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Despite Fortnite, Fallout 76 still won’t have cross-play at launch

Fallout 76 cross-play could come in the future, but it definitely won't be at launch

September 27, 2018 Fallout 76 still won’t have cross-play at launch.

The cross-play dream was revitalized this week with news that barriers have broken down around Fortnite – but Fallout 76 cross-play is still off the table for now. We heard that the feature wouldn’t make it back at E3, but that was before Sony’s turnaround on the subject. However, the change in policy hasn’t come soon enough for Fallout.

Bethesda’s communications head, Pete Hines, posted a congratulatory message to Sony on Twitter following the news. In the wake of a multitude of comments from fans, he had to clarify that this doesn’t affect the Fallout 76 launch.

“Fallout 76 does not support crossplay,” Hines says, “for a number of reasons. I have no idea if it ever will. But I assure you it is not on our radar right now as we focus on B.E.T.A. and Launch.”

Speaking to German-language gaming site GameStar at E3, Bethesda’s game director Todd Howard said the company had pursued cross-play for Fallout 76. Howard said that crossplay simply wasn’t possible then, and it was largely because the PlayStation parent is “not as helpful as everyone would like it.”

That implies that cross-play had been on the table at some point. Hines adds that Sony’s reticence also prevented the studio from allowing Xbox and PC players to play together. “It was a thing that, if we do it, we’re doing for all platforms or not at all. And since ‘all’ wasn’t an option based on what we knew, we focused on other things.”

Fallout 76 cross-play could happen at some point – eventually – but don’t hold your breath just yet. In another response to a fan, Hines says “I’m sure someone will look into this once we get a little air to breathe. I have no way of knowing what the outcome will be right now.”

The Fallout 76 beta launches next month, giving us all an early look at the game a few weeks ahead of the proper release. You’ll have to stick to playing with friends on your platform of choice for now.