How Fallout 76 Microtransactions And Atoms Work

We have known for a while now that Bethesda's Fallout 76, like many games today, will feature a microtransaction system. Bethesda was quick to clarify that you won't be able to spend real money on Perk Cards to unlock more abilities, with the microtransaction system instead limited to cosmetics. Now, Bethesda has shared more details on how microtransactions work in Fallout 76.

The microtransaction currency in Fallout 76 is called Atoms, Bethesda boss Pete Hines told Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb. These Atoms can be spent on things like new outfits and skins. You can earn these Atoms in the game by completing tasks, or you can buy them outright with real money. Bethesda hasn't said yet provided any specifics on Atom pricing, however.

Whatever the case, Hines suggested Bethesda will be generous with Atoms, telling Major Nelson that Fallout 76 will "throw them at you all the time."

"Atoms are thing that we use and hand out as you play the game--quite honestly we throw them at you all the time," he explained. "You get them as little rewards leaving the Vault or the first time you kill a creature or the first time you pick fruits or vegetables from somewhere. It's a little challenge reward. Atoms are used in our shop to buy cosmetics things. So you know, new outfits or skins or things like that. [Things to customise] your character to look unique from everybody else."

Everyone who pre-orders Fallout 76 on Xbox One gets 500 Atoms right away, but how much value this really offers won't be clear until Bethesda reveals the cost of in-game items. Microsoft's partnership with Bethesda goes further, as the company is also releasing a 1 TB Xbox One X bundle that comes with a copy of Fallout 76.

It appears Bethesda is following the model of games like Overwatch and Fortnite in that it will only allow players to spend real money on cosmetics, not items or abilities that actually affect the game.

After Bethesda announced that perks in Fallout 76 are acquired and represented through Perk Cards, many wondered if players would be able to buy these with real money. Thankfully, as mentioned above, Bethesda will not allow players to spend real money to acquire new perks.

For lots more on Fallout 76, you can check out the video embedded above and GameSpot's recent coverage in the stories linked below. The game launches on November 14 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, with a beta scheduled to begin first on Xbox One on October 23.

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