Skip to main content

Return to the capital wasteland for free when you pre-order Fallout 4 on Xbox One

fallout 4 xbox pre order bonus fallout3e3featured
Image used with permission by copyright holder
For a limited time, when you pre-order Fallout 4 on Xbox One, you will be entitled to a free digital copy of Fallout 3, according to an update from developer Bethesda. Fallout 3 will be for Xbox 360, but in case you already got rid of your older console, it will be among the first 360 games playable on Xbox One through the backwards compatibility announced recently at E3.

According to the announcement, after pre-ordering Fallout 4, a code for Fallout 3 will arrive at your Xbox message center in 7-10 days. This can be redeemed on Xbox.com or on an Xbox 360. Once the code has been redeemed and the game added to your library, you will be able to download it onto your Xbox One. Xbox Preview users already have access to a limited number of compatible 360 games. The rest of us will have to wait until an unspecified time later this year when the feature will roll out more broadly.

Fallout 3 was Bethesda Softworks’ re-envisioning of the classic late-90s RPGs, originally developed by Black Isle Studios. Released 10 years after Fallout 2, it switched from a third-person, isometric perspective to first-person view, integrating shooter mechanics into the free-roaming RPG structure.

Set in the Capital Wasteland in and around the ruins of Washington D.C., Fallout 3 established Bethesda as one of the premiere developers of open world RPGs, which the studio then cemented a few years later with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It also had some fantastic DLC, which will also be compatible with Xbox One, assuming Bethesda enables it.

Fallout 4, set in the greater Boston area, is Bethesda’s long-anticipated return to the series, and looks to be one of the most ambitious open worlds ever created. It comes out for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on November 11, 2015.

Editors' Recommendations

Will Fulton
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Will Fulton is a New York-based writer and theater-maker. In 2011 he co-founded mythic theater company AntiMatter Collective…
Here’s where you can buy the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One today
ps4 xbox one nintendo switch lite amazon best buy deals review comfort 610x5083

With so many of us stuck at home, the video game industry has benefited as people look for ways to pass the time. As a result, it's a bit difficult to find a retailer with consoles in stock. Have no fear: We've combed through dozens of retailers to not only find ones with the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in stock but those that are shipping quickly.

Some retailers are prioritizing "essential" items right now, which means you could be waiting much longer than you would otherwise. Here are our picks for the best places to find the most popular consoles.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch has proven to be a stay-at-home favorite thanks to its portability -- you can use it as a console or a handheld -- thus the name. But it's also tough to find, and right now there are no retailers with consoles in stock at regular retail prices. We are noticing some consoles on eBay, but just a fair warning, they are being marked up quite a bit, unfortunately. We'll continue to watch retailers for new stock, and add a link as soon as we see it -- but if you can't wait, this is your only option right now.

Read more
Fallout 76 coming to Steam on April 7 alongside new, free Wastelanders DLC
Fallout 76 Wastelanders

On April 7, Bethesda will release its most significant update yet for Fallout 76. The new Wastelanders DLC will be available as a free update for all existing players, bringing many features that Bethesda unveiled during its E3 2019 press conference.

Fallout 76 will finally make its way to Steam on April 7 as well. Bethesda announced this last March, but missed its 2019 launch window. The Wastelanders update will be available for new players purchasing the game on Steam, and to those who already own it on PC, PS4, or Xbox One.

Read more
Fallout 76 to add NPCs and a battle royale mode called Nuclear Wasteland
fallout 76 announced fallout76

At the Bethesda E3 2019 Showcase, Todd Howard took to the stage and admitted Fallout 76’s launch had some serious issues. In an effort to revive player faith in the game, Howard announced it would be getting a free Wastelanders update that would not only add human NPCs, but a new main quest, choices and consequences, and new weapons and gear to the game.

Bethesda explained, “This is a long term story we’re telling. Year one was about the vault doors opening and all of you settling the wasteland. Year two is about people coming back to reclaim it. Like previous Fallout games, these characters have their own stories and goals. It’s up to you to decide how to interact with them and live with those consequences.”

Read more