One of 2018’s biggest games, Fallout 76, will not be available to buy on the world’s largest PC game store–at least not at launch. A Bethesda spokesperson told PC Gamer that the upcoming beta and the full game for PC will be exclusively available on Bethesda’s own website, not Steam.
“The PC version of Fallout 76, for both the B.E.T.A. and the launch, will be available only via Bethesda.net, not on Steam,” a Bethesda representative said. Bethesda marketing executive Pete Hines also tweeted about the Bethesda.net exclusivity for Fallout 76.
In releasing Fallout 76 through its own launcher, Bethesda avoids paying Steam operator Valve its cut of sales. Still, it’s a noteworthy move to skip Steam in part because the previous Fallout games were released on Valve’s store.
Just because Fallout 76 won’t launch on Steam right away doesn’t mean it won’t eventually come to the platform. As PC Gamer reminds us, Fallout Shelter launched as a Bethesda.net exclusive before eventually launching on Steam at a later date.
The Fallout 76 beta starts in October, though specific start dates for PS4, Xbox One, and PC have not been announced yet. A line on the FAQ page states that this will be the full version of the game, with progress carrying forward to the full release in November.
Fallout 76 launches on November 14 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Unlike previous entries in the acclaimed RPG series, Fallout 76 is an always-online, multiplayer-focused game, so it will be interesting to see how the community responds to this big change.
Looking ahead, Bethesda will make some Fallout 76 announcements at QuakeCon this week, so keep checking back for more.
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