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In it for the long haul: Bethesda outlines its post-launch plans for Fallout 4

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Eschewing the now industry-standard years of teasing and hype-building, Fallout 4 exploded into our collective gaming consciousness this past June, set for a rapidly-approaching November release. In a recent post, developer Bethesda has now outlined its post-launch plans for supporting the post-apocalyptic open world game with new content, giving fans a chance to start salivating over even more adventures in the wasteland of the Greater Boston Area.

In the early, experimental days of downloadable content, Bethesda caught a lot of flack for its ill-fated and infamous Horse Armor DLC in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the phrase becoming a metonymy for incremental, paid content that many gamers feel is exploitative.

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The developer learned its lesson well, and has subsequently focused on more robust paid expansions that add substantial, narrative content, relegating incidental additions to the main game to free updates. For Skyrim this meant the addition of features like mounted combat, legendary mode, and kill cams. Fallout 4 will be no different, with new features based on player feedback coming out in regular, free updates alongside the standard bug fixes and technical enhancements.

As for that paid DLC, Bethesda will start rolling it out in early 2016. Since the developer is still hard at work on the base game, it does not yet have any details about what the DLC will entail. We do know, however, that fans will be able to purchase a season pass for $30 that guarantees access to all of the DLC that Bethesda will ever produce for Fallout 4. The post points out that Oblivion, Skyrim, and Fallout 3 all offered about $40 worth of additional content after release, so we can expect at least that much for Fallout 4.

Finally, fan-made mods have been a major driving force for keeping games like Skyrim played and relevant for years after release. Bethesda plans to capitalize on that passion and creativity by supporting the modding community from the beginning. In early 2016 the developer will be releasing the Creation Kit for PC, which includes the same tools that the developers use in-house to create content for the game. One of the most exciting revelations from Bethesda’s E3 presentation was that while mod creation will live in PC, those mods will subsequently become available for consoles as well, something that was a pipe dream until recently.

Fallout 4 launches on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on November 10, 2015.

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The PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller is one of the biggest leaps in controller design ever, adding advanced haptic feedback to Sony’s new console. For games that take full advantage of it, like Astro’s Playroom, the effect it has on the play experience can be truly game-changing. Like most other console controllers, the DualSense can also be used to play games on PC, though without the full benefit of features like variable-resistance triggers.

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How to connect a PS5 controller to PC with USB
Connecting the PS5 controller to a PC with a USB cable will likely be the go-to option for most people, as it’s extremely easy to do and won’t run the risk of draining the DualSense’s battery during a play session. Just connect the DualSense to a USB-C to USB-A cable (like the one that comes with the PS5), and plug the other end into your PC. If your PC has a USB-C port, you can also use a regular USB-C cable. If you’re purchasing a new DualSense on its own, as opposed to using one that comes with the console, just be aware that it won’t come with its own cable.
How to connect a PS5 controller to PC with Bluetooth
If your computer has built-in Bluetooth capability or you have a separate Bluetooth adapter, you can also connect the DualSense wirelessly. The process is the same as connecting any wireless controller. Just hold the PS button and the Create button on the DualSense to start pairing. On your PC, navigate to the Bluetooth & Other Devices menu and click Add Bluetooth or other device, then select the Bluetooth option. When the connection is made, the PS5 controller will show up as Wireless Controller in the menu.
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