Fallout 76 has evolved beyond its rocky launch into a game that is an immersive and compelling interlude for Fallout fans while they wait for Fallout 5. Fallout 76 is the earliest game in the series' official timeline, and is set just 25 years after the Great War that turned the USA into a radioactive wasteland. Set in Appalachia, Fallout 76 gives interesting lore drops, depicts the setting in a very different way from other Fallout properties, and has regular events with unique rewards. Fallout 76 has become a must-play game for Fallout fans, but it would be accessible to even more players if it were Steam Deck verified.
Games that have been Steam Deck verified give a better experience than games that have been ported to the Steam Deck but haven't gone through optimization. Fallout 76 can be played on the Steam Deck, but players have reported issues such as a low frame rate and poor graphical quality.
Why You Should Get into Fallout 76 in 2025
Fallout 76 has been going strong for nearly seven years, but the arrival of a major update makes 2025 the best time to start.
Fallout 76 Would Be Perfect in Steam Deck's Library
With the success of the Nintendo Switch, many other gaming companies have rolled out their own handheld gaming consoles, such as PlayStation's Remote Player and the rumored Canis handheld. Xbox is set to release the ROG Xbox Ally later in 2025. Valve's Steam Deck is one of the most popular of these handheld consoles, and gives players access to PC games on a console device. Closer to a portable PC than a gaming console, Steam Decks are versatile and offer PC gamers convenience that hadn't been seen until the Steam Deck's release.
While Nintendo's Switch far outpaces the Steam Deck, Valve's console has dominated the world of PC handheld consoles. An estimated 6 million PC consoles had shipped as of January 2025, with 4 million of them Steam Decks.
There are some limitations that the Steam Deck has that don't affect other handheld consoles. Comparatively, the Steam Deck is large and heavy, and its frame rate is limited to 60fps. Conversely, there are also a lot of reasons to go for a Steam Deck, as it is fairly powerful for a handheld console, can handle modern games, and is perfect for PC players who want their games on the go.
Steam Deck Can Run the Most Demanding Games
Games like Baldur's Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Elden Ring are graphically intense, but the Steam Deck is powerful enough that all three games are Steam Deck verified. It is possible to play Fallout 76 on the Steam Deck as it is now, but notably, Fallout 76 hasn't been Steam Deck verified as of August 2025. Because it hasn't been Steam Deck verified, Fallout 76 runs at a lower frame rate on low settings, and some players need to make tweaks to get it to run at all.
Fallout 76 on Steam Deck Would Make it Accessible
Getting Steam Deck verified would be great for Fallout 76 players, and it could be a boon for Bethesda, too. As a multiplayer game, being able to play it wherever players want is a big draw. Handheld consoles are becoming popular as they've begun to match the quality of traditional consoles, with the added convenience of being travel-friendly, rather than keeping players near their screen or TV.
Many players use Steam Decks as their main gaming device, rather than buying a gaming PC. Gaming PCs are incredibly expensive, and figuring out exactly what is needed to run modern games can be a challenge for the average player. The Steam Deck removes the complications around PC gaming and gives players access to PC games at a fraction of the cost and hassle.
Getting Steam Deck verified would improve Fallout 76's performance on the Steam Deck in ways like:
- Increasing the frame rate from 30fps to 60fps
- Performing better at higher graphics quality
- Remove much of the lag
- Make Fallout 76 more accessible and convenient to play
Fallout 76
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 54 /100 Critics Rec: 9%
WHERE TO PLAY
Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Skyrim and Fallout 4, welcome you to Fallout 76. Twenty-five years after the bombs fell, you and your fellow Vault Dwellers—chosen from the nation’s best and brightest – emerge into post-nuclear America on Reclamation Day, 2102. Play solo or join together as you explore, quest, build, and triumph against the wasteland’s greatest threats. Explore a vast wasteland, devastated by nuclear war, in this open-world multiplayer addition to the Fallout story. Experience the largest, most dynamic world ever created in the legendary Fallout universe. Expand southward to Skyline Valley – a brand-new region of Appalachia. Investigate the cause of the electric storm circling overhead and unveil the mystery around Vault 63 and its dwellers, including a shocking new Ghoul type – The Lost.
