UPDATE: A new report suggests that Bethesda's freshly unveiled Fallout 76 is an online survival RPG, heavily inspired by the likes of DayZ and Rust.

These latest details comes via Kotaku's Jason Schreier, whose sources describe Fallout 76 as "an experimental new entry" in Bethesda's long-running franchise. The game was seemingly conceived as a prototype for a multiplayer version of Fallout 4, although much has apparently changed since then.

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Fallout 76 is said to retain Fallout 4's base-building - a staple of many online survival games - and will feature a range of other, currently unspecified, multiplayer mechanics. It's reportedly being developed by Bethesda's main Maryland team, responsible for the likes of Fallout 4 and Skyrim, and at the company's new Austin branch, formerly BattleCry Studios.

Kotaku also notes that Bethesda's latest takes its name from the Fallout series' Vault 76. This particular vault, mentioned in both Fallout 3 and 4, is described as a "control" vault, designed to open just 20 years after the nuclear war. As such, the world outside is likely to be far more desolate, and - conveniently enough - in substantially greater need of rebuilding compared to the relatively established post-apocalyptic civilisations seen in other Fallout games.

ORIGINAL STORY: Bethesda's mysterious broadcast has finally provided the goods and announced Fallout 76.

As is the trend for Bethesda's Fallout announcements, the trailer begins with a wireless radio playing a song (Take Me Home, Country Roads) indicating the setting could be Virginia. We then see a date on a Pip-Boy clock of 27th October 2102, which is earlier than any previous Fallout game.

The date.

The camera then pans out to show what must be a Fallout Vault on Reclamation Day, whatever that is - maybe when they leave the Vault? We then see the player character with a 76 emblazoned on their back - the number of the Vault - strapping a Pip-Boy to their wrist.

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We don't know exactly what Fallout 76 is - we'll have to wait for Bethesda's E3 conference (10th June, 6.30pm PT) for that - but we understand it isn't the next big numbered instalment in the Fallout series (ie. Fallout 5). Kotaku's Jason Schreier has heard Fallout 76 will be an online game of some sort.