Fallout 76’s Atlantic City update offers crime drama and cryptids
Fallout 76 began in the humble hills of Appalachia, but as the game continues, Bethesda is taking players to new locales through Expeditions. The first Expedition took place in The Pitt, a post-apocalyptic take on Pittsburgh that first featured in Fallout 3. The second Expedition is heading to Atlantic City in a two-part update. There, players will be forced to contend with new factions and enemies… when they’re not enjoying some downtime in a high-class casino.
“Atlantic City is so different from the other locations that we’ve done in the past,” says Jonathan Rush, lead art director on Fallout 76, on a call with Polygon. “To me, the curb appeal of Atlantic City makes it very apparent what that could be coupled with in the post-apocalyptic Fallout universe.”
The Fallout series takes place in a post-apocalyptic, retro-futurist version of America, with early games largely taking place in California. When Bethesda acquired the franchise, the developer expanded the game’s settings into Washington DC, Boston, and West Virginia. Atlantic City, in New Jersey, is a whole new place — and it has a distinct vibe that sets it apart from those other destinations.
At first glance, Atlantic City looks pretty sweet. There’s power, running water, commerce, and a tenuous peace. Of course, this is a Fallout game, so there’s simmering resentment beneath the surface. The Municipal Government is keeping all of the infrastructure running, while the mobsters known as the Family handle business behind the scenes. The entertainment industry is run by the Showmen, and together the factions work as a trifecta to keep Atlantic City busy.
The casinos and crime bring Fallout: New Vegas and the battle over Nevada to mind. But Atlantic City has a
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