Fallout 76 players are sending nukes at Phil Spencer for recent studio closures

Xbox finds itself embroiled in yet another PR debacle this week, as Fallout 76 players enact an unconventional form of protest. Earlier this year, the gaming community was stirred by Microsoft's decision to release former exclusives on PlayStation and Nintendo platforms. Now, Microsoft's recent announcement of the closure of four Bethesda studios, notably Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks, has triggered a unique response from fans.

The process of launching nuclear strikes within Fallout 76 isn't a simple endeavour, but the basic gist is, players have to gather nuclear codes, then find a security key card, and then, you need to make your way over to a heavily guarded launch silo and fight your way through to the targeting computer. After that, you can drop a nuke anywhere on the map, including directly on player camp sites. While that little breakdown of the process is quick and easy, it is more of a time investment than it initially sounds.

Phil Spencer's camp burning in Fallout 76 after it was nuked.

😳pic.twitter.com/iSyGHxaYqI

— PeterOvo (@PeterOvo5) May 9, 2024

Lmao someone nuked Phil Spencer’s camp in Fallout 76 pic.twitter.com/DxfcIdH8ob

— Sam (@Sam_Snydes) May 9, 2024

We don't know exactly who was responsible for setting the bombs off but video footage of players exploring Phil Spencer's destroyed camp have been uploaded by people known to be on his Xbox friends list.

The in-game retaliation appears to be in protest to the recent closures of Arkane Austin, Roundhouse, Alpha Dog and Tango Gameworks. Arkane Austin had a rough year thanks to Redfall, but the studio had previously produced excellent work in Dishonored and Prey. On the other hand, Tango Gameworks was Xbox's sole Japanese studio, an area that Microsoft has been trying to gain a foothold in for years. Just last year, Tango Gameworks released Hi-Fi Rush, one of the best games of the year. However, as the team did not have a greenlit project in the works yet, the studio was shuttered.

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KitGuru Says: Ultimately, this is a harmless bit of fun. Part of the allure of Fallout 76 is the possibility for nukes to drop, although players do rarely engage in the game's PvP systems, with veterans preferring instead to spend their time helping new players near the game's starting areas. 

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