Welcome back to Inside the Vault! Update 20 is still over a month away, but we’re making some adjustments to our Private Test Server to allow many more PC players to join play testing. We’ve also got updates for you on a variety of additional topics, including Vending Machines and Display Case issues, Fasnacht Parade, a new Double XP event, and our ongoing streams for charity. Read on to catch all details you need to know.

UPCOMING TEST SERVER CHANGES

A little later today, we’re going to re-open our Private Test Server (PTS) to begin play testing for Update 20. When we do, everyone who owns Fallout 76 through the Bethesda.net launcher on PC will be able to take part in trying out many of the new features coming with that patch, including Public Teams, Legendary Perks, and the Colossal Problem event. However, as we mentioned last week, 76 Seasons will not be available in the PTS.

PTS players’ feedback and reports helped to shape Wastelanders, and have resulted in positive changes and fixes for our features before they reached the live game. We’re incredibly grateful for their continued dedication, and we would love to see as many of you as possible join them in the PTS to try out the new content, share your thoughts with us, and report any bugs you find.

We’re looking forward to playing alongside you in the Public Test Server! We are currently planning to fire up the PTS by the end of the day. At that time, we will enable the PTS Forum on Bethesda.net so that you can stay up to date with all the latest info and announcements.

VENDING MACHINE AND DISPLAY CASE HOTFIX

Earlier this month, we disabled C.A.M.P. Vending Machines and Display Cases while we’ve been working to address a duplication issue. While it has taken us a little longer than we thought, we now believe we have that issue resolved internally. The fix is undergoing testing, and we are currently targeting a new hotfix for next week to address that issue and re-enable Vending Machines and Display Cases. We will be sure to let you know as soon as we have an exact date to share.

We take duplication exploits seriously, and work to correct them as often and as quickly possible. If you believe you’ve found a duplication method or spot another player abusing an exploit, please report it by submitting a ticket to our Customer Support team.

FASNACHT PARADE EXTENDED

Earlier this week, we had to delay Fasnacht Parade for a few days due to an issue. Now that we’ve corrected that issue and re-enabled the event, we’d like to thank you for your patience with a few bonuses to keep the party in Helvetia going strong: First, we’ve extended Fasnacht Parade’s end-date by an additional week, until June 9. Next, we’re going to add a bundle to the Atomic Shop that contains colorful new items that you can add to your collection for free, including a new Fasnacht Mask.

Here’s what that bundle will include:

• Blue Crazy Guy Fasnacht Mask
• Red Heart Sign
• Ochre Wallpaper

Keep an eye out for this free bundle to arrive in the Shop starting on Tuesday, June 2, and we hope you have a blast during Fasnacht this year!

GET DOUBLE XP NEXT WEEKEND

Alongside our extension of Fasnacht, we’re also kicking off a new Double XP event next Thursday, which will help you keep the celebration going strong during the final few days of the event. While Double XP is live, you will level-up twice as quickly whether you’re exploring in Adventure Mode, your Private World, or competing to become the Overseer in Nuclear Winter. Catch the dates and times below so that you can soak up as much XP as possible next week.

Double XP Details:

• Event Start: 12:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 4
• Event End: 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday, June 8

STREAMING FOR A GOOD CAUSE!

Recently, Bethesda donated one million dollars to various charities to support the response to COVID-19. Our own weekly live streams are continuing the spirit of giving by raising money each week for different charities. This week, we are raising money for UNICEF. From delivering life-saving health supplies, to building water and hygiene facilities, to keeping girls and boys connected to education and protection, UNICEF is working to slow the spread of COVID-19 and minimize its impact on children worldwide.

Tune in on Twitch every Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m. ET to catch the live show and donate to this amazing cause. See you there!

This week, we’re making a clarification about how 76 Seasons will work. We’ve also got reminders for you about the first Hunt for the Treasure Hunter event, which begins today, and the return of Fasnacht Parade, which starts Monday.

76 SEASONS ARE FOR EVERYONE

Following our preview of 76 Seasons in last week’s Inside the Vault, we’ve seen questions and concerns from the community about what it will cost to take part in Seasons after the first one. We’d like to clarify that participation in Fallout Seasons will be free for all of our players, and we apologize for any confusion. Additionally, everyone is going to gain access to each new Season as soon as it begins, and all players will follow the same progress and reward track. You will have the option to purchase individual ranks for Atoms in the order they appear, but not during the first two weeks of a Season.

That said, we are looking into potentially adding some bonus rewards at certain Ranks for Fallout 1st members—but not for Season 1. We are currently focused on getting this system implemented and seeing your feedback on Seasons first before we include any extra rewards.

Finally, the Seasons system will not be available for play testing in our upcoming iteration of the PTS for Update 20. There are technical reasons for this, which include the fact that the Atomic Shop is not available in the PTS. While we would love to hear your early impressions of Seasons in the PTS, we are looking forward to reading your thoughts once you’ve had the chance to try out the new system after Update 20 arrives.

HUNT DOWN TREASURE HUNTER MOLE MINERS

For the next few days, it’s Open Season on “Treasure Hunter” Mole Miners, who have been observed surfacing in the Ash Heap to scour the area for riches. Head there to search for these special Mole Miners, and then take them down to claim their loot for yourself by picking up and opening the Mole Miner Pails they drop.

During the event, Vendor bots around Appalachia will also sell you Empty Pails for Caps. Use them at a Tinker’s Workbench to craft your own Mole Miner Pails that are full of loot. You can then trade them to others, or keep for them for yourself.

After a few days, the Mole Miners will realize you’ve caught on to their activities in the Ash Heap, and they’ll put their hoarding on hold. However, you can bet they’ll venture out again in the future to resume their operations in another region of Appalachia. There are plenty of rewards up for grabs this weekend, and you can get additional event info in the Update 19 Patch Notes on Fallout.com.

Hunt for the Treasure Hunter details:

• Region: Ash Heap
• Event Start: 12:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 21
• Event End: 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday, May 25

JOIN THE FASNACHT PARADE ON MONDAY

In case you missed it in the Update 19 Patch Notes, the Fasnacht Parade Seasonal Event is returning to Helvetia starting on Monday, May 25!

The event itself will work just as it did previously: The Protectrons in Helvetia need your help with a variety of activities to prepare for the annual Fasnacht celebration and parade. If you aid them before the timer runs out, the bots will gather together and begin their festive march around town. Defend them from any party crashers along the parade route, and you’ll be rewarded with some loot. The more bots that survive the parade, the better your chances at rare loot, including Fasnacht Masks.

The community enjoyed this event quite a bit last year, and so we’re excited to bring it back again. We’ve implemented a number of bug fixes since last time, made some balance tweaks for the bots, and significantly increased the drop rates for rare Fasnacht Masks. There are also several new Masks up for grabs, so make sure to join in the festivities and claim some rewards next week.

Fasnacht Parade details:

• Event Start: 1:00 p.m. ET on Monday, May 25*
• Event End: 12:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 2

Please note: Decorations will appear in Helvetia starting at 12:00 p.m. ET on May 25, and the first run of the event will begin an hour later. It will start up again every hour after that.

Thanks for joining us for another Inside the Vault. We hope you’re enjoying customizing your Allies as much as we are after Update 19. Until next time, we’ll see you in Appalachia!

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