Former Bethesda Softworks marketing executive Pete Hines has discussed the 2018 Fallout 76 bag controversy, calling it "probably the most foolish decision" he made during his tenure at the company.

In an interview with DBLTAP, Hines—who was senior vice president of global marketing and communications at Bethesda prior to announcing his retirement in 2023—recalled the infamous Fallout 76 Power Armor Edition. Although the first multiplayer Fallout title launched with numerous technical issues, it's the collector's edition merchandise that remains a sore point for the former executive.

The company had promoted the premium Power Armor Edition as including a T-51B Power Armor Helmet, a special steel case, collectible figures, and notably, a canvas West Tek Duffel Bag. However, when customers received their copies in late 2018, they discovered the bag was actually made from low-quality nylon.

This sparked significant backlash from the Fallout community, particularly from loyal fans who had paid $200 for the special edition and felt misled. Bethesda moved quickly to address the situation, allowing affected customers to request a replacement canvas bag by submitting a form before the following May.

Hines doesn't look back favorably on this chapter of Fallout 76's launch, acknowledging that his oversight of the Power Armor Edition contents resulted in one of his biggest regrets at Bethesda.

"My initial reaction was, 'When did we decide to include a canvas bag in this collector's edition?' Because the version I approved didn't have one," he recalled. "The team was trying to enhance the Collectors Edition's value. We constantly debated margins with the finance department. I'd argue fiercely about pricing, saying 'We can't charge $300 for this, it's unreasonable.' But in this instance, their intentions were good."

"It's likely the most unwise decision I made at Bethesda."

Hines further explained that the switch to nylon resulted from an actual canvas shortage.

"There was genuinely a canvas supply issue, and the team made a substitution. My biggest mistake was not immediately insisting that we produce and ship canvas bags to everyone who wanted one. I was still frustrated that the bag had been included without my knowledge and that this canvas shortage occurred. It's probably the most regrettable action I took at Bethesda."

While Fallout 76 launched with well-documented problems, the game has substantially improved over time. Bethesda has released countless updates and post-launch content, including the recent CAMP Revamp update. Our updated review last year scored the multiplayer Fallout experience 7/10.

For more Bethesda insights, read about Hines' perspective on gaming subscription services such as Game Pass. You can also explore the former executive's comments about the naming of Arkane Austin's 2017 immersive sim, Prey.