10 Video Game Promotional Tactics That Backfired HORRIBLY

Whilst it continues to truck along today, most players have long since departed Fallout 76 and Bethesda’s online take for the post-apocalyptic series will go down in infamy.

The tie-in merchandising was just as rife with blunders. The Power Armour Edition of the game contained a WestTek branded canvas bag which, when it arrived, turned out to be a nylon sack. Bethesda apologised for this change along the way, despite the fact they absolutely should’ve told fans beforehand.

Things got worse though when the company sought out a promotion with Silver Screen Bottling to create a Fallout alcoholic beverage to celebrate 76’s launch. Nuka Dark Rum’s bottle design seemed pretty cool until, just like the bag, you had it in your hands.

The “bottle” was merely just cheap plastic casing that snapped over glass. It was hard to pour and generally was considered to be an awful drink... at least certainly not worth $80, more than the game.

In both cases, Bethesda obscured the truth to make money. The reaction was another arrow in the hide of a company that once was beloved and now was making more and more mistakes. But hey, if it hurt Bethesda’s pride maybe they could drink it off with a $80 bottle of sun tan lotion masquerading as coconut flavoured rum.