A new Fallout 76 update is being released tomorrow, September 10, on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
The new patch will be going live early on in the day and will require maintenance and server downtime.
Bethesda has provided an estimate for how long servers will be offline but it will no doubt take at least an hour to implement.
Downtime is expected to begin at 3pm in the UK, or 10am EST if you live in the United States.
Patch 13 is being launched on all platforms, meaning Fallout 76 will be unavailable to play on PS4, Xbox One and PC during maintenance.
The latest from Bethesda reads: “We’re currently planning to bring Fallout 76 offline across all platforms at 10:00 a.m. EDT on September 10 to perform maintenance and release Patch 13.
“While the game is offline you will be unable to log into or play Fallout 76.
“Keep an eye out for updates throughout tomorrow’s maintenance, and we will let you know as soon as you can head back into the Wasteland.”
As mentioned above, this new Fallout 76 update has been numbered patch 13 and so, therefore, won’t be the big Wastlanders expansion.
That will be the game’s next major expansion and will be free to download on all platforms.
It promises to add a new main quest and provide the game’s first NPCs, something that is currently missing from Fallout 76.
“In Year two, other humans are returning to reclaim Appalachia. That’s right – human NPCs are coming to Fallout 76,” the official Bethesda DLC description explains.
“This huge update introduces a new main quest full of choices and consequences, and a lot of memorable characters with unique stories for you to interact with.
“Factions of Raiders and Settlers aim to make the world their own and claim a rumoured fortune.
“Who you side with is up to you, and your choices will determine their fates. Both the Settlers and the Raiders will present you with unique companions, stories and plenty of new weapons and armour to earn.
“Wastelanders will fundamentally change the way you experience Fallout 76, and it’s set to arrive in fall of 2019.”
We still don’t have a set release time beyond Fall 2019, which can technically last until December.
Today’s patch will instead include new content for Nuclear Winter mode and will also provide some gameplay improvements.
Bethesda has reclassified select events as “Public Events”, which will feature added details on the map, free fast travel, and server-wide announcements.
Public events will no longer see gamers drop their junk when they die in Adventure Mode. Instead, the respawn timer will increase each time you die until it reaches a max of 20 seconds.
Other news from Bethesda includes: “Public Events no longer start based on entering or fast travelling to the event area.
“Instead, a timer will start ticking down once a Public Event appears on the map. To kick off the event, you will need to perform an action, like turning on the boilers for Tea Time, or finding the Strangler Heart for Heart of the Swamp.
“You and your event mates can use this time to group up and coordinate your plan of attack, or you can perform the required action to start the event early.”
Official patch notes explaining all these big changes are expected to be shared by Bethesda following the launch of the new Fallout update.