W.Va. Tourism Officials Celebrate Launch of 'Fallout 76' Video Game

Bethesda Game Studios’ “Fallout 76” video game hit store shelves this week. West Virginia Tourism officials are hoping to promote the state to a wider audience with the game’s launch.

“Fallout 76” debuted Wednesday to a worldwide audience. The game takes place exclusively in West Virginia during a post-apocalyptic time period, and it’s the biggest game yet to come out of Bethesda Game Studios.

State Tourism officials heralded the game’s worldwide release with an event at the West Virginia Capitol in Charleston.

This latest installment in the “Fallout” family of games is a prequel to the rest. It features West Virginia folklore, monsters, and iconic places like Woodburn Hall on West Virginia University’s campus, the Greenbrier Resort, and the state Capitol.

West Virginia Tourism’s website features an interactive map of West Virginia locations included in the game.

Tourism Commissioner Chelsea Ruby says West Virginia “has never had a tourism opportunity quite like this.”

In October, state Tourism officials announced a partnership with Bethesda to promote both the game and the state.