Look, let's be real. When Bethesda announced the Fallout 4 update 2024, most of us expected a simple "next-gen" polish. Maybe some crisper textures and a steady frame rate. What we actually got was a massive, somewhat messy, and deeply transformative shift for a game that’s nearly a decade old. Some people called it a masterpiece of timing alongside the TV show. Others? They’re still trying to fix their broken mod lists.
It’s been a wild ride.
The update didn't just tweak the shadows; it fundamentally changed how the game runs on your PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It even dragged the Enclave back into the spotlight. If you've been away from the Commonwealth since 2015, the game you’re coming back to looks the same but feels... different. Kinda better, kinda weirder.
The Next-Gen Performance Split: Why Your Settings Matter
Honestly, the biggest confusion right now is about the "Quality" and "Performance" modes. Bethesda added these to consoles to finally give us a choice. But the math behind them isn't as straightforward as "high" vs. "low."
Basically, on the PS5 and Xbox Series X, Performance Mode targets a smooth 60 FPS. It hits that by using dynamic resolution scaling. It’ll sit around 4K when things are quiet, but if you’re in the middle of a chaotic firefight in downtown Boston, it might dip to 1080p or 1440p just to keep things fluid.
Then there’s Quality Mode. This is for the screenshot hunters. It locks you at 30 FPS but pushes the settings to Ultra. Here’s the kicker: if you have a 120Hz display, the game actually bumps that Quality Mode target to 40 FPS. It sounds like a small jump, but in practice, it’s a sweet spot. It feels significantly smoother than 30 without the visual sacrifices of Performance Mode.
If you’re on a 1440p monitor, the game is smart enough to just run at 1440p/60 FPS on Ultra settings regardless of which mode you pick. It’s basically the "cheat code" for the best experience.
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The Enclave Returns (And They Aren't Happy)
One thing that caught everyone off guard was the "Echoes of the Past" questline. For years, the Enclave were just ghosts of the past in Fallout 4, mentioned in passing or seen in a few mods. The Fallout 4 update 2024 changed that by canonizing several Creation Club items into the base game for free.
You’re walking near Saugus Ironworks and suddenly, you’re intercepted. The Enclave Remnants are trying to establish a foothold in the Commonwealth, and they brought the big guns. We’re talking:
- X-02 Power Armor: The sleek, black "devil" armor.
- Hellfire Power Armor: Built to withstand the heat (and dish it out).
- Heavy Incinerator: Basically a long-range flamethrower that turns Ghouls into ash.
- Tesla Cannon: Because why shoot bullets when you can shoot lightning?
It’s not just a gear dump. These are integrated into actual quests like "Speak of the Devil." You’ll find yourself hunting down Enclave encampments and realizing that the Commonwealth just got a lot more dangerous.
The "When Pigs Fly" Oddity
The update also added some... let's say eccentric content. The "Makeshift Weapon Pack" is pure Bethesda chaos. You can now wield a weaponized Piggy Bank launcher. Or a Nail Gun. There’s even a Baseball Launcher. It’s silly, it’s arguably immersion-breaking for some, but it’s undeniably fun to blow up a Raider with a flying ceramic pig full of bottlecaps.
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PC Players and the "Ultrawide" Headache
While console players were celebrating 60 FPS, the PC community had a bit of a rougher time. The Fallout 4 update 2024 finally added official support for 21:9 and 32:9 aspect ratios. Long overdue, right?
Well, sort of.
The initial launch of the update had a major flaw: it just stretched the UI. If you were playing on a massive ultrawide monitor, your Pip-Boy looked like it had been put through a pasta press. Bethesda has since pushed out patches to address this, but many veterans still prefer the community-made "Ultrawide" fixes because they handle the HUD scaling much better.
And then there's the modding situation. The update broke F4SE (Fallout 4 Script Extender). For a few weeks, the modding scene was in total chaos. While the F4SE team worked fast to update it, many older mods that haven't been touched in years were permanently "bricked" by the new engine changes.
If you're a heavy modder, you've likely seen the "stuttering" bug that appeared when mods edited NPC data. This was a nightmare. Thankfully, the community stepped up with the "X-Cell" mod on PC to fix the micro-stutters Bethesda missed.
Is It Actually Stable Now?
"Bethesda stable" is a meme for a reason.
The update did fix some ancient bugs. For example, the "0kb" save bug on PlayStation—which basically killed your ability to save the game if you had too many skins—is largely a thing of the past. They also fixed the issue where the Vault 111 door wouldn't open at the start of a new game, which was a pretty embarrassing way for a new player to start their journey.
But new updates bring new ghosts. Some players are reporting that VATS is occasionally "flickery," with hit chances jumping from 99% to 0% for no reason. Others have noticed that shadows in certain interiors (like Vault 111) still flicker like a broken neon sign.
Steam Deck: The New Way to Play
If there’s one clear winner of the Fallout 4 update 2024, it’s the Steam Deck. The game is now "Verified."
Before the update, you had to jump through hoops with the launcher to get it running right. Now, it just works. It targets a solid 60 FPS on the handheld, though I’d recommend capping it at 40 or 45 to save your battery life. Seeing the Commonwealth on a portable screen without having to mess with Linux proton layers is a genuine treat.
What You Should Do Next
If you're looking to jump back in, don't just load your old save and hope for the best. Here is the move:
- Start a Fresh Save: Especially if you played with mods before. The Enclave quests and the new "All Hallow's Eve" content trigger much more naturally on a fresh run.
- Check Your Display Settings: If you're on a console, head to the main menu (not the in-game menu) to toggle Performance vs. Quality. If you have a 120Hz TV, try Quality Mode—the 40 FPS boost is the best way to play.
- Hunt the Enclave: Head north of Saugus Ironworks early. The X-02 Power Armor you get from the "Echoes of the Past" quest is significantly better than the T-45 or T-51 you find in the early game.
- PC Modders, Be Careful: If you're on PC and want a stable modded experience, look into the "Midnight Ride" guide. It has been updated specifically for the post-2024 environment to ensure you don't crash every ten minutes.
The Commonwealth is noisier, prettier, and a bit buggier than it was last year. But honestly? It’s never been a better time to be a Vault Dweller. Just watch out for the flying piggy banks.