Bethesda promises to rectify Fallout 76 Power Armour Edition controversy

Last week, Fallout 76 Power Armour Edition owners were disappointed to find out that Bethesda had swapped out the quality canvas bag for a nylon alternative, simply because it was cheaper. Although the company’s initial statement indicated that it had no plans to remedy affected users, outrage from fans has caused the firm to double back on itself.

Shaving costs from a $200 limited edition version of a game is a new low, with Bethesda claiming the advertised canvas bag to simply be a “prototype” that wasn’t necessarily designed for use. Fans embroiled in the controversy noted that the biggest kick in the teeth was Bethesda’s offering of 500 atoms, Fallout 76’s premium currency, so long as they could provide proof of purchase.

We are finalizing manufacturing plans for replacement canvas bags for the Fallout 76: Power Armor Edition. If you purchased the CE, please visit https://t.co/S5ClEZuQrx and submit a ticket by Jan. 31, 2019. We’ll arrange to send you a replacement as soon as the bags are ready.

— Bethesda Support (@BethesdaSupport) December 3, 2018

Although terms and conditions often prevent the return of limited edition goods, some throughout social media suggested that this category of false advertisement breached consumer rights, which takes precedence over company policy. Fortunately, it looks like disgruntled fans can save themselves the hassle of figuring out their legal standing as Bethesda has taken to social media to announce that it will, in fact, produce the bag seen on its posters.

“We are finalizing manufacturing plans for replacement canvas bags for the Fallout 76: Power Armor Edition,” reads the post. Affected players simply need to visit Bethesda Support, submitting a ticket before January 31, 2019. There’s no indication as to when the bags will be ready for shipment, although the publisher states that the item will be shipped as soon as they are available.

KitGuru Says: Although Bethesda has surely made the right move in rectifying the situation, its initial apology, or lack thereof, will resonate with fans for a long time to come. And it was all over a plastic bag being too expensive for a multi-million dollar company.

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