Bethesda Game Studios has once again addressed growing calls for Fallout 76 cross-play and cross-progression. And while the door isn’t shut, the path forward isn’t easy either.
Fallout 76 cross-play would require a major technical overhaul
During a closed media event in New York City on October 1, Bethesda laid out its stance on cross-platform play. Creative Director Jonathon Rush and Production Director Bill LaCoste were both present to preview the upcoming Burning Springs update and to take questions from the press.
LaCoste didn’t dodge the topic. “It’s never a no, right?” he said when asked directly about Fallout 76 cross-play. Still, he made it clear the feature would demand “a huge technical lift,” one that’s tough to justify this deep into the game’s lifecycle.
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Fallout 76 cross-play is missing due to early design decisions
LaCoste went on to explain that platform compatibility decisions are usually made early in a game’s development. Since Fallout 76 launched back in 2018, its architecture simply wasn’t built for seamless cross-progression.
“That’s something we get asked about constantly,” he added. “I’d love to play on Steam and then jump over to Xbox or PlayStation and just have my character, but right now, that’s difficult for us to pull off.”
Fallout 76 cross-play blocked by Creation Engine limits
Todd Howard previously addressed this issue in 2024, citing Fallout 76’s reliance on a proprietary version of the Creation Engine. That tech was never built for smooth multi-platform syncing, and it’s showing its age.
Burning Springs update aims to deliver the biggest content drop yet
Meanwhile, the Burning Springs update arrives in December. It adds a massive new region inspired by Fallout: New Vegas’ Mojave Wasteland, packed with toxic oil fields and mutated wildlife. Other highlights include:
- Return of Walton Goggins as Cooper Howard
- New companion-based questline
- Expansion across all platforms
Still no fix, but still evolving
Fallout 76 cross-play may be out of reach for now. But Bethesda’s continued support and content drops show the game isn’t standing still.
