Even though it took a while for Bethesda to confirm it, we pretty much knew what Fallout 4 was all about before its reveal. Mutants, laser weapons and nuclear explosions, Fallout has a distinct heritage and, since Fallout 3, a pretty discernible gameplay pattern. At E3 though, that was shaken up by the unveiling of a brand new base-building mechanic. And it’s one that is far more robust than initially thought.
Base building, at its core, isn’t exactly new to Bethesda. They dabbled with the idea in Skyrim – letting players purchase houses and restrictively add their own flair to it. Bethesda Marketing VP, Pete Hines, says that Fallout 4 uses that as a core, giving players only predetermined areas within which to build. But apart from that, building in Fallout 4 is less like Skyrim and a lot more like Minecraft.
“[In Fallout 4] it’s, ‘Now I’m building it, I’m actually building the house, I’m building the wall, I’m placing the door, I made the table, I made the mattress.’ It’s that sense of making your own way in the world and defining, ‘Who am I and where do I live and what’s my story in this world?'”
Within these areas, players are virtually left to their own devices. Want to build a structure that kisses the skyline? Go ahead. Want to recreate a famous ship or landmark from your favourite sci-fi film or pop-culture reference? You can do that too. Much like Minecraft, base building in Fallout 4 is going to be a very personal experience – and own left up to the imagination.
“Much like a game like Minecraft, you can be a noob and just build a simple little thing. And you can also get the guys who go crazy and [can say], ‘I rebuilt the spaceship from this game… [or] I rebuilt the Tardis from Doctor Who using the lights and stuff and it looks exactly like it.’ Like, holy s**t that’s incredible.”
Of course, you could still play the entirety of Fallout 4 and not focus on this element at all, but it is a feature that I think will help extend the game’s lifespan well into the years ahead. It’s not connected online like Minecraft or Rust (another game with a similar structure), but I wouldn’t count anything out with full mod support.
Last Updated: July 28, 2015
RinceThis
July 28, 2015 at 14:04
Only way I’ll ever get to own/build a house so may as well have fun with it!
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 28, 2015 at 14:23
No man is an island, except for Rince’s Island.
RinceThis
July 28, 2015 at 14:25
And he isn’t a man! Wait 0_O
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 28, 2015 at 14:26
Wait for what? No one’s going to argue with you. ;P
RinceThis
July 28, 2015 at 14:27
🙁 whimper…
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 28, 2015 at 15:03
…
Deceased
July 28, 2015 at 14:08
I’ve got mixed feelings about the modding community creating an online-like mode…
On the one hand, I’d REALLY REALLY REALLY like it…
On the other hand, how will that influence my experience in the fallout-verse 🙁
#firstworldgamerproblems
Mistake Not...
July 28, 2015 at 14:09
Hay, gurl, wassup? Just so you know I own a Star Trek themed mansion over in Boston.
Uberutang
July 28, 2015 at 14:16
Steam workshop for this game is going to be insane.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 28, 2015 at 14:25
Meh. I play games to ruin & destroy, not create. But I guess the crafty types will be jizzing their pantaloons over this.
RinceThis
July 28, 2015 at 14:28
Where is Vampsquirrel?
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 28, 2015 at 14:43
I don’t know, I’m not a cryptozoologist.
RinceThis
July 28, 2015 at 15:33
That’s because you’re NOTHING!
Stosta
July 28, 2015 at 15:19
As long as I don’t have to dig for diamonds and iron this should be epic! Fallout 4 may single-handedly restore my faith in gaming.
John Woods
July 29, 2015 at 00:12
What open games need is more Tropico, where the NPCs act in their own interest and talk and make transactions between each other. Now, that’s what I call an upgrade.