Summary
As of July 12, 2025,Fallout 76has seen some major changes to the game, due to thenewSkyline Valleyexpansion. WhileFallout 76has had expansions before, this new expansion may be the most exciting one yet. It is certainly the most novel in several ways andintroducessome elements that are new to anyFalloutgame.
IfFallout 76’sSkyline Valleyis any indication, thenthe future of the game only continues to look more promising. Bethesda is likely trying its best to turn things around following the rough startFallout 76had. The game has been slowly improving with time, and these exciting new changes in the latest expansion will likely convince some players to give it a chance.
Fallout 76 Skyline Valley Preview: You’re Running Out Of Reasons Not To Play
Skyline Valley is the biggest update Fallout 76 has delivered, adding a vast new area and more Ghouls than players can shake an electric sword at.
10Fallout 76’s Map Is Now Bigger Than Ever
Skyline Valley Is Fallout 76’s First Map Expansion
Fallout 76’sSkyline Valleyexpansion is not just a big deal for the game, but theFalloutfranchise. Previously, whenFalloutgames add new regions through DLC, it would be in the form of isolated environments that the players would travel to for an additional storyline. However,Skyline Valleybreaks with this trend by actually expanding the game’s main map, allowing players to travel seamlessly between the new and existing content.
Skyline Valleywill extendFallout 76’s map to the south of its existing borders, introducing a brand-new slice of Appalachia for players to explore. This update is very exciting as it introduces the possibility of a growing world inFallout 76. While players likely can’t expect these types of updates all the time, it is possible thatSkyline Valleyis just the first of more map expansions to come. MMO maps growing over time is nothing new, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see more growth on the heels ofSkyline Valley.
9The New Pioneer Scouts Items Add Some Flavor To The New Region
Pioneer Scouts Is Fallout’s Version Of Scouting America
One of the biggest appeals of theFalloutfranchise is its unique retro-futuristic style. Everything looks like the future as imagined by someone living in the 1950s, which perfectly plays into the game’s parallels to the Cold War. Now,Skyline Valleyis adding an extra theme to the world ofFallout 76with its new Pioneer Scouts gear.
The Pioneer Scouts areFallout’s take on Scouting America(previously the Boy Scouts). While scouting is still alive and well in the modern day, it’s hard to deny that it feels like a relic from the 50s like many ofFallout’s other aesthetic choices. Having a new Scout Master Collectron therefore feels perfectly appropriate for the world ofFallout 76. It’s also undeniably silly to have Pioneer Scout-themed Power Armor. This seems like a satire on how Scouting can easily be seen as sanitized military training, and it’s also just funny to see colorful Scouting regalia on massive death machines.
8Skyline Valley Introduces A Mysterious New Weather Event
A Strange Red Storm Can Be Seen In The New Map’s Sky
The environment in anyFalloutgame is obviously not having the best time, butFallout 76’s Appalachia is a lot greener than places like the Mojave WastelandfromFallout: New Vegas. However,Skyline Valleyhas introduced a threatening new weather event that looks like it might be changing how players view Appalachia. It is also just an interesting aesthetic choice that spices up the look of the game.
10 Harsh Realities Of Playing Fallout 76
After a rocky release in 2018, Fallout 76 has made a comeback in 2024, but there are still several painful facts which make the game less enjoyable.
The new section ofFallout 76’s map is covered by an ominous red cloud.The storm is centered over the area’s new vault,Skyline Valley’s Vault 63, and ties into the mystery of one of the new storylines. Aside from being an interesting bit of environmental storytelling, the cloud also adds an eerie atmosphere that makes the new section of the map feel unique.Skyline Valleydoesn’t just feel like more of the same, but instead, makes it very clear that this is a brand-new section of the game with a unique story to tell.
7New Quests Will Keep The Expanded Map From Being Empty
Fallout 76 Has Faced Criticism For An Empty World In The Past
It’s no secret thatFallout 76got off to a bit of a rough start. Players complained that the world felt empty and unpopulated in comparison to traditionalFalloutgames. Since then,Bethesda has made big strides to address these concernsand ensure the world has a lot to offer. This is also true for theSkyline Valleyexpansion, which introduces 12 new quests to the game.
The new quests introduce a new character, Hugo Stolz, and some new enemy types. They also tie directly into the mysterious storm in the region, which players will be tasked with discovering the origins and nature of. While this does seem like a more isolated story, similar to standalone DLCs, that doesn’t mean it won’t add some new flavor to Appalachia. With the region being part of the map, it can also tie into new content further down the line. For example, it has already been announced that players will make custom outposts here in a future update.
6The New Area Contains 26 Points Of Interest
Skyline Valley Adds A Wide Range Of Locations
Along with its extended map,Skyline Valleyalso introduces 26 new points of interesttoFallout 76. A higher density of POIs like this is a good sign that there will be lots to do in this new section of the map. There is also a variety in the types of locations seen. There’s everything from the Old Cremora Mines, an extensive network of caverns full of Mothman’s cult, to Camp Liberty, the summer camp previewed inSkyline Valley’s trailer.
One of the new points of interest, Shenandoah Visitor Center, like the entire National Park the expansion takes place in, is based on a real location in Virginia. These connections to real-life locations are always fun inFalloutgames, allowing players to do things like map the Courier’s walking path to New Vegas on a real map. Players familiar with the actual Shenandoah National Park will likely be excited to see how theFallout 76version differs from the real thing.
