over the lights.
Q: There are some major quality-of-life improvements around Expeditions, both in making them easier to go on and making rewards cheaper. What went into that decision, and what do you believe will be the most beneficial to players?
A:The team is proud of all the content we’re introducing with this update. We want as many players as possible to jump in to experience it for themselves and reap all the fun new rewards!
That meant knocking down the barriers for entry and increasing the value players get from completing the events within. The biggest benefit to our players is the removal of thefuel requirementto get into an Expedition–our players can come and go as they please. This direction change also compliments our plans for the future, as we’re continuing to work on new and engaging ways for players to experience these unique locations.
Q: The two-shot legendary mod dominated the game early on and has been rebalanced again in this patch. Can you speak to the process of trying to properly balance this?
A:The world of Appalachia is always changing… and the same can be true for our equipment. We actively follow player trends and evaluate how our items interact with the world at large. Our team has taken the same approach with“Two-Shot” to ensure it plays well with the new contentand maintains a healthy role in the meta moving forward.
Q: What about the Once in a Blue Moon update are you most excited to see players engage with?
A:The Ogua and the Blue Devil, of course! Everyone loves a good boss fight (or two). I love being in the thick of it with our players as they’re experiencing these events.
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Fallout 76is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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