Fallout 76 is on its way, and at QuakeCon last weekend Bethesda revealed a number of new details about the game. Perhaps the biggest surprise were the changes to the way players level up using the series’ classic S.P.E.C.I.A.L. and Perks system, which have been totally altered to fit with the new multiplayer direction. Thankfully, players do not have to pay real money for these cards.
Players were concerned over the new card-based Perks system. Instead of choosing Perks as unique and permanent bonuses (or detriments) for leveling up, which is how it has been since the first Fallout, players can swap out Perk Cards whenever they like in Fallout 76. These cards are collected in the game.
However, players were concerned because Perk card packs, which contain a number of random Perk cards (as well as, amusingly, a stick of gum and a joke), seemed incredibly close to loot boxes — and after the debacle with Star Wars Battlefront 2, no one wants to touch them. Fortunately, Bethesda took to Twitter to confirm that Perk card packs are not microtransactions, as players feared. They are only earned through leveling up, and cannot be bought with real money. Phew.
In #Fallout76, Perks are represented through Perk Cards. You earn them every time you Level Up.
Earn Perk Card Packs solely through leveling up. Every other level up to 10, and every 5 levels after. pic.twitter.com/JRRHFRLNk8
— Fallout (@Fallout) August 11, 2018
With that concern out of the way, players are now free to look forward to Fallout 76 and its new Perks system again. As Bethesda detailed, S.P.E.C.I.A.L. points allows for more Perk cards to be “played,” which can stack or be upgraded, for more power but a higher cost. For example, if you have three strength stat points you can either equip three basic cards, or one stronger card worth the same amount of points. It’s basically up to the player to decide whether they want a range of abilities or just a few powerful abilities, and they can change them out at any time. We’ll find out more about these systems when the Fallout 76 beta releases in October.
