Fallout 76 to avoid Steam

Another major publisher has confirmed one of its biggest releases will be avoiding the PC’s largest digital storefront, as Fallout 76 is not coming to Steam.

In an email to PC Gamer, a Bethesda rep confirmed: "The PC version of Fallout 76, for both the B.E.T.A. and the launch, will be available only via Bethesda.net, not on Steam."

The news comes not long after Epic revealed it would be avoiding Google’s storefront for the Android release of Fortnite, owing to the platform’s 30 per cent revenue share model. The PC version of the hyper-popular battle royale title itself avoided third-party marketplaces and is instead available direct from Epic.

With the success achieved by Fortnite even avoiding the likes of Steam, it seems a no-brainer other large publishers would follow suit. With the confirmation being for both the beta and launch version of Fallout 76, there’s every chance Bethesda will continue down this route – and we will be missing out on a PC Fallout game on Steam for the first time.

Bethesda’s previous MMO release, the Elder Scrolls Online, did see a release on Steam. While generally a seamless experience, there have been times when ESO has been rendered unplayable owing to issues on the Steam side of things – so it may well be about more than just hard cash when it comes to the why of Bethesda’s decision.

Fallout Shelter, on the other hand, wasn’t available on Steam until around a year after its original – Bethesda.net-only – release.