Lack of NPCs
The lack of any non-playable characters in Fallout 76 was justified as offering a way for other players to role-play. They could thus fill the roles of any NPCs you would normally meet in other Fallout titles. The problem with this approach is the maximum number of people in a server is pretty small with the map itself being pretty big, thus making those empty stretches all the more empty. Also, you’re not always guaranteed to run into people – some players have reported going for numerous play sessions without seeing anyone. Finally, NPCs aren’t just there for laughs – they provide deeper context to a player’s world, serving as linchpins for its construction. Without other characters and the various interlinking stories behind them, the world feels lifeless. And no amount of role-playing from random players met online or holotapes will fix that.
