Fallout 76 Goes Free-to-Play Just in Time for Season 2 Finale—But That NCR Armor? Pricey

The Fallout TV series has done what many of us feared: it’s reignited our obsession with all things post-apocalyptic. That glorious moment in this week’s episode—when a sick set of NCR power armor was unveiled to the stirring Fallout theme—had me frantically searching for my Steam password. Any Fallout game will do at this point; I’m ready to dive back into the irradiated wasteland.

If you’re feeling the same radioactive itch, Bethesda’s got a treat for you: Fallout 76 is completely free to play from now until February 5. That’s right—you can explore Appalachia without spending a single cap, and it conveniently lines up with the Season 2 finale dropping next week.

But here’s where things get interesting (and potentially wallet-draining). Remember that dope NCR power armor from the show? The one that made you say “I NEED THAT”? Well, it’s available in Fallout 76—but it’ll cost you.

The Fallout 76 Mojave Bundle will run you $30 USD. For your hard-earned bottle caps, you get:

• The NCR power armor skin (obviously the main draw)
• A Legion Legate outfit for those who prefer Caesar’s style
• An NCR flag and neon New Vegas sign for your camp
• A fancy-looking new super sledge
• A few other odds and ends

Now, $30 might not seem like much for a bundle, but let’s put this into perspective. Right now, you can buy Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, AND Fallout 4 on Steam for a total of $17.50. That’s six mainline Fallout games for less than the price of one armor skin in Fallout 76.

Or consider this: for $26, you could get two months of Fallout 1st (Bethesda’s premium subscription that gives you a private world and monthly in-game currency in Fallout 76, among other perks). That’s more value for less money than the Mojave Bundle.

So yeah, $30 for a few outfits, camp decorations, and a sledgehammer? It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when you could be playing six other Fallout games instead.

But here’s the thing about Bethesda bundles—they almost always go on sale. Looking at Fallout 76’s history, the Pitt Recruitment Bundle was also $30 in September 2022 but dropped to 40% off by mid-November. The Skyline Valley Lost Treasures Bundle in 2024 followed a similar pattern, going on sale less than two months after release.

My advice? Patience, vault dweller. That NCR armor will likely be more affordable if you can wait a bit.

Speaking of waiting, if you haven’t watched Fallout Season 1 yet (what are you doing?!), good news: it’s going up on YouTube this week for completely free. No caps, no subscriptions, no nothing. Just pure post-apocalyptic goodness. But don’t wait too long—it’s only available until February 11 before it gets yanked back down to whatever streaming service it calls home.

So whether you’re diving into Fallout 76 for free, waiting for that armor bundle to drop in price, or just watching the show on YouTube, there’s never been a better time to embrace your inner wasteland wanderer. Just remember: in the world of Fallout, sometimes the best strategy is patience. And maybe hoarding bottle caps.

Fallout76 #FreeToPlay #NCRPowerArmor #FalloutTVSeries #Bethesda #GamingDeals #PostApocalyptic #WastelandFashion #VaultDwellerLife #BottleCapEconomics #MojaveBundle #Fallout1st #SteamSales #GamingNews #ApocalypseAesthetics #PowerArmorGoals #FalloutSeason2 #YouTubeFreeContent #GamerLife #VideoGameBundles

,