Fallout Officially Returns With New Deathclaw Expansion

Published Nov 12, 2026, 3:30 AM EST

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Fallout 76 players have a two-word reason to log back in: Pet Deathclaws. That's right, players on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 can now experience traveling through Appalachia alongside one of the series' most iconic creatures in the game's Public Test Server (PTS), ahead of the World Pets update officially hitting live servers on December 1.

Fallout 76 didn't exactly get off to the best start. But credit to Bethesda, the studio has been fairly consistent about updating the game with gameplay fixes and new content. Not every update has been a hit, but this upcoming release gives fans another reason to hop back into the Wasteland while we wait for information on the Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas remakes. Pets were previously limited to just chilling around your C.A.M.P., but now you can take any pet you own out into the world as a companion by simply summoning them from your Pip-Boy. And since this is the Public Test Server, Bethesda has kindly given players access to one pet of each species to try out. However, keep in mind that once the test ends and the update hits live servers, you'll only be able to keep the pets you've previously obtained.

Like companions from the mainline entries in the Fallout series, players will be able to command their pets to stay, follow, attack enemies, and protect them from harm. Pets can also have their HP and damage increased through leveling up and combat upgrades, with progression eventually reaching a level cap of 200. As for which pets you'll be able to take on your adventures, there are cats, dogs, Radhogs, and, of course, the aforementioned Deathclaws. Deathclaws have long been some of the most dangerous creatures in the Fallout universe. I'll personally never forget the first time I ventured into Quarry Junction a little too early and got torn to shreds. Having one of these apex predators as a friend this time around is quite the reversal and a welcome power fantasy.

Deathclaws also come with two unique passive abilities. Dark Titan lets them find Black Titanium while exploring, while Fun-Festation grants extra Legendary Items for completing Infestations. The latter can eventually reward three-star items as it levels up. Other pet species also offer their own buffs, which are detailed in Bethesda's PTS announcement. The PTS also includes an update to Skyline Valley, which first appeared in the June 2024 update of the same name. The region is getting some much-needed TLC, with reworked mountains and hillsides, new pathways, and additional vegetation. Players can also pick up bounty hunting quests and start a new collectible questline involving mysterious glass canisters.

Finally, players can get an early look at Hideouts, large-scale enemy outposts that offer rewards for clearing them. Right now, the PTS features two locations: The Forever Farm in Burning Springs and Vault 63's Immortality Sector in Skyline Valley. Each has four difficulty levels, with tougher challenges offering better rewards. Hideouts are still in early testing, however, and aren't expected to fully launch until spring 2027. Any rewards earned during the test are temporary.

To try out the new content, install the Fallout 76 Public Test Server through your Xbox or PlayStation game library. You'll also need to join the Bethesda Game Studios Discord server and follow the instructions to obtain an access code. Once again, the World Pets update is currently planned for December 1, while Hideouts are still a ways off.

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