Since its debut in November 2018, Fallout 76 has transformed dramatically. The game now boasts a plethora of new features thanks to a steady stream of updates that have introduced NPCs, questlines, an expanded map, Vault raids, and Expeditions that effectively take players to cherished distant locales. With the recent Gleaming Depths update, a fresh multi-stage raid now challenges players, who are rewarded with exclusive 4-Star Legendary gear upon completion.
But this is just the beginning for Fallout 76. Game Rant recently caught up with the game’s production director, Bill LaCoste, who has been spearheading the multiplayer game’s progress since 2019. Over the past five years, LaCoste and his team have significantly enriched the game, and they’re about to roll out a feature fans have long awaited: the playable Ghoul. This conversation has been reformatted for clarity and conciseness.
One of the prominently discussed upcoming features is the player Ghoul, which aims to be much more than a mere costume. LaCoste touches upon the defining traits of playing as a Ghoul, emphasizing the Glow meter, which uses radiation to power up abilities. It’s a unique gameplay element that sets it apart, alongside a Feral meter that replaces traditional hunger and thirst mechanics. Players will need to manage their Feral nature by consuming Chems and radiated food. While they don’t yet have a favorite Ghoul ability, the development team is experimenting with options that increase melee and ranged damage, as well as enhance Glow regeneration.
As the game is still in pre-alpha for this feature, no Ghoul builds have yet emerged as overpowered. The team plans to rigorously test Ghouls in various game aspects, like raids and daily operations, to identify any advantages. They’re excited to introduce these new gameplay mechanics and look forward to both their creations and the community’s ingenuity in tackling them.
LaCoste reflects on the joy of developing these systems, particularly in delivering an authentic Ghoul experience. He mentions the team’s dedication to ensuring that playing as a Ghoul is not just a superficial feature but something deeply integrated into the game’s mechanics. He is optimistic about the update’s potential and the feedback it may generate.
During the interview, LaCoste shares cherished community moments, notably the contributions of the Chad: Fallout 76 podcast and the efforts around Fallout For Hope, which support St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. He appreciates how these events bring the community together and highlights the ongoing, meaningful relationships with streamers and players.
Reflecting on his journey with the game, LaCoste recalls the pivotal Wastelanders expansion, which reintroduced life to the game world. This update set the stage for many future enhancements and remains a significant highlight in Fallout 76’s history. However, he notes that the introduction of playable Ghouls marks another major phase in the game’s evolution.
LaCoste shares his personal history with the Fallout series, expressing a long-standing passion for these games since discovering the original titles in a shop unexpectedly. His fondness extends to favorite moments like stepping out into the vast world of Fallout 3 for the first time, an experience emblematic of the freedom and exploration that define Bethesda’s games.
He concludes by voicing his fulfillment in working on Fallout and values the collaborative nature of the development team, continuously striving to integrate fan feedback and improve both the game and their internal processes for the betterment of the community and the franchise.
