Giant Bomb News

RSS

Broken Steel Comes To Fallout 3 On May 5

Price, release date, and more details on the third downloadable expansion for Fallout 3.

By Jeff Gerstmann  |  April 21, 2009

Dogmeat is your friend. You'll never be alone again.
Dogmeat is your friend. You'll never be alone again.
Bethesda has confirmed that Broken Steel, the third downloadable pack for Fallout 3, will be released for Xbox 360 and PC on May 5 for 800 Microsoft points, which totals out to ten bucks or around 80,000 bottle caps. This is the pack that raises the level cap and rewrites the game's ending in order to make room for more missions and perks.

It looks pretty cool and way more interesting than the two previous downloadable releases. If you haven't yet finished Fallout 3, or if you don't really want to know anything about the specifics of Broken Steel, you might want to stop reading right about here.

The new conclusion of the main quest still has you dealing with the activation of the water purifier that is the centerpiece of Project Purity. The twist is that you'll survive the radiation if you go in yourself, and other options--such as sending in the radiation-resistant mutant, Fawkes--are also now available. This effectively takes care of the most ridiculous thing that happened in that entire game. Previously, Fawkes had some lame excuse that prevented you from "outsmarting" the game's ending. Man, even mentioning it now still gets me all hot and bothered. Other sidekicks can also venture in.

Yeah, but what does the President think of all this?
Yeah, but what does the President think of all this?
The new post-activation content has you wake up in the Brotherhood of Steel's Citadel two weeks later. With purified (or perhaps slightly contaminated, depending on how you handle the final events) water flowing into the Wasteland, things have changed. Now, you'll have quests dealing with the distribution of this water, including looking after various caravans sent out into the world. The Enclave, however, is still the major threat, and the Brotherhood of Steel enlists you to help build a new weapon--a totally sweet Tesla cannon--and infiltrate the Enclave's stronghold at Adams Air Force Base, a new in-game location that, like The Pitt and the Anchorage simulation, exists outside of the main map. Getting to this new base requires you to get into the White House (or, at least, what's left of it) and activate a rail way system. The entire mission set is said to be a bit longer than the previous releases, and unlike the old ending, finishing the new content in Broken Steel doesn't roll credits and force you out to the main menu. You're now free to explore the world as much as you like. With additional experience levels and perks to earn, it sounds like you'll have plenty to do.

The new level cap stops at 30, though you'll start to feel some additional effects of the new content around level 18, when new enemies will begin to appear, including a new "Overlord" type of super mutant, Enclave Hellfire Troopers, and more. You'll also be able to pick new perks as you level from 20 to 30, such as "Puppies!," which spawns a new Dogmeat companion in case your existing one gets killed.

All told, it definitely sounds like the downloadable pack that Fallout 3 fans have been waiting for. It definitely looked a lot cooler than Anchorage or The Pitt to me.



Filed under: Fallout 3
83 Comments
DeavonWon April 21, 2009 at 7:10 a.m.
Too little too late. Fallout 3 is already on the shelf for me. Do not want.
monquinon April 21, 2009 at 7:11 a.m.
Broken steel is gonna be so awesome,its nice to finally have a date.
Everyones_A_Criticon April 21, 2009 at 7:11 a.m.
I can't wait!!! I'll buy this and the Pitt at the same time!
Weltalon April 21, 2009 at 7:13 a.m.
Finally, the other two DLC packs gave me nothing to be interested in. At least this looks like it'll add something substantial.
KingOfIcelandon April 21, 2009 at 7:15 a.m.
I'm super pumped, but do you get all the XP you would have gotten after hitting lvl 20 or has it all gone to waste?
Meltbrainon April 21, 2009 at 7:20 a.m.
Hey this sounds great, the ending was complete trash and clearly a precursor for something like this: paid content for what should have been there in the first damn place. I'll have to get it though...
Colinon April 21, 2009 at 7:21 a.m.

I want now.

Monkon April 21, 2009 at 7:22 a.m.
I'd say like all the other DLC for Fallout 3 it will under-deliver.
Meatsimon April 21, 2009 at 7:27 a.m.
Man I really gotta get back into fallout 3 I haven't gotten any of this great DLC yet.
m3rckon April 21, 2009 at 7:28 a.m.
ive gotta sit down and play all of fallout 3 one day after im done with this bloody exams!
Alphazeroon April 21, 2009 at 7:29 a.m.
Heck yeah. This and the Pitt will be my double feature.
joshuah82on April 21, 2009 at 7:32 a.m.
I will definitely be buying it.
barrybarringtonon April 21, 2009 at 7:34 a.m.
Before purchasing this DLC, all PC users should know about this:

http://www.bethsoft.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=980905
cjmhockeyon April 21, 2009 at 7:40 a.m.
Cool, this is the DLC I've been waiting to get for Fallout 3... the others looked cool but didn't spark enough interest for me to buy. This will definitely be a buy for me.
gzl5000on April 21, 2009 at 7:42 a.m.
About damn time. We shouldn't have to wait for DLC for a proper ending (without the fawkes idiocy) or a more reasonable level cap.

