The world of Fallout has always been a visually stunning one, with its post-apocalyptic landscapes, rundown buildings, and eerie lighting. But when Fallout 76 was first released, many fans were left underwhelmed by the game’s graphics. Compared to its predecessors, Fallout 4 and Fallout: New Vegas, the online multiplayer spin-off seemed to lack the visual punch that players had come to expect from the series. But with the game’s contentious launch now behind it, the question on everyone’s mind is: will Fallout 76 have better graphics in the future?
The Graphics Controversy
To understand why Fallout 76’s graphics were such a point of contention, it’s worth taking a step back and looking at the game’s development history. When Fallout 76 was first announced, many fans were excited by the prospect of an online Fallout experience. But as more details emerged about the game, it became clear that this wasn’t going to be a traditional Fallout game. The game’s developers, Bethesda Game Studios, had opted to use a modified version of the Creation Engine, the same engine that powered Fallout 4. While this meant that the game would retain the same core gameplay mechanics as its predecessors, it also meant that the game’s graphics would likely be similar, if not identical, to those of Fallout 4.

When Fallout 76 was finally released, many players were disappointed to find that the game’s graphics were, indeed, very similar to those of Fallout 4. While the game’s world, Appalachia, was certainly visually stunning, with its rolling hills, rundown towns, and eerie mountain landscapes, the graphics themselves seemed to lack the level of detail and polish that players had come to expect from the series. The game’s texture quality was lower than in Fallout 4, and the character models and animations were also less detailed.
The Fallout 4 Connection
So why did Bethesda opt to use a modified version of the Creation Engine, rather than developing a brand-new engine from scratch? According to an interview with Jeff Gardiner, the game’s project lead, the decision was largely driven by a desire to get the game out the door as quickly as possible. “We wanted to get the game out in a reasonable timeframe,” Gardiner explained. “We didn’t want to take five years to make a new engine.”
This desire for speed was likely driven by the fact that Fallout 76 was being developed concurrently with several other high-profile Bethesda projects, including The Elder Scrolls VI and Starfield. By using a modified version of the Creation Engine, the team could focus on developing the game’s world, story, and multiplayer mechanics, rather than spending years building a new engine from scratch.
The Consequences of Reusing the Creation Engine
While reusing the Creation Engine may have saved Bethesda time and resources, it had several unintended consequences. For one thing, it meant that Fallout 76’s graphics were always going to be somewhat limited by the capabilities of the engine. The Creation Engine was originally designed to power Fallout 4, which was released in 2015. At the time, it was a cutting-edge engine, capable of producing some truly stunning visuals. But four years later, the engine was starting to show its age.
Another consequence of reusing the Creation Engine was that it limited the team’s ability to make significant changes to the game’s graphics. While they could tweak the engine’s settings and add new visual effects, they were ultimately bound by the engine’s underlying architecture. This meant that they couldn’t make wholesale changes to the game’s graphics, even if they wanted to.
New Graphics Updates
Despite the controversy surrounding Fallout 76’s graphics, Bethesda has continued to support the game with regular updates and patches. One of the most significant of these updates was the “Wild Appalachia” patch, which added a range of new graphics options to the game.

Among the new options were improved lighting effects, enhanced character models, and new texture quality settings. Players could also adjust the game’s resolution, anti-aliasing, and anisotropic filtering to optimize the game’s performance on their system.
The Promise Of Wastelanders
But the most exciting news for Fallout 76 fans is the upcoming “Wastelanders” update, which promises to bring a range of significant graphical improvements to the game. According to Bethesda, the update will include a brand-new graphics engine, as well as a range of new visual effects and enhancements.

