Since its release in 2018, Fallout 76 has added many new locations to the game, including modifications to existing locations, as well as returning locations from other entries in the franchise. However, with the first part of Fallout 76's upcoming Atlantic City updates, this expansion will bring the franchise to an entirely new region, with several new featured locations.
The Best War Games recently spoke with Fallout 76's Art Director, Jonathon Rush, to discuss the implications of the new Atlantic City locations and why it's important for the new Expeditions to take place in an original, never-before-seen environment. The new Atlantic City Expeditions were first teased in-game in Fallout 76 during Season 12, meaning fans have been kept on the hook for some time, but the massive updates are getting closer every day.
Taking the Franchise to New Destinations
According to Rush, the East Coast region in particular has a lot of untapped potential as one of the featured post-nuclear wastelands in the Fallout franchise. Not only does this new region bring along the prospect of new cryptid enemies inspired by the local folklore, new factions, characters, and other new enemies, but it also gives a chance for unique storytelling opportunities:
Atlantic City is very different from any locations we’ve previously done through the series. The new expedition will be the first time the Fallout universe has explored that region, so it sounded like there was a fun opportunity to push the story in new and challenging directions
As a prequel that takes place before any other games in the franchise, Fallout 76 has plenty of suitable candidates when it comes to reintroducing a location that franchise fans are already familiar with. This was the approach in the previous Expeditions, where Fallout 76 brought back the Pitt location from Fallout 3, which is the franchise’s take on the modern-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. However, according to Rush, the setting for the new Expeditions coming to Fallout 76 will be like nothing that players have experienced so far.
Not only does this new region mean that players will get to see new, original locations in the Fallout universe, but it also introduces several new characters and enemies. While the Jersey Devil has been revealed as a major threat coming in the new update, players will also come face to face with three new factions of survivors in the area, as well as a new enemy type, the Overgrown. Aside from the explicit features of the new locations, the opportunity to explore Atlantic City also shows how devastating the Fallout franchise’s overarching narrative frame, the Great War, has been in the far regions of North America.
Fallout’s Signature Post-Apocalyptic Twist
Atlantic City wasn't a direct target during the nuclear warfare of the Great War, although it suffered the results of the Great War just as any game within the Fallout franchise timeline. This means elements of it will be new, obviously, but those who are familiar with Atlantic City are being treated as well. As Rush explained,
We always aim to make our spaces believable, both to support the immersion of the story as well as gameplay. Our players who are familiar with Atlantic City will recognize several elements inspired by the region’s true-life qualities, and our players who have never been to Atlantic City will recognize it as a unique space to adventure in.
Players who are familiar with real-world Appalachia are generally very fond of Fallout 76’s depiction of the region. So, especially following behind how accurate Fallout 76's Appalachian wasteland is to the region’s modern features, Rush explained how essential it is for Fallout 76's version of Atlantic City to retain its natural identity, while still appropriately maintaining Fallout’s general atmosphere.
Fallout 76
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