Fallout 76 releases new Ghoul update and gets boost in player count

Bethesda continues to update and expand content in Fallout 76 despite its tumultuous launch. The latest update allows players to become ghouls for the first time in the franchise.

The new update has proven to be quite popular, with the game’s player count on Steam doubling from around 8,500 players just before the update on March 17th to approximately 16,500 players on March 18th, the day of the ghoul update.

While this player count increase is significant, it doesn’t compare to the massive spike in players the game experienced after the premiere of the live-action Fallout show on Amazon last spring.

During that surge, the game reached its highest player count to date, with over 73,000 players on April 15th, just days after the show premiered. Originally launched exclusively on PC via the now-defunct Bethesda Launcher, Fallout 76 later became available on Steam in 2020.

Although data for the game’s initial two years on the Bethesda Launcher is unavailable, the surge in players on Steam last spring marked a significant milestone for the game.

The recent increase in players following the new update suggests that fan-centric additions generate more excitement for the franchise, such as the ability to play as ghouls. The update focuses on allowing players to become ghouls, with the option to revert to their original form if desired, albeit with a permanent change once the reversion is made.

Playing as a ghoul in Fallout 76 offers unique perks in addition to the physical transformation. Players receive special perks for each S.P.E.C.I.A.L. category, such as “Bone Shatterer” and “Glowing Gut.”

Fallout 76 is available for Windows PC (via Steam and the Microsoft Store), PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Check out our review of the game!