Fallout 4 fans have been hoping for more DLC after Nuka World, and recent Steam listings have spiked rumors that something may be in the works. Bethesda’s Pete Hines has emphatically rejected the idea, but admits October’s database update is tied to something that hasn’t been announced. What could it be? Here are five theories to explain this curious development!
1) A Game Of The Year Edition: If Fallout 4 DLC truly is complete, then convention dictates that it’d be time for Bethesda to release a game of the year edition with all extra content in a single package. It’d offer a chance for newcomers to enjoy every major expansion, like Nuka World and Far Harbor, without having to invest in a season pass.
The evidence for this theory is conflicting, though. To prove it, there’s no denying that the standard version of Fallout 4 has been on sale quite heavily lately. Especially on PC, promotions offered the full game for less than $20. Sometimes these extreme discounts signal a need to get rid of physical retail stock to make room for a new sku. On the other hand, game of the year editions are typically listed as their own app on Steam, not as a DLC.
2) A VR Patch: We know that Fallout 4 and Doom will soon get VR support, so maybe the DLC is a patch to make the existing game function on PC-based headsets like the HTC Vive. Bethesda has sort of marketed these VR editions as standalone products, and that might still be true. However, are you really going to tell someone that just bought Fallout 4 last year that they have to purchase the whole thing twice for a new yet identical experience? A free patch would offer courtesy to existing owners alongside a dedicated store page.
After all, Bethesda has proven to be very generous to its PC audience. Anyone that owns the game of the year edition of Skyrim can get this month’s special edition upgrade for free. There’s a similar sense of loyalty in offering free VR to current Fallout 4 players.
3) More Modding Assets For PS4: Fallout 4’s Creation Kit is responsible for countless mods across Xbox One and PC. As is popularly known by now, PS4 will be getting those benefits very soon. Diverging from its competitors, though, Sony’s console must rely entirely on the kit for its mods. No outside content can be used.
With that in mind, it might help to add a bunch of new, official assets so PlayStation owners can make the most of the feature. Those extras could arrive as a form of DLC that’s accessible across all platforms. Nothing related to Creation Kit has a Steam listing now, but it’s not impossible.
4) Settlement/Workshop Expansion: Fallout 4 DLC releases included three workshop content packs prior to Nuka World, so one prevailing theory is that another one might be in the works. More creative players have enjoyed the add-ons and they’re a quick and easy way to infuse this aging game with new life.
Yet, Hines has repeated time and time again that Nuka World will be the last official DLC pack. Releasing anything with a themed name, like a workshop expansion, directly contradicts that staunch confirmation. Bethesda PR could always be stretching the truth, but, as the strong debunks continue to happen, that doesn’t seem so likely.
5) It’s Actually Big DLC: We don’t necessarily buy this one, but it’s still a worthy theory. As we just said, it’s not impossible for Bethesda to skirt the truth for the sake of secrecy. Maybe as an encore for DLC that has largely been appreciated, the studio has decided to dive in one last time.
From Canada to space to everywhere in between, we could make an entire list dedicated to where Fallout 4 could go next. This is property that probably intends to be a long-running series, though, so it may be best to save any and all great ideas for future games. Is Pete telling a white lie?
Fallout 4 is available now on Xbox One, PS4 and PC.
What do you think this Fallout 4 DLC listing means? What would you like to see after Nuka World? Tell us in the comments section!