While details are still scarce, Bethesda has confirmed that the update will include improved lighting effects, enhanced character models, and new environmental details. Players will also be able to explore new areas of Appalachia, including the long-abandoned city of Watoga.
A New Engine: The Key to Better Graphics?
So what does the new graphics engine mean for Fallout 76’s graphics? According to Bethesda, the new engine will allow the team to create more detailed, more realistic environments, as well as more complex character models and animations.
One of the key benefits of the new engine is its ability to handle more complex lighting effects. This means that players will be able to experience more realistic day-night cycles, as well as more nuanced environmental lighting. The engine will also allow for more detailed character models, including more realistic skin textures and hair animations.
Perhaps most excitingly, the new engine will also enable the team to create more complex, more detailed environments. This means that players will be able to explore more realistic, more immersive worlds, complete with detailed buildings, roads, and landscapes.
Conclusion
Will Fallout 76 have better graphics in the future? Based on Bethesda’s promises, it seems likely that the game’s visuals will improve significantly. The upcoming Wastelanders update promises to bring a range of graphical improvements, including a brand-new graphics engine, improved lighting effects, and enhanced character models.
While it’s impossible to say for certain, it’s clear that Bethesda is committed to supporting Fallout 76 with regular updates and patches. And with the Wastelanders update on the horizon, fans have plenty of reasons to be excited. Whether you’re a longtime Fallout fan or a newcomer to the series, the prospect of exploring a visually stunning, post-apocalyptic world is certainly a tantalizing one.
Update | Release Date | Key Features |
---|---|---|
Wild Appalachia | April 2019 | Improved lighting effects, enhanced character models, new texture quality settings |
Wastelanders | Summer 2020 | New graphics engine, improved lighting effects, enhanced character models, new environmental details |
As Fallout 76 continues to evolve and improve, one thing is certain: the game’s graphics will only get better. And with the Wastelanders update on the horizon, fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about the future of this beloved franchise.
Will Fallout 76 Have Better Graphics On Consoles?
Fallout 76’s graphics on consoles have been a subject of controversy since its launch. While the game’s visuals are not bad by any means, they are not exactly impressive either. The game’s resolution is capped at 1080p on both Xbox One and PlayStation 4, which is relatively low compared to other modern games. Additionally, the game’s textures, lighting, and overall graphical fidelity are not as detailed as some players would like.
In response to player feedback, Bethesda has been working on improving the game’s graphics. However, it’s unclear at this point whether these improvements will result in a significant bump in resolution or graphical quality. While Bethesda has made some tweaks to the game’s graphics in past updates, they have been relatively minor. It’s possible that the company may be holding off on more substantial graphical improvements until the game’s next major update or expansion.
Have There Been Any Graphical Improvements Since Launch?
Yes, Bethesda has made some graphical improvements to Fallout 76 since its launch. For example, the company released a patch in December 2018 that improved the game’s lighting and shadow quality. This patch also addressed some issues with the game’s texture rendering, which made the game’s environments look more detailed and realistic. Additionally, Bethesda has made some tweaks to the game’s color palette and overall visual style, which has helped to make the game look more vibrant and immersive.
While these improvements are certainly welcome, they are relatively minor compared to the kind of graphical overhaul that some players are hoping for. Many players are still waiting for more substantial improvements to the game’s graphics, such as a higher resolution or more detailed textures. It’s possible that these kinds of improvements may be coming in a future update or expansion, but for now, players will have to be content with the game’s current graphical state.
Will The Wastelanders Update Improve Graphics?
The Wastelanders update is a major upcoming update for Fallout 76 that promises to add a number of new features and improvements to the game. While Bethesda has not explicitly stated whether the update will include graphical improvements, it’s possible that the company may take the opportunity to make some tweaks to the game’s visuals. The update is expected to include a number of new characters, quests, and gameplay mechanics, which could potentially include new graphical assets or improvements to the game’s existing assets.
If Bethesda does choose to include graphical improvements in the Wastelanders update, it’s likely that they will be relatively minor. The company has been focused on adding new content and features to the game, rather than overhauling its graphics. However, even small improvements to the game’s visuals could make a big difference in terms of immersion and overall player experience.
Can PC Players Expect Better Graphics?
PC players have traditionally had an advantage when it comes to graphics compared to console players. This is because PCs can be upgraded with more powerful hardware, allowing for higher resolutions and more detailed graphics. Fallout 76 is no exception, and PC players can expect to see better graphics than their console counterparts.
However, even on PC, Fallout 76’s graphics are not exactly cutting-edge. The game’s graphics settings are relatively limited, and even at high settings, the game does not exactly push the boundaries of what is possible on modern PC hardware. This is likely due to the fact that the game is also designed to run on consoles, which have more limited hardware capabilities.
Will Mod Support Improve Graphics?
Fallout 76’s mod support is currently limited, but Bethesda has announced plans to expand mod support in the future. One potential benefit of mod support is that it could allow players to create their own graphical improvements to the game. Modders have a long history of creating impressive graphical overhauls for Bethesda’s games, and it’s possible that they could do the same for Fallout 76.
If mod support is expanded to include graphical modifications, it could potentially allow players to improve the game’s graphics in ways that Bethesda may not be able to or willing to. This could include things like higher resolution textures, improved lighting effects, or even entirely new graphical assets. However, it’s worth noting that mod support is still in its early stages, and it’s unclear at this point what kind of graphical improvements will be possible.
Is Graphics Quality Important For Fallout 76’s Success?
While graphics quality is not the only factor that determines a game’s success, it is certainly an important one. Fallout 76’s poor graphics quality has been a major point of criticism from players and reviewers alike, and has likely contributed to the game’s poor reception. If Bethesda can improve the game’s graphics, it could potentially win back some of the players who were turned off by the game’s visuals.
However, graphics quality is not the only thing that matters when it comes to a game’s success. Gameplay, storytelling, and overall player experience are all important factors as well. If Bethesda can improve the game’s graphics while also addressing its other shortcomings, it could potentially turn Fallout 76 into a successful game. But if the company focuses solely on graphics without addressing the game’s other issues, it may not be enough to save the game.
Will Next-gen Consoles Improve Fallout 76’s Graphics?
The next generation of consoles is just around the corner, and it’s possible that Fallout 76 could see a graphical improvement on these new consoles. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X both promise to offer significant upgrades in terms of processing power and graphical capabilities, which could potentially allow for more detailed and immersive graphics in Fallout 76.
If Bethesda chooses to develop a next-gen version of Fallout 76, it’s likely that the game’s graphics would see a significant improvement. However, it’s unclear at this point whether the company plans to do so. Even if it does, it’s worth noting that next-gen consoles may not be available to all players, and it’s unclear how the game’s graphics would be affected on current-gen hardware.