5Skyline Valley Introduces A New Type Of Ghoul
This New Faction Is Called The Lost
Falloutplayers are already familiar with a few different types of ghouls. There are the standard sentient ghouls, the feral ghouls, and the even more heavily irradiated Glowing Ones. NowFallout 76is adding a new type of ghoul known as The Lost. These are ghouls who have been affected in some way by the strange storm that is central toSkyline Valley’s overarching plot.
These new ghouls are different from previous versions because they have somehow absorbed electrical energy from the storm. Both they and the weapons they wield crackle with electricity, making them a uniquely dangerous type of enemy inFallout 76. Players will also be able to get their hands on some of The Lost’s energy weapons, giving them another good incentive to try and track down the origins of the storm and these high-voltage ghouls. The Lost also have an interesting visual design, their glowing eyes and trails of blue lightning are reminiscent of Raiden from theMortal Kombatseries.
4Fallout Now Has Terrifying Turkey Creatures
These New Mutant Monsters Are Called Thrashers
Fallout’s mutated creatureshave always been an integral part of the world, going all the way back to Radscorpions in the originalFalloutgame. Now,Fallout 76is introducing a brand new irradiated creature: Thrashers. These bird creatures are named after an actual bird that is common in Appalachia, but they look much more like a cross between a turkey and a dodo bird than an actual Thrasher, though they are largely featherless.
Thrashers charge at players, attacking with a combination of their clawed feet and large beaks. There is also a more powerful variant called the Alpha Thrasher which has the large fanned-out tail that turkeys are famous for. Thrashers can also be Toxic Thrashers; these look a bit more green and are irradiated.Giant mutant turkeys seem like the perfect addition toFallout 76’s Appalachia, given they have strong ties to east coast American folklore like the first Thanksgiving.
3New Weapons Give Players New Ways To Tackle The Wasteland
Skyline Valley Will Introduce 4 New Weapons
Along with the new quests inSkyline Valleycome some new weapons that players can earn as rewards. Three of these weapons are legendary variants of existing weapons fromFallout 76, and one is a brand-new design. The first of these weapons isa new Railway Rifle called Ticket to Revenge. Ticket to Revenge improves on previous Railway Rifles because it can hold double the ammo and has the legendary effects Bloodied, VATS Enhanced, and Lucky.
Next is another updated gun,a legendary Handmade Rifle called Shattered Grounds. The rifle has three legendary mods: Junkie’s Legendary Mod, Explosive, and Lightweight. Players can get their hands on Shattered Grounds as a reward for the quest Double-Crossed Wires.
The other two new weapons are energy-themed melee weapons which are tied intoSkyline Valley’s use of electricity from the storm. One isa legendary Shock Batonwith the mods Anti-armor Legendary Mod, Crippling, and Durability. Durability is an especially good mod for a melee weapon, as they tend to deteriorate pretty quickly.
The only fully unique weapon in the expansion is the V63 Zweihanderthat players get from finishing the quest “The Eye of The Storm.” This is a massive two-handed melee weapon that can also deal energy damage. It comes with Executioner’s, Power Attack Damage, and Defender’s. While this weapon looks very cool, it’s hard to say if it will be effective. A lot of two-handed weapons don’t end up being the best inFallout 76.
2Vault 63 Is Now Open
Vault 63 Is The Source Of The Region’s Storm
AnyFalloutfan knows that a new vault is more than just a new dungeon to explore. Vaults are one of the unique aspects of theFalloutfranchise, many of which are the sites of some pretty horrific experiments carried out by Vault-Tec. Vault 63 seems to be no exception, asit is the source of the mysterious stormthat sits overSkyline Valley’s new area.
Without giving too much away about the story, the vault is also home to The Lost, implying that its ability to protect residents from the effects of radiation may not have been up to the highest standards. Getting a new vault and learning more about Vault-Tec’s many experiences is an exciting addition for anyFalloutplayer. Adding to that a new type of ghoul and some fun-looking new weapons from the vault, andFallout 76players will likely be rushing to see what secrets Vault 63 has in store for them.
1Skyline Valley Introduces Two New Public Events To Fallout 76
Dangerous Pastimes & Neurological Warfare Events
Along with theSkyline Valleyupdate,Fallout 76will also be getting two new public events. The first of these is called Dangerous Pastimes, which players can start by going to Thunder Mountain substation TM-03 and talking to David Shuffleworth through the intercom.Players will be tasked with reassembling a lightning harvesterwhile trying to survive waves of enemies and a boss battle.
The other new public event is Neurological Warfare, which can be started by a player dropping a nuke on a point of interest in Skyline Valley.Players will then have to defeat three different Storm Goliaths, a new type of enemy, to finish the event. This event will reward players with a weapon or cosmetics drop.
Skyline Valleyis adding a lot of exciting content toFallout 76. With even more updates on the way, it is clear that Bethesda does not have any plans to slow down with its MMO. These are the exciting types of innovation that may convince some players to finally check outFallout 76, and hopefully turn its reputation around a little bit.
Fallout 76
Released in 2018, Fallout 76 is Bethesda’s first foray into a massively multiplayer online world centered around Fallout. In this release, players find themselves in Appalachia, where they must do what they can to survive and rebuild the world around them. Players are free to meet other players and embark on quests across the wasteland.
