More than a few gamers are still exploring the vast world Fallout 4 has to offer, but that hasn't stopped us from day-dreaming about what comes next. After all, some of the best content from Fallout 3 came in the form of the game's post-launch DLC.
That gets us pretty excited over the potential for more adventures to come. Bethesda has already announced a $30 season pass for Fallout 4, but so far hasn't elaborated on what exactly that season pass will entail. Here's what Bethesda has had to say about their DLC plans so far:
"We've always done a lot of DLC for our games. We love making them and you always ask us for more. To reward our most loyal fans, this time we'll be offering a Season Pass that will get you all of the Fallout 4 DLC we ever do for just $30. Since we're still hard at work on the game, we don't know what the actual DLC will be yet, but it will start coming early next year. Based on what we did for Oblivion, Fallout 3, and Skyrim, we know that it will be worth at least $40, and if we do more, you'll get it all with the Season Pass."
If Bethesda is using Fallout 3 as a road map, players can expect at least two or three DLC expansions that add new characters, weapons and environments for players to enjoy. As for what new content that might be? Your guess is as good as ours.
That being said, we have more than a few items, locations and characters we would love to see included in Fallout 4's DLC plans.
Harpoon Gun (Weapon)
This weapon is technically already a part of the game, though most players never would have known about it if not for a modder discovering it within the game's code. This harpoon weapon is wicked looking and comes complete with an underwater firing animation, leading many to believe Bethesda may have scrapped plans for an underwater area.
The Capital Wasteland (Location)
Fallout 3 is referenced more than a few times over the course of Fallout 4. The game's events take place after that of the Lone Wanderer's adventures in the Capital Wasteland, and those events had lasting repercussions for the surrounding areas. Heck, even a few characters from Fallout 3 have made their way to the Commonwealth in the time between games. That makes a return to an irradiated Washington D.C. a no-brainer. How has the Capital Wasteland changed since the events of Fallout 3? As the game notoriously didn't allow for players to continue playing after the final story mission (an issue that was addressed in the game's Broken Steel DLC), continuing that location's story through Fallout 4 could make for one satisfying piece of DLC.
Three-Dog (Character)
Going hand-in-hand with a return to the Capital Wasteland would be the return of fan-favorite Three Dog. The DJ of Fallout 3's Galaxy New Radio urged players to "fight the good fight", and his natural radio voice made adventuring through a post-nuclear D.C. a joy. He's a far cry from Fallout 4's awkward Diamond City Radio DJ Travis (though Travis can get a boost of confidence if players finish the necessary quest line). Travis goes as far to reference Three Dog after the defeat of the Institute, quoting his friend that once told him to "fight the good fight." It doesn't seem out of the question that Three Dog is still alive and kicking, even if he is fairly old. Whether he visits the Commonwealth or Fallout 4 returns to Washington D.C., another opportunity for Three Dog to take the airwaves would be more than welcome.
Chinese Assault Rifle (Weapon)
This iconic weapon wielded by the Chinese in the days before the war was one of the more potent rifles in Fallout 3. However, it didn't make the cut into Fallout 4, despite a prototype model of the weapon existing in the game's files. Fallout 4's DLC is the perfect opportunity for Bethesda to finish what the started and formally add the AK-47 look-alike to the game.
Time Before The Bombs (Location)
Fallout 4 starts just prior to the nuclear war that would plunge the world into darkness. In those opening moments, we get a great idea of what the world of Fallout once was like. Sadly, the glimpse at pre-war life is all too brief, only a couple of minutes at most. That's precisely why it's a great idea to explore the time period further. It has already been established that powerful simulations exist in the world of Fallout. After all, that's how Fallout 3's "Operation: Anchorage" DLC was told, as players stepped into a military simulation to relive one of the Fallout universe's most pivotal pre-nuclear war moments. A simulation that could return players to the time before the bombs is ripe with potential.
Auto Axe (Weapon)
This gruesome weapon from the Fallout 3 DLC "The Pitt" is too good not to bring back. The modified industrial tool is strong enough to cut through rock as well as bone, making it a formidable weapon in the raider infested area of post-nuclear Pittsburgh. Pairing the Auto Axe with a suit of customized power armor in Fallout 4 sounds like one heck of a good time.
Under The Sea (Location)
As mentioned above, it's assumed Bethesda had planned on (or is currently planning) some type of underwater quest line or area. Given how much of Fallout 4's map is occupied by the Atlantic ocean, an underwater area complete with dive suits, underwater weapons like the harpoon gun and new enemy types would be a perfect fit. Whether it's in the form of an underwater vault or some long lost civilization, we would love to find out what lurks beneath the ocean waves.
Lever Action Rifle (Weapon)
Who hasn't wanted to play a cowboy in Fallout 4? With the stylish Militia hats and trench coats already available, all that's missing is a good-old-fashioned lever action rifle. This is another weapon included in Fallout 3 that didn't make the jump to the sequel, but here's hoping this classic weapon makes a return in the game's DLC.
New Vegas (Location)
Before Bethesda acquired the rights to Fallout, the franchise primarily took place on the west coast of the United States. The series briefly returned there in Fallout: New Vegas when it was released in 2010, dealing with some of the aftermath of events from Fallout 2. Despite that, Fallout: New Vegas is often treated as the red-headed stepchild of the franchise, having not been developed by Bethesda.
Fallout: New Vegas had multiple endings, each with huge ramifications for the wider Fallout universe. Obviously, not every ending can become official, but Bethesda has yet to formally announce which ending is "canon." This DLC could be the perfect avenue to speak up and lock in some of the game's fiction while also legitimizing the most underrated entry in the franchise. We have no idea how Bethesda could come up for a way to get players from one side of the country to the other, but where there's a will there's a way.
Never-Before-Seen Locales (Location)
Fallout 3's excellent DLC took players to a wide variety of new places, including locations surrounding the primary game's Washington D.C. setting that included Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and a National Park in Maryland. That same logic could be applied to Fallout 4. One obvious choice seems to be New York City and the surrounding areas. No doubt the Big Apple suffered a great deal in the nuclear war, so it would be fascinating to travel to the now irradiated metropolis. Other candidates could include a trip up north to Maine or across the border to Canada.
Regardless of where Bethesda takes gamers in Fallout 4's DLC, the most important part is that it feels fresh. Fallout 4 nailed combat and exploration, but at the cost of role-playing and an interesting narrative. DLC is an opportunity to take more risks and think outside the box in a way that isn't always possible with a triple AAA sequel, and the perfect opportunity to address some of the problem areas present in the core game. We hope Bethesda takes that to heart as they begin to put together their next Fallout adventure.
