According to Eurogamer.net, to celebrate the conclusion of the Fallout TV show’s second season, Fallout 76 has become free-to-play for a limited time. This free period, which started already, lasts until February 5th for Xbox and PC players and until February 4th on PlayStation. During this time, players get access to all the game’s released updates. The celebration also includes a new $30 Mojave bundle DLC pack, featuring a cameo from the series in the form of NCR power armor. The bundle also contains a ranger power armor paint, an NCR flag, a New Vegas neon sign, an Ad Victoriam super sledge, a legion legate outfit, and player titles. Steam reviews for this specific bundle are currently listed as “Mostly Positive.”
The free access is a smart brand push
Look, making the game free for a week is a no-brainer. The TV show was a massive hit, bringing in a whole new audience that might be curious about the games but hesitant to pay for a title that had such a rocky launch. Giving them the full, updated experience for free is basically the best demo Bethesda could ask for. It’s a low-risk way to convert show fans into 76 players. And hey, it’s working—they’re already pulling people in. Amazon did a similar thing putting season one on YouTube. This is all about keeping the Fallout brand white-hot, and it’s a smart play.
But that $30 question
Here’s the thing, though. While the free entry is great, that $30 Mojave bundle is where the conversation gets messy. Thirty dollars is a lot for a purely cosmetic pack, even one packed with references fans love. The immediate criticism, as seen in Steam reviews, is that players just want the NCR Ranger armor by itself. One reviewer, moonlitfrappe, nailed it: “Only bought it for the Ranger armor, should’ve been in the atomic shop/earned via quest. I’m tired of Fallout being the staple of microtransactions franchise for content.” That sentiment is huge. It highlights the constant tension in live-service games between cool, thematic content and how it’s monetized.
Community sentiment is genuinely mixed
That “Mostly Positive” Steam rating is fascinating because it tells two stories. Some players are clearly happy to pay for the fan service, with one reviewer, CirillaFionaElenRiannon, cheekily noting, “Never underestimate the power of brand recognition.” They’re buying the fantasy. But others feel a real sense of fatigue. After years of Atom Shop items and bundles, locking a major piece of iconography from the show behind a premium paywall feels like a missed opportunity. Could it have been a reward for a new questline? A grindable goal? Probably. But that doesn’t make money today. Bethesda is banking on brand recognition outweighing the frustration, and the split reviews prove it’s a gamble.
What it really means for Fallout
So what does this all tell us? The free week proves Fallout 76 is now a marketing tool for the larger franchise—a live-action billboard you can play. That’s a success story for a game that once nearly sank the brand. But the $30 bundle is a reminder of its foundational DNA as a live-service title designed to generate continuous revenue. The strategy is clear: use the free access as a wide net, and the premium cosmetics as a filter for the most dedicated (or impulsive) fans. It works, but it also keeps the “microtransaction franchise” critique alive and well. Basically, the Wasteland’s economy is thriving, but not everyone likes the currency.
