Fallout 76 teases new content, and fans are already sharing their theories

Bethesda has teased some 2026 content for Fallout 76 with a cryptic quote referencing one Toxic Valley location. Some Fallout 76 fans think they have already deciphered the message, which appears to hint at a new cryptid.

As with many live-service games, the developers of Fallout 76 publish annual letters reflecting on the past year. These updates sometimes arrive near the end of the calendar year and other times coincide with the game’s anniversary. Fallout 76‘s case is usually a mix of both, as its anniversary falls on November 18. This year’s letter was published on December 14, authored by Creative Director Jon Rush and Production Director Bill LaCoste.

Fallout 76 Directors Tease Graninger Farm Mystery

As is tradition, the 2025 letter from Fallout 76 directors included a teaser for what’s coming in the year ahead. “The Barndoors in Graninger Farmstead open once twilight has drawn nigh,” reads the cryptic quote, attributed to an unknown in-game character. The referenced location lies in Fallout 76’s Toxic Valley region, west of the Palace of the Winding Path and just southeast of Black Bear Lodge.

Fallout 76 Fans Think the Devs Are Teasing a New Cryptid

The teaser has sparked widespread discussion among Fallout 76 fans, with some speculating that it may contain a hidden meaning. One Reddit user, NorthernLow, suggested it could be a code, noting that the first letters of the middle words in the quote—Barndoors in Graninger Farmstead open once twilight—form the word “Bigfoot.” The observation was enough to convince a vocal section of fans that Bigfoot is set to expand Fallout 76‘s cryptid roster sometime in 2026.

Bethesda’s open-world RPG currently features more than a dozen cryptids, ranging from the Mothman and Grafton Monster to The Beast of Beckley and the more recently added Jersey Devil. Many, such as the Wendigo Colossus and Flatwoods Monster, draw inspiration from Appalachian folklore. While modern Bigfoot legends are primarily rooted in the Pacific Northwest, the creature is one of the most widely recognized cryptids worldwide, so its inclusion in Fallout 76 would not necessarily feel out of place—particularly given that the game already features cryptids not strictly tied to West Virginia folklore, such as the Snallygaster.

An alternative name for Bigfoot is Sasquatch, derived from Salish languages spoken by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest. It is adapted from terms such as sasq’ets and se’sxac, which academic sources loosely interpret as “wild man” and “hairy man,” but while noting that these are not direct translations. Fallout 76 has already riffed on this moniker with the Sheepsquatch, a legendary cryptid introduced in the Wild Appalachia update in April 2019. Beyond being a portmanteau of “sheep” and “Sasquatch,” the creature was given a role in the game’s lore similar to that of Sasquatch in real-world folklore.

While Sasquatch may have some overlap with Sheepsquatch, Bethesda’s cryptic quote isn’t the only indicator that Bigfoot is indeed coming to its hit game. Following the early December 2025 release of the Fallout 76 Burning Springs update, some Bigfoot-looking footprints can be found in several locations across Appalachia. These include Graninger Farm mentioned in the teaser, as well as the Starlight Drive-in and a small clearing north of Checkpoint Canyon, both of which are found in the newly added Burning Springs region stretching across the westernmost edge of the map. Prior to the latest patch, Fallout 76 referenced Bigfoot with the Big Feet Rug, which was exclusively available during Season 16: Duel with the Devil from late March through mid-June 2024. The cryptid also inspired the Fasnacht Bigfoot Mask that was added in early 2025 and is expected to remain available whenever the Helvetia event returns.

Released

November 14, 2018

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol