Fallout 76 has seen its players exploring every inch of post-apocalyptic Appalachia since it released in 2018. Now, thanks to information found by a data miner, it looks like Fallout 76 may use its upcoming Expeditions feature to let players return to Washington, D.C.
Washington, DC holds a special place in the hearts of many Fallout fans as it was the setting for the first entry in the series developed by Bethesda Studios, Fallout 3, so many players would love the opportunity to return there many years before that game was set. Fallout 76's announced expeditions feature has had little shared about it since its announcement, but what is known is that it aims to allow players to branch out to new regions outside of Appalachia, and Washington, D.C. could be a great location for the game's first expedition.
The possible Washington, D.C. details come from a post to the game's subreddit from user cyberRakan. The post shares screenshots from a hacked Fallout 76 server that reportedly allowed players to gain access to the expedition area long before its release. Though there is some debate among the community as to where the screenshots most resemble, there are a few standout landmarks that look extremely similar to Fallout 3's iconic location.
The large majority of the assets in the screenshots are clearly placeholders, but it still gives a good impression of what the region will look like in Fallout 76 when it releases. The most notable landmarks are a roundabout that many fans theorize to be Dupont Circle as well as a spire that may be an early stand-in for the Washington Monument. However, some community members have theorized that the tower could be a pretty standard church spire or multiple towering buildings in New York City, meaning that what is thought to be Dupont Circle could also be Columbus Circle.
Some members of the community also point towards the Brotherhood of Steel's running of the Expeditions as a supporting fact pointing towards Washington D.C., as the faction is very dominant in the region during Fallout 3. However, there is still a lot about Fallout 76's Expeditions that is unknown. With the update being delayed into 2022 as a consequence of the pandemic, there is a lot that could very well change. It is possible that this leaked location may not be part of the first batch of released Expeditions or even make it into the game at all. However, it does provide an interesting look at what is in store for Fallout 76 while fans wait for more official announcements on what to expect from the future update.
Fallout 76 is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.