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Fallout 4’s long-awaited next-generation update released on April 25, 2024. Bethesda’s free update brought native PS5 and Xbox Series X|S applications, new performance and visual options, higher resolutions, stability improvements, PC display support, and additional Creation Club content. It was not a full remake or rebuilt version of the game, but a substantial platform and feature update for owners of Fallout 4.
Fallout 4’s next-gen update release date
Bethesda Game Studios announced the firm release date on April 11, 2024, ending months of uncertainty after the update missed its original 2023 target. The update arrived on April 25, 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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The update was free for existing owners on supported platforms. On consoles, however, players needed to own Fallout 4 for the relevant device; it was not a standalone free version for people who did not already have the game.
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What the update added on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
The console release targeted the current-generation versions of Fallout 4 rather than simply applying a backward-compatibility patch. Bethesda described the package as including:
- Native PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S applications
- Performance and Quality modes
- Higher resolutions
- Stability improvements
- Gameplay of up to 60 frames per second
“Up to 60 FPS” is important wording. It was not a promise that every mode, scene, display, or console would maintain a locked 60 FPS under all conditions. The update offered performance-oriented settings, while resolution and other visual targets could vary by mode.
Next-Gen Update 2 added more control
Bethesda released Next Gen Update 2 on May 13, 2024. The follow-up patch made the visual-performance trade-off more explicit. Players could select a frame-rate target of 30, 40, or 60 FPS, as well as prioritize Visuals or Performance.
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The 40 FPS target required a display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. The update also allowed dynamic internal resolution adjustments, meaning resolution could change during demanding scenes to help maintain the selected performance target.
In practical terms, the second update was especially useful for players with modern televisions or monitors who wanted something more granular than a simple Quality-versus-Performance toggle. A 60 FPS target favors responsiveness, while Visuals prioritization favors image quality and can make more use of the console’s available rendering power.
PS4 and Xbox One received a different update
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were not upgraded to native current-generation applications. Bethesda instead provided a free previous-generation update focused on stability, login issues, and quest fixes.
That distinction matters when describing the release. The April 2024 update was not identical across all Fallout 4 platforms:
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| Platform | What players received |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | Native application, Performance and Quality options, higher resolutions, and support for up to 60 FPS |
| Xbox Series X|S | Native application, Performance and Quality options, higher resolutions, and support for up to 60 FPS |
| PlayStation 4 | Free stability, login, and quest improvements; no native PS5 application |
| Xbox One | Free stability, login, and quest improvements; no native Xbox Series X|S application |
| PC | Widescreen and ultrawide support, Creation Kit fixes, quest updates, and stability and mod-related fixes |
Bug fixes and stability improvements
The initial patch was also a broad maintenance release. Bethesda’s patch notes listed fixes affecting several parts of the game, including:
- Save loading problems
- The Vault 111 door
- Quest progression
- Codsworth-related issues
- Settlement resource corruption
- Creation Club text and presentation
- Crashes and general stability
- Dynamic-resolution artifacts
- Frame-rate drops triggered by certain effects
These fixes were relevant to both returning players and people starting a new playthrough. Fallout 4’s extensive mod and Creation ecosystem also meant that stability and compatibility work was at least as important as the headline resolution and frame-rate improvements.
PC improvements: ultrawide support, stores, and Steam Deck
On PC, Bethesda emphasized support for widescreen and ultrawide displays, along with Creation Kit fixes and quest updates. Steam, Microsoft Store, and GOG versions were also slated to receive stability, mod, and bug fixes.
The game was added to the Epic Games Store, and Bethesda gave Fallout 4 Steam Deck Verified status. Those changes broadened where the game could be purchased and played, although the storefront rollout was not perfectly simultaneous: Bethesda noted on release day that the update was not yet available on GOG and would arrive there later.
PC players should therefore distinguish between the game’s general availability and the exact timing of the update for a particular storefront. Mod users should also check whether their essential tools and plugins support the updated executable before updating an established modded save.
Free Enclave, weapon, and workshop content
The release included more than technical improvements. Bethesda added free Creation Club content, including the Enclave Remnants content, the Makeshift Weapon Pack, and a Halloween Workshop collection.
Enclave Remnants
Enclave Remnants added the “Echoes of the Past” quest, which begins north of Saugus Ironworks. It also added Enclave-themed equipment and workshop items, including:
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- Hellfire Power Armor
- Heavy Incinerator
- Tesla Cannon
- Enclave weapon skins
- Enclave armor skins
- Enclave Colonel uniform
Makeshift Weapon Pack
The Makeshift Weapon Pack added deliberately unconventional weapons and an associated quest called “When Pigs Fly.” The quest begins at a merchant workshop northwest of Greenetech Genetics.
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Halloween Workshop
The Halloween Workshop collection added themed settlement-building content. Together with the Enclave and Makeshift Weapon additions, it gave returning players new quests, equipment, and construction items to discover rather than limiting the update to a graphics patch.
How to get the update
- Own Fallout 4 on a supported platform. Console owners need the relevant PS4 or Xbox One game entitlement to access the corresponding console update.
