AlthoughFallout 76received manynegative reviews from fans, the game nevertheless had a big impact on some players, and it seems, on the entire State of West Virginia. Bethesda recently announced on Twitter that the governor, Jim Justice, and the secretary of state, Mac Warner, officially proclaimed July 03, 2025 as Reclamation Day in the State of West Virginia. This came after the state partnered with Bethesda on a series ofFallout 76-inspired tourist activities in celebration of the game’s release.
Unfortunately, Reclamation Day will not be a state holiday or have any direct impact on people living in West Virginia, as it is simply a celebration of West Virginia’s pivotal role in the game, as well as a notion from the state that shows its support ofFallout 76. As seen in the tweet below, the game helped “introduce and showcase the Mountain State to a unique audience,” and is expected to lead to first-time visitation and tourism.
Furthermore, the proclamation also encourages players “to visit West Virginia and explore the diverse set of featured sights and destinations in the game and extend your stay outside Vault 76 to discover all the Mountain State has to offer.” Some destinations and landmarks on theFallout 76mapthat have cleverly been incorporated into game from the real West Virginia include the iconic New River Gorge bridge, The Greenbrier, The Mothman sculpture, Woodburn Hall, and the West Virginia Capitol Building, among many others.
Whether the proclamation’s aim to encourage tourists and gamers to visit the real-world locations from the game will be achieved remains to be seen, but it may pose a fun challenge for players familiar with these landmarks in the real West Virginia to find them in the game with friends. For now, it seems that players are more concerned with finding shortcuts andcheats to unlocking nukesand other items that make the game easier.
Fallout 76is now available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
