Summary
Fallout 76’s nineteenth major update,Skyline Valley, is coming later this summer. Revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 9, as part of Summer Game Fest weekend,Skyline Valleypromises to be the biggest expansion yet. It’ll mark the first timeFallout 76’s map has been expanded, with an entirely new region for players to explore. It’s also the first time aFalloutgame will officially let players turn their characters into ghouls, with tons of options for new, creative character builds.
This is also the first major update to76since theFalloutTV series reignited the games' popularity. The series has mostly gone stagnant in the intervening years, while Bethesda focuses on other projects likeStarfieldandThe Elder Scrolls 6.Fallout 76’s regular updates make up the majority of newFalloutcontent that’s been released in the past five years. Still, that’s a lot to delve into, and the game will get even bigger with the next update. Here’s what to expect fromSkyline Valleywhen it comes out.
Fallout 76: Skyline Valley Release Date
When Does The New Fallout 76 Expansion Come Out?
Fallout 76’sSkyline Valleyexpansion will be released on August 06, 2025, just three days after its reveal at the Xbox Games Showcase. It’s also coming out less than three months after the previous update,America’s Playground, which is a pretty quick turnaround for aFallout 76update. It’ll be released on all platforms on the same day: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. And, like allFallout 76expansions,Skyline Valleyis absolutely free. Anyone who ownsFallout 76will receive it automatically; expect an update to be available for the game beginning on June 12, after which the new content will be available.
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Fallout 76: Skyline Valley’s New Map Locations
Fallout 76’s Shenandoah Region
Fallout 76’sSkyline Valleyexpansion is set in Shenandoah National Park, a real-life region that runs along the Blue Ridge Mountains in northwest Virginia. Shenandoah is known for its stunning waterfalls, tree-lined mountains, and expansive network of hiking trails, which includes over 100 miles of the legendary Appalachian Trail. This is made abundantly clear from the trailer, which is scored to the dulcet tones of Tennessee Ernie Ford’s interpretation of “Oh Shenandoah.” The DLC itself is named for Skyline Drive, a 105-mile road that cuts through the heart of the park.
This isn’t the first time aFalloutgame has had a DLC set in a national park;Fallout: New Vegas’Honest Heartswas set in Utah’s Zion National Park.
Many actual locations from Shenandoah feature inSkyline Valley. Its red-glowing skies are clearly inspired by the National Park’s breathtaking night sky views, with a post-nuclear twist. A sign seen briefly in the trailer advertises landmarks, including the Marys Rock Tunnel, a section of road drilled through a boulder on Skyline Drive. There are also two scenic lookouts, Stony Man and High Knob, both of which would make the perfect site for aFallout 76camp with their wide-ranging views of the Shenandoah Valley. High Knob is also known for its historic fire watch tower, which is likely to appear in some context. Rapidan Camp, the log cabin that served as a vacation home for President Herbert Hoover, is also expected to factor into the expansion.
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ButFallout 76also leaves its mark on Shenandoah with a variety of uniquely post-apocalyptic locations. Players will explore long-abandoned scientific facilities, populated by giant robots and deadly security systems.Skyline Valleywill also open the doors ofFallout 76’s Vault 63for the first time, allowing players to uncover the secrets of this long-teasedlocation. The DLC will also feature an area called the Slumber Mill Motel. While not directly based on anything in the Shenandoah region, it’s inspired by local lodgings that cater to tourists visiting the National Park. It’s unclear exactly how any of these locations will impact the story ofFallout 76, but Vault 63 and the ghouls who inhabit it appear to play a central role.
Fallout 76: Skyline Valley Lets Players Become Ghouls
Fallout 76’s Ghoul Gameplay Explained
For the first time ever in the series,Fallout 76’s will soon include the official option to play as a ghoul.Ghoul player characters were limited toFalloutmodsin previous series entries. This follows, but is not directly due to the popularity of The Ghoul, Walton Goggins' character from theFalloutTV series. Ghoul gameplay will likely differ greatly from the averageFallout 76build, opening up new options and encouraging creative combinations for character customization.But even though the update will be available on June 12, ghoul player characters won’t be available until early 2025.
InFallout 76,players can first undergo ghoulification at level 50. This is an irreversible choice, but unlocks a wealth of new character options. First and foremost,all ghouls are immune to radiation damage.Fallout 76will also allow ghoul players to take on unique, ghoul-themed Perk Cards unavailable to human characters.
However,players' options will also be limited after ghoulification. They won’t be able to join the Brotherhood of Steel, as this faction discriminates against ghouls. Certain settlements and merchants may also become hostile. Ghouls also won’t be able to useFallout 76’s “bloodied” builds, in which players intentionally take radiation damage in order to keep their max HP low and benefit from weapon and armor perks that give them stat boosts when they’re in critical condition.
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The new options for ghoul player characters will likely intersect with the storylines revolving around ghouls who live and work in Vault 63. They appear to be engaged in some sort of scientific research, whichmay also involve (or be the direct cause of) the strange red hue of the sky.But the exact nature of it will remain unknown until the expansion’s release.
That’s everything there is to know about theSkyline Valleyexpansion for now. More will be revealed when it’s available to all players in a free update. Thankfully, it won’t be a long wait. Players can begin exploring Shenandoah whenSkyline Valleycomes toFallout 76on August 17, 2025.
Fallout 76
Released in 2018, Fallout 76 is Bethesda’s first foray into a massively multiplayer online world centered around Fallout. In this release, players find themselves in Appalachia, where they must do what they can to survive and rebuild the world around them. Players are free to meet other players and embark on quests across the wasteland.