- Install the platform update. On PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, the supported current-generation application should be selected or installed where the platform presents multiple versions.
- Check your settings. After installing Next Gen Update 2, review the frame-rate target and Visuals or Performance preference instead of assuming the game selected your preferred balance.
- Back up PC saves and review mods. Players with script extenders, custom plugins, or other executable-dependent modifications should confirm compatibility before loading a heavily modded save.
- Look for the free content in-game. Enclave Remnants, Makeshift Weapon Pack, and Halloween Workshop content may need to be downloaded or enabled through the game’s Creation interface, depending on platform and account state.
The update itself does not make Fallout 4 free to everyone. If you do not own the game, a complete Fallout 4 edition such as the Fallout 4 Game of the Year Edition may be a practical starting point because it bundles the base game with its major official expansions. Exact stock, pricing, and platform availability vary by region and retailer.
Was this a remaster or remake?
Not in the strict sense. “Next-gen update” is the accurate description used by Bethesda. Official materials describe native applications, display and frame-rate options, fixes, PC support, and additional Creation Club content. They do not describe a wholly rebuilt engine, redesigned assets throughout the game, or a remake.
Calling it an informal remaster may communicate that the game looks and runs better on newer hardware, but readers should not expect the kind of comprehensive visual overhaul associated with a full remake. The underlying Fallout 4 experience, quests, world, and systems remain familiar.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the timing was significant
The release landed shortly after the premiere of Amazon’s Fallout television series, which debuted globally on Prime Video on April 10, 2024. That placed the update in front of a newly enlarged audience: viewers discovering the franchise through the show and longtime players returning to the Commonwealth.
For newcomers coming from television, the update offered a convenient way to play Fallout 4 on current consoles with modern performance options. Players who simply want to watch the Fallout series on Prime Video can also treat it as a separate entry point into the franchise; the series is based on Bethesda’s game franchise, but it is not a direct retelling of Fallout 4’s story.
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Fallout 4’s later editions and support
The April 2024 next-generation update should not be confused with Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition, which Bethesda released on November 10, 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe Anniversary Edition includes the base game, all six official add-ons—Automatron, Wasteland Workshop, Far Harbor, Contraptions Workshop, Vault-Tec Workshop, and Nuka-World—plus more than 150 Creation Club items. It is a later purchase package, not the name of the April 2024 update.
Bethesda’s later support work also continued to address the Creation system. A support update dated May 27, 2026 expanded Creation storage to up to 100 GB on Xbox Series X|S, approximately 15 GB on PS5, approximately 16 GB on PS4, and up to 15 GB on Xbox One. That update also addressed loading, crashes, storage reporting, and Creation-spawn issues. Availability and storage behavior can vary by platform and by the version installed.
What returning players should know
- Expect a technical upgrade, not a remake. The game’s presentation and performance options improve, but the core game remains Fallout 4.
- Use the 40 FPS option only with a 120 Hz display. A standard 60 Hz television cannot properly provide the intended 40 FPS presentation.
- Do not assume 60 FPS is universal. The selected mode, target, display, and demanding scenes all matter.
- PC mod users should prepare first. Updates can affect executable-dependent tools, plugins, and load orders.
- Old-generation consoles still received fixes. PS4 and Xbox One were not abandoned, but they did not receive native current-generation applications.
- New buyers have multiple package choices. The base game, Game of the Year Edition, and later Anniversary Edition are different purchase options with different included content.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Fallout 4’s next-gen update release?
Bethesda released Fallout 4’s next-generation update on April 25, 2024. Next Gen Update 2 followed on May 13, 2024.
Is the Fallout 4 next-gen update free?
The update is free for owners of Fallout 4 on supported platforms. Console players need to own the game for the relevant device, and the update does not make the full game free for non-owners.
Did PS4 and Xbox One receive the next-gen version?
No. PS4 and Xbox One received a separate free update with stability, login, and quest improvements, but they did not receive native PS5 or Xbox Series X|S applications.
Does Fallout 4 run at a locked 60 FPS after the update?
Bethesda described the console update as supporting up to 60 FPS, but that should not be treated as a universal locked-60 guarantee in every mode or scene. Next Gen Update 2 added 30, 40, and 60 FPS targets, with the 40 FPS option requiring a 120 Hz display.
What new content came with Fallout 4’s next-gen update?
The free additions included Enclave Remnants, the Makeshift Weapon Pack, and a Halloween Workshop collection. Enclave Remnants includes the “Echoes of the Past” quest, while the Makeshift Weapon Pack includes the “When Pigs Fly” quest.
Is Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition the same thing as the 2024 next-gen update?
No. The Anniversary Edition is a later package released on November 10, 2025. It includes Fallout 4, all six official add-ons, and more than 150 Creation Club items.
The Bottom Line
The key fact is now historical: Fallout 4’s delayed next-generation update released on April 25, 2024. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S gained native applications and adjustable visual-performance options, PC received display and mod-related improvements, older consoles received stability fixes, and every supported platform gained new Creation Club content. It improved the original game substantially, but it was an update—not a full remake.
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