It's been a difficult year for Bethesda with Fallout 76, a game that's done a fair amount of damage to Bethesda's stellar reputation, particularly with the Fallout series.

Tonight at Bethesda's E3 conference, Executive Producer Todd Howard responded to criticism of the game, calling it "well deserved".

"It's been an exciting year at Bethesda," he joked. "Given the excitement I'm surprised you're still here."

"We had a lot of difficulties at launch," he continued. "A lot of well deserved criticism."

But the silver lining, believes Howard, was the community that built up around the players still engaging with Fallout 76.

"It's one of the best online communities we've ever seen," he said. Everyone's nice to each other.

"This should give us hope for humanity when the apocalypse does come."

Roll out the welcome wagon!



Human NPCs will join #Fallout76 in our free update coming later this year, Wastelanders. #B3 pic.twitter.com/9bC659P4xl — Bethesda Game Studios (@BethesdaStudios) June 10, 2019

Bethesda hasn't given up on the game. Developers Tom Mustaine and Jeff Gardiner went on to unveil new content including Fallout 76's very first human NPCs complete with the kind of full dialogue trees we've come to expect from single player Fallout titles.

Appalachia's newest residents have their own lives, aspirations, and stories.



The interactions you decide and choices you make will leave a lasting impression. #Fallout76 #BE3 pic.twitter.com/MYTroJjleL — Bethesda Game Studios (@BethesdaStudios) June 10, 2019

Perhaps the biggest announcement: Fallout 76 is about to get a brand new Battle Royale mode called 'Nuclear Winter' that pits you against 51 other players for the honor of becoming the new 'Overseer'.

Vault 51 wants YOU as the new Overseer!



The catch? A battle to the death against your fellow Dwellers. #Fallout76 pits you against 51 other players vying for the prize in the latest free new mode, #NuclearWinter. #BE3 pic.twitter.com/FJVIV5kZYQ — Bethesda Game Studios (@BethesdaStudios) June 10, 2019

When in doubt: do a Battle Royale mode.