Fallout 76 to get Raven Rock expansion – a prequel to Fallout 3

Not only has Bethesda announced plans for new Fallout remasters, Fallout 5 and a new game led by Obsidian Entertainment, but the company has also confirmed a major new expansion for Fallout 76, one that will serve as a prequel to the events of Fallout 3. 

While specific details are still yet to come, Bethesda has confirmed that Raven Rock, a new expansion for Fallout 76, will be a story-based prequel to Fallout 3. However, it is unclear if this will be a major expansion like Fallout 76's initial story overhaul, or if it will be a smaller set of missions like The Pitt Expedition.

This isn't the first time that Bethesda has brought some Fallout 3 flavour to Fallout 76. A few years back, Bethesda released The Pitt Expedition, a return to a location from one of Fallout 3's DLCs. Bethesda also eventually did an Expedition for Atlantic City as well, curiously avoiding tying in with New Vegas, which would have undoubtedly been a bigger draw for fans. It is little things like this that have led fans to believe that Bethesda has issues accepting Obsidian's contribution with New Vegas as a core part of the series.

Those familiar with Fallout lore will be familiar with the name Raven Rock already. It was a military base for The Enclave, and players do visit the area during the Fallout 3 campaign.

At this point, Fallout 76 is no longer the only Fallout game in active production. There is going to be a Fallout 3 Remaster, which could launch as early as next year, as Bethesda teased plans to host a special event in Washington DC for Fallout Day next year. On top of that, a New Vegas remaster is in the works, Fallout 5 is finally going into pre-production as part of Bethesda's shift into a true multi-project studio, and Obsidian Entertainment is finally getting its hands on the Fallout IP again for a new game of its own.

KitGuru Says: It is quite telling that all of this is being announced now, rather than during the Xbox Games Showcase in June. It would seem that new Xbox leadership took note of fan disappointment in the Bethesda section of the show due to the lack of updates on mainline Elder Scrolls and Fallout games. 

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