It wasn’t long ago when Bethesda Games Studios was not only content with, but actually encouraging players to come up with mods for the PC version ofFallout 4.It’s understandable Bethesda would be okay with this, especially since they’d eventuallymake mods available on both Xbox Oneand PS4 for the single-player post-apocalyptic title. WithFallout 76however, the idea of mods isn’t as well received for a number of reasons.
Mods in the online-centricFallout 76are not only forbidden from use in-game, but result in a player’s permanent ban from having access to Zenimax Online Services (Zenimax is the parent company of Bethesda). It turns out some users who’ve been banned are claiming to have not been using mods, but rather were detected for having third-party applications running at the same time as the game, triggering a warning of potential cheating.
Since it appears a number of users may not actually be running mods in-game forFallout 76, Bethesda has offered a way for those affected to regain access to the online service. A report from Variety claims Bethesda will reverse bans put on players if they submit an essay to the company on ‘Why the use of third party cheat software is detrimental to an online gaming community.’ The essay will then be reviewed to determine if the respective user can have their account reinstated.
GivenFallout 76is an online-only game, coupled with the factmods have been heavily usedand even encouraged in previous games in the series, a portion of the bans being handed out are probably legitimate. However, forcing those who might have been wrongfully accused to be subject to punishment resembling something seen at a grade-school level isn’t what anyone wants to be dealing with.
While the chance of righting the wrongs for the mishandled banning of players is a show of sympathy, these problems further add to the pile of issuesFallout 76has had since launch. Aside from players being given a game which clearly felt rushed and incomplete, more problems surfacedfor those who preordered the game’s Collector’s Edition. It also doesn’t help those looking to request refunds and exchanges were at risk of having their personal information compromised also.
WhileFallout 76has gotten off to a rough start, Bethesda appears to remain loyal to the idea of supporting the game for quite a while. Following the company’s current plans includefixing major in-game issues, there’s still more to look forward to by the time the next console generation likely begins in the near future, withProject StarfieldandThe Elder Scrolls VIbeing confirmed years down the road. For Bethesda, the future couldn’t come any sooner, as the launch ofFallout 76has been anything but smooth.
Fallout 76is available now for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
