West Virginia makes Fallout 76's Reclamation Day real

Fallout 76’s Reclamation Day is now a real thing in West Virginia, bizarrely. It’s the name of the first quest in Fallout 76 and the day the vault dwellers left their underground sanctuary to rebuild America from its ashes. The governor of West Virginia, Jim Justice, has decided to make this post-apocalyptic celebration official, formalising it with a proclamation that you can read below.

Thank you West Virginia! Your beautiful state has been an incredible canvas for #Fallout76, and the support from your community has been truly wonderful.We’re proud and humbled by your Reclamation Day Proclamation. 🙏 #AlmostHeaven pic.twitter.com/VNaCLcEMSUNovember 15, 2018

When the latest Fallout setting was revealed in the first E3 trailers, West Virginia saw increased attention thanks to the hordes of Fallout fans hungry for more details about the game. The state officially partnered with Bethesda to take advantage of the potential influx of tourists, and it looks like making Reclamation Day real is one of those marketing stunts.

The proclamation mentions all the historical, cultural and natural locations presented by Fallout 76, framing it as a great way to get to know the state. What it does not mention are the hordes of mutants, deadly radiation and that players can launch nukes to devastate whole chunks of West Virginia.

Unfortunately, Reclamation Day won’t get you time off work.

If you’re a tourist in digital West Virginia, here’s how to get started in Fallout 76.

Fraser is the UK online editor and has actually met The Internet in person. With over a decade of experience, he's been around the block a few times, serving as a freelancer, news editor and prolific reviewer. Strategy games have been a 30-year-long obsession, from tiny RTSs to sprawling political sims, and he never turns down the chance to rave about Total War or Crusader Kings. He's also been known to set up shop in the latest MMO and likes to wind down with an endlessly deep, systemic RPG. These days, when he's not editing, he can usually be found writing features that are 1,000 words too long or talking about his dog.