This week, we’re sharing a few highlights from Update 16 so you can get a taste of our final patch of the year before it arrives on Tuesday. We’ve also rounded up details on lots of upcoming limited-time activities, including a Free Trial Weekend, Double XP event, the present-filled Holiday Scorched event, and two sets of holiday Nuclear Winter Challenges.

FREE TRIAL AND DOUBLE XP WEEKEND

It’s never too late to celebrate Reclamation Day! Starting December 12, you will be able to take on the wilds of Appalachia and play Fallout 76 for free for a limited time during a new Free Trial Weekend. The trial will not include upcoming Wastelanders content, but you will be able to access the full base game for the duration of the event. Fallout 76 will also be on sale during this time, and you can pick up a copy of your own for up to 50% off. Any progress you make during the trial will be preserved as long as you’re using the same account, so you will be able to pick up right where you left off.

• Free Trial Weekend Details:
  • Start Date: Thursday, December 12 at 11:00 a.m. ET
  • End Date: Monday, December 16 at 12:00 p.m. ET
  • Note for Console Players: Xbox Gold or PlayStation Plus are required to access the Fallout 76 Free Trial Weekend.

NEW DOUBLE XP EVENT!

In addition to the Free Trial Weekend, we’re also kicking off a new Double XP event for all game modes during those same dates and times so that you can level-up twice as fast as you quest, explore, or even try your hand at a few Nuclear Winter matches. So, whether you’d prefer to adventure alone or grab a few friends and leave the confines of Vault 76 together, there has never been a better time to head into the Wasteland.

UPDATE 16 HIGHLIGHTS

Our next update for Fallout 76 has something for everyone as Appalachia settles into the holiday season, and we’ve rounded up some highlights for you below. Update 16 is currently set to arrive on Tuesday, December 10, and full patch notes will be posted during maintenance that day.

MORE CHOICE IN NUCLEAR WINTER MAPS

Since the launch of the Morgantown for Nuclear Winter, we’ve seen lots of requests from Overseer Candidates who want the ability to choose which map they’d like to play on during a match. We’ve seen lots of requests for this from the community, as well. In Update 16, The Forest is returning alongside Morgantown, and you will be able to cast a vote for your map of choice at the start of each new match. Once the ballots are in, the map that received the most votes will be selected for that match.

As with any change to the Candidate selection process, ZAX is pretty excited to tell you more about this one, so keep an eye out for a new ZAX Transmission on Fallout.com in the next few days.

PRIVACY, PLEASE! NEW OPTION FOR PRIVATE WORLDS

Following some community discussions and feedback, we’re introducing an option in Update 16 that will help Private Worlds offer a true solo experience, if you so choose. To do this, we’re adding a button to the Play Menu when you highlight Private World mode that will let you toggle between “Team Only” or “All Friends.” By choosing “Team Only,” just you and players you’ve already formed a team with can enter your Private World. Selecting “All Friends” works just like Private Worlds do now, allowing anyone from your friends list to jump into your Private World while you’re there.

CONTRACT HOLIDAY CHEER FROM THE SCORCHED

Some of the Scorched throughout Appalachia are getting into the spirit of the season, and they come bearing presents! Starting December 12, whenever you spot Scorched dressed in festive attire, or hear their ~terrifying~ joyous jingle bells, it’s time to go on the hunt. Each “Holiday Scorched” you take down will drop a Holiday Gift for you to unwrap. Gifts can be low, medium, or high-quality, and may contain anything from a lump of coal, to rare plans and recipes. You’ll also get some wrapping paper so that you can craft a few Holiday Gifts of your own to share with your fellow Dwellers.

• Holiday Scorched Event Details:
  • Start Date: Thursday, December 12 at 11:00 a.m. ET
  • End Date: Friday, December 26 at 12:00 p.m. ET

IT’S MAKING A LIST, AND PROCESSING IT TWICE

Ho! Ho! H—Who’s that coming down the chimney? It’s Santatron! For a limited time after Update 16 arrives, you will be able to claim a free Santatron bot from the Atomic Shop. Build the Santatron Station in your C.A.M.P. and the bot will roam the nearby area to collect treats for you, like candy, toys, and coal. Best of all, while the Holiday Scorched event is active, your Santatron will occasionally give you a Holiday Gift of random quality. Stay tuned for more details in next week’s Atomic Shop article on Fallout.com.

UNWRAP HOLIDAY COSMETICS IN NUCLEAR WINTER

As we’ve mentioned previously, since our Halloween-themed Nuclear Winter challenges ended a little early, they are going to make a comeback in Update 16 for a limited time. All six challenges and rewards will be available starting December 11, and any progress you made toward them last time will be preserved.

That’s not all! You can also get decked out for the holidays and ring in the new year with a set of six new Christmas-themed Nuclear Winter challenges and cosmetic rewards. Starting December 17, a new challenge will appear each day until all six are live, and all of them will remain available until January 6. Here are the dates and times for both sets of holiday challenges.

• “Nightmare Preceding Christmas” (Formerly “Halloween”) Challenge Details:
  • Start Date: Wednesday, December 11 at 7:00pm ET
  • End Date: Monday, December 16 at 7:00pm ET
• Christmas Challenge Details:
  • Start Date: Tuesday, December 17 at 7:00pm ET
  • End Date: Monday, January 6 at 7:00pm ET

December is shaping up to be an action-packed month! We’re excited to get Update 16 into your hands on Tuesday, and we hope you’ll join us for all of the limited-time events mentioned above starting on Thursday, December 12. Until next time, we’ll see you in the Wasteland.