Also, barry's post is quite important to take note of. I certainly won't be buying till they fix VATS.
Cameronon April 21, 2009 at 7:43 a.m.
I don't understand why this one didn't come out first. I was already level 20 when I finished the story so I am waiting for this to come out before I buy the other two DLC packs. Why would I play if I can't level up and I know a DLC pack with that feature is coming?
skrutopon April 21, 2009 at 7:44 a.m.
"Puppies!"  Haha, I love that one.

I held off on finishing the game and leveling my melee character until Broken Steel came out.  Now that I can get both the Ninja and Grim Reaper's Sprint perks, my chick is going to be unstoppable.

I still have a few other games to clear out.  I'm going to hold off and see if I can get these DLCs on the cheap at some point (or at least get some 1600 MS Point cards on sale again).
CitizenKane moderator on April 21, 2009 at 7:48 a.m.
I can't wait for this.  Even though I already reached 20 a long time ago, I will still try to reach Level 30 and get new perks.  Or maybe, since that is when summer starts for me, I will simply play through again with a new character.
TestamentUKon April 21, 2009 at 8:26 a.m.
"This effectively takes care of the most ridiculous thing that happened in that entire game."

Unless you only own a PS3, in which you're stuck with the worst ending of any game ever...
Subject2Changeon April 21, 2009 at 8:36 a.m.
Ugh why can't they put DLC for Fallout 3 on the PS3...I may consider playing through it...

Dig Deeper into Fallout 3

Fallout 3 is a post-nuclear apocalyptic open world role playing shooter. It saw the return of the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system, along with the Karma system. It was developed and published by Bethesda Softworks, the creators of the Elder Scrolls series.

US Release Date: Oct. 28, 2008

Edit/View the Wiki
Hit the Forums (851 Posts)
Add/View Images (1391 Images)
Watch Some Videos (10 Videos)
Popular News
38 Studios Unveils its First Look at Project Copernicus

In the wake of the studio's recent financial drama, the studio finally opens the door on its long-awaited MMO.
Diablo III Sells 3.5 Million Copies In its First Day Alone

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is now the fastest-selling PC game of all time.
Wii U’s Controller May Have Seen Some Changes

No more Circle Pad-style analog sticks, and some swapped button placement.
And Now Aliens: Colonial Marines Won't Be Coming Out This Year, Either

Gearbox's Aliens side-story slips to February.
Johann Sebastian Joust Is Latest iOS Cloning Victim

Studio behind awfully similar game for iOS claims an agreement was in place.
38 Studios Pays its $1.125 Million Debt, Will Receive No Additional Funds from State

Oh, and the governor of Rhode Island just tossed out a release date for "Copernicus."
Activision Lawsuit Has Details on Bungie’s Next Game

First game scheduled for Xbox 360, sequels on unannounced platforms.
Worth Reading: 05/18/2012

You have 20 seconds to click on this article and discover what games you might have missed and what stories passed you by.
38 Studios Unveils its First Look at Project Copernicus

In the wake of the studio's recent financial drama, the studio finally opens the door on its long-awaited MMO.
Diablo III Sells 3.5 Million Copies In its First Day Alone

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is now the fastest-selling PC game of all time.
Wii U’s Controller May Have Seen Some Changes

No more Circle Pad-style analog sticks, and some swapped button placement.
Johann Sebastian Joust Is Latest iOS Cloning Victim

Studio behind awfully similar game for iOS claims an agreement was in place.
38 Studios Pays its $1.125 Million Debt, Will Receive No Additional Funds from State

Oh, and the governor of Rhode Island just tossed out a release date for "Copernicus."
And Now Aliens: Colonial Marines Won't Be Coming Out This Year, Either

Gearbox's Aliens side-story slips to February.
Activision Lawsuit Has Details on Bungie’s Next Game

First game scheduled for Xbox 360, sequels on unannounced platforms.
Worth Reading: 05/18/2012

You have 20 seconds to click on this article and discover what games you might have missed and what stories passed you by.

Submissions can take several hours to be approved.

Save ChangesCancel