Fallout 76 Devs Opt Against Cross-Play Due to Design, Todd Howard Reveals

Todd Howard, the game director and executive producer of Bethesda Game Studios, shed light on why Fallout 76 lacks cross-play functionality. In a recent interview with Kinda Funny Games, Howard revealed that the game was not initially designed with cross-play in mind, citing technical complexities.

Focus on Cross-Progression Over Cross-Play

Howard emphasized the studio's prioritization of cross-progression over cross-play. He explained that while cross-play is on their radar, their primary focus remains on enabling players to seamlessly carry their progress across different platforms. Howard highlighted the technical challenges associated with implementing cross-play in Fallout 76, indicating that the game's original architecture presents hurdles.

Looking Ahead with Cross-Play Consideration

While cross-play remains a topic of interest for Bethesda, Howard stressed that the studio is approaching it cautiously. He reiterated the importance of cross-progression and cited Starfield as an example of a game designed with platform flexibility in mind. Despite the challenges, Howard assured fans that Bethesda is actively exploring possibilities for cross-play integration, albeit with careful consideration.

Fallout 76 released update 1.87 on March 26, which introduced Season 16: Duel With the Devil. This update brought significant changes, including moving from a scoreboard system to a Season Pass system, along with new rewards2. As for the next major updates, Bethesda has not announced any upcoming updates yet.