There is no permanent free Steam copy of Fallout 4 shown on its official store listing: the game is sold in paid editions. You can play it for free only if Steam runs a temporary free-play event; the verified event was in 2018 and has ended. Check the live Steam page for a current promotion, or wait for a sale if you want to buy it for less.
Is Fallout 4 free on Steam?
No. The official Steam listing presents Fallout 4 as a paid game, with the base game and bundled editions available to purchase. It does not establish a permanent free license.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Fallout 4 (PC) | $19.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Fallout 4 Game of The Year Edition - PC | $39.60 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Fallout 4 | Anniversary Edition | XBOX and Windows Digital | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Fallout 3 - PC Game of the Year Edition | $11.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Fallout 76: Wastelanders - PC | $33.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Steam has offered temporary free play before. In an announcement dated February 1, 2018, Steam said players could play for free through Sunday at 1 p.m. Pacific. The announcement also listed a separate 50% purchase discount, which ended February 12, 2018, at 10 a.m. Pacific. Those were historical offers, not evidence of a current promotion.
How to check for a current free-play offer
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Open the Fallout 4 Steam store page while signed in to your Steam account.
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Check the page for a free-play notice and its start and end times. If none is shown, there is no free-play event displayed there.
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Read the terms before starting. A free-play window lets you play during the stated period; it is not the same as receiving a permanent copy.
Rank #2
Fallout 4 Game of The Year Edition - PC- Freedom and Liberty! Do whatever you want in a massive open world with hundreds of locations, characters, and quests. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone, the choices are all yours
- Be whoever you want with the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. character system. From a Power Armored soldier to the charismatic smooth talker, you can choose from hundreds of Perks and develop your own playstyle
- New next generation graphics and lighting engine brings to life the world of Fallout. From the blasted forests of the Commonwealth to the ruins of Boston, every location is packed with dynamic detail
- Intense first or third person combat can also be slowed down with the new dynamic Vault Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S) that lets you choose your attacks and enjoy cinematic carnage
Steam sale prices and availability can vary by region and currency, and offers can expire. Check the price and terms shown for your account before purchasing.
Can you keep Fallout 4 after a free weekend?
Not on the basis of the 2018 free-weekend announcement. It offered a limited play window and described the purchase discount separately. To keep access after a free-play event, you would need to buy the game or already have a license; do not treat temporary access as a free permanent copy.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- ANNIVERSARY EDITION — Get Fallout 4, all six official expansions, and more than 150 Creation Club items in one package.
- EXPLORE THE COMMONWEALTH — Play as the Sole Survivor of Vault 111 and shape the Commonwealth through choices, factions, and exploration.
- SIX EXPANSIONS — Explore Automatron, Wasteland Workshop, Far Harbor, Contraptions Workshop, Vault-Tec Workshop, and Nuka-World.
- CREATION CLUB ITEMS — Enrich your adventure with more than 150 items, including unique weapons, power armor sets, building packs, paint jobs, homes, and Dogmeat appearance options.
- OPEN-WORLD RPG — Explore the post-nuclear world, craft weapons and armor, and build and manage settlements.
Which Fallout 4 edition should you look for?
Steam lists the base game, Game of the Year Edition, and Anniversary Edition. The Anniversary Edition description says it includes the base game, six official expansions, and more than 150 Creation Club items. The base game may suit you if you only want the core story. Compare what each edition includes with the price shown in your region, since prices and offers change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do Steam gift cards give you Fallout 4 for free?
No. A Steam gift card adds funds that can be used toward a purchase; it is not a giveaway. Valve explains that gift cards can be redeemed on Steam for games and other purchases on its Steam Gift Cards page. The card itself must be paid for.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Skyrim and Fallout 4, welcome you to Fallout 76, the online prequel where every surviving human is a real person. Work together, or not, to survive. Under the threat of nuclear annihilation, you’ll experience the largest, most dynamic world ever created in the legendary Fallout universe
- Reclamation Day, 2102. Twenty-five years after the bombs fall, you and your fellow Vault Dwellers—chosen from the nation’s best and brightest – emerge into post-nuclear America. Play solo or join together as you explore, quest, build, and triumph against the wasteland’s greatest threats
- Contains Digital Download Code. No Disc Included
- Must be redeemed on the Bethesda client
Rank #4
- Fallout 3: Game of The Year Edition
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
