Fallout Shelter is the #1 game on the App Store in 48 countries

By Gabe Gurwin June 25, 2015

Fallout Shelter - Announcement Trailer

New gameplay and a release date for Fallout 4 might have been enough to throw the internet into a frenzy last week, but Bethesda’s E3 conference also brought with it a surprise second Fallout game for iOS — Fallout Shelter — and the publisher announced today that it has rapidly become the most-downloaded game on the App Store in 48 different countries, and the #1 app of any kind in 25.

“It just shows that gamers appreciate more depth and being treated fairly,” said Fallout and Elder Scrolls director Todd Howard. “It also shows that people love Fallout as much as we do.”

Howard made a point of differentiating Fallout Shelter from other mobile games when it was announced, mentioning that that there “are no paywall timers” and that the game does not require an internet connection to play. There are still microtransactions in the form of lunchboxes that contain extra resources, equipment, and even special characters, but these are also available to earn in-game. Still, the game has already overtaken Candy Crush as the third top grossing game on the App Store — not too bad for a game marketed at a group that traditionally despises microtransactions.

Bethesda also says that play sessions “have surpassed 70 million times a day by fans globally.” Although that sounds like a ludicrous number, Fallout Shelter‘s simulation gameplay can routinely only require a minute or two of your attention before you can allow your Dwellers to function on their own.

Fallout Shelter isn’t the only Fallout app coming this year, however. The “Pip-Boy” companion app will allow you to manage your inventory and perks in Fallout 4 while you’re on the go, and the limited Pip-Boy Edition of the game includes a replica device with a slot to place your smartphone. If you’re looking for something a little more “real,” there are several videos on YouTube of custom-made Pip-Boy units, as well.

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Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

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