Fallout 76’s Scorched Plague Should Spread Beyond Appalachia

Fallout 76 has introduced a lot of fun pieces of lore to the overall Fallout franchise. From a new location in Appalachia to playable Ghouls finally becoming a reality, Fallout 76 has staked its claim as an important entry in the series. The Appalachian mountains are filled with plenty of horrifying threats, but one of the most harrowing additions made to the series is the introduction of the Scorched Plague.

After mutated bats called Scorchbeasts were unleashed on the Appalachian population by the Enclave’s Thomas Eckhart, the creatures came into contact with radiation, creating the Scorched Plague. It decimated the surviving population, spreading across the region for years until a vaccine was created. However, the Scorched Plague still persists, and those infected are turned into aggressive zombie-like creatures, eventually eroding away into petrified statues. It’s a fascinating new bit of lore, and it deserves to be explored outside Appalachia.

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Appalachia May Be Ground Zero For the Scorched Plague, But it Deserves to Be a Bigger Threat

Vault 76’s Help in Fighting the Scorched Plague is Likely Only Regional

• The Scorched Plague initially broke out in the year 2085.
• By 2103, Vault Dwellers in Vault 76 had successfully dispersed a Scorched Plague vaccine to the surrounding Appalachians.

Although an inoculation was eventually crafted, it’s highly possible that it reached past Appalachia in that time. Scorchbeasts traveling beyond the reaches of the region seems like a given, meaning the sickness has likely spread to other areas of the country. Since Fallout 76 is the only game that addresses the Scorched Plague, introducing the sickness to previous Fallout maps could create continuity issues. However, if Fallout 5 is set in a brand-new location that has yet to be featured in the series, the door is wide open for the Scorched Plague to strike again.

The Fallout franchise has merely scratched the surface of the United States landscape, and beyond Appalachia, there are plenty of surrounding areas that could have succumbed to the Scorched Plague, as well. There’s no telling how far the sickness could have spread, and one of the biggest benefits of Fallout continuing to feature the plague is showcasing how different regions of the country handle such a problem.

Vault 76 may have helped Appalachia find a prevention for the disease, but it’s unlikely that all other areas have the means to create the same thing. Getting to experience a Fallout story where the Scorched Plague is still running rampant and survivors have to make due with what they have in order to survive could be fascinating. Also, finding a cure could be a key plot point or side quest within the next Fallout game.

Fallout 76 is Likely to Influence Fallout 5

Unfortunately, Fallout 5 is likely many years away right now. However, thanks to Fallout 76 being live-service, fresh content continues to arrive. Between Fallout 76 and the live-action Fallout series, the franchise is still going strong, even if not through a mainline game. Right now, there’s no telling what the next Fallout entry will hold or where it will take place, but it’s highly possible that many of the changes brought forth by Fallout 76 will influence the game in some way.

As the future of Fallout continues to hide in the shadows, Fallout 76 is still here to offer fans a fascinating region filled with compelling lore. Fallout 76 has gone through major improvements since its 2018 launch, and it will be fascinating to see how it continues to inform the franchise’s canon as the years pass.

Released

November 14, 2018

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol