Fallout 76has introduced a lot of fun pieces of lore to the overallFalloutfranchise. From a new location in Appalachia to playable Ghouls finally becoming a reality,Fallout 76has 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.
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
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. SinceFallout 76is the only game that addresses the Scorched Plague, introducing the sickness to previousFalloutmaps could create continuity issues. However, ifFallout 5is set in a brand-new locationthat has yet to be featured in the series, the door is wide open for the Scorched Plague to strike again.
The symptoms of the Scorched Plague include darkened skin that smells of ash and lesions that eventually split open to reveal green ultracite crystals beneath. Those infected are controlled by a hive mind.
TheFalloutfranchisehas 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 ofFalloutcontinuing 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 aFalloutstory 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 withinthe nextFalloutgame.
In order to be a playable Ghoul inFallout 76, players must first reach level 50.
Fallout 76 is Likely to Influence Fallout 5
Unfortunately,Fallout 5is likely many years away right now. However, thanks toFallout 76being live-service, fresh content continues to arrive. BetweenFallout 76andthe live-actionFalloutseries, the franchise is still going strong, even if not through a mainline game. Right now, there’s no telling what the nextFalloutentry will hold or where it will take place, but it’s highly possible that many of the changes brought forth byFallout 76will influence the game in some way.
Asthe future ofFalloutcontinues to hide in the shadows,Fallout 76is still here to offer fans a fascinating region filled with compelling lore.Fallout 76has 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.
