Ex-Bethesda PR lead recalls “f***ing insulting” Fallout 76 collector’s edition that infuriated absolutely everyone

Fallout 76 soldier standing in front of another

Published:

8 September 2025

Last Updated: 8 September 2025

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While loved today, Bethesda’s multiplayer spin-off Fallout 76 was maligned on launch. Alongside being a technical disaster, the game launched alongside a horrendous Collector’s Edition that was labelled as a horrendous case of false advertising.

The $200 Fallout 76 Power Armor Edition came with a helmet, an LED headlamp. Before launch, the bundle advertised a Canvas Bag that made the pricey Collector’s Edition a steal, but when it came to shipping, players received a tatty, cheap nylon bag instead.

Speaking to DBLTAP, former Bethesda PR lead Pete Hines explained that the controversy was a major issue, and one that was entirely avoidable.

Hines explained that he had no idea the bag had even been swapped out with him only discovering the controversial issue as he opened his personal copy of the game.

“My first reaction was, ‘When the f**k did we add a canvas bag to this Collector’s Edition?’ Because the version I approved did not have one,” Hines explained. “They were trying to add more value to the Collector’s Edition. We were always fighting with the finance people about margins, right? I would throw shit fits around. ‘We cannot charge $300 for this, it’s f***ing insulting.’”

Fans expected the bag on the left, but received the abomination on the right. Eventually, Bethesda was able to replace the bags, but it left a stain on the company’s reputation.

Hines explained that at the time there was a mass canvas shortage which would’ve massively delayed or massively increased the price of the Fallout 76 Power Armor Edition. Nevertheless, it was a PR disaster, and one that only fanned the flames of the game’s disappointing launch.

“In this case, their hearts were in the right place. There was literally a canvas shortage, and some folks decided we’re going to do this instead,” they said. “My biggest failing there was not pushing immediately for making and sending one to everybody that wants one. Because I was still annoyed that the damn thing was in there in the first place, and nobody had told me and that this canvas shortage happened. It’s probably the dumbest thing I ever did at Bethesda.”

Right now, Bethesda is hard at work on The Elder Scrolls 6 as well as the next Starfield expansion. Unfortunately, it seems the next mainline Fallout game is still a ways off with the game not likely to release until sometime closer to 2030. However, with a Fallout 3 Remastered allegedly in the works at the studio behind Oblivion Remastered, we might at least get to return to the wasteland sometime soon.

About The Author

Lewis White

Lewis White is a veteran games journalist with over a decade in the field. Starting with beloved Xbox website ICXM/XboxMAD, Lewis became the Gaming Editor at MSPoweruser before becoming the Editor in Chief of StealthOptional and Gfinityesports. Lewis later jumped to By Gamers For Gamers where he jumped to become EIC of VideoGamer and the host of the New VideoGamer Podcast prior to the website’s acquisition.

Over the years, Lewis has also seen long-form investigative pieces published in outlets such as Eurogamer, PCGamesN, Wireframe, Retro Gamer, Nintendo Life, and EDGE. Now, as the Editor in Chief of FRVR Blog, Lewis strives to bring the same level of quality journalism with interview-led content to the site in both written and audio form with the FRVR Podcast.

With a First Degree BA Hons in Games Journalism and Public Relations, Lewis has been a stable part of the British games press for over a decade, and has frequently displayed his love of Halo, The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and other games pretty much everywhere he’s worked. And FRVR is no different.

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