GamesMMOFallout 76Fallout 76 player who nuked Phil Spencer says it was nothing personal: “He was the final boss in my eyes - In an RPG I prefer to be the bad guy"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesMMOFallout 76Fallout 76 player who nuked Phil Spencer says it was nothing personal: “He was the final boss in my eyes - In an RPG I prefer to be the bad guy"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

The Fallout 76 player who nuked Phil Spencer’s in-game camp wasn’t protesting the recent closure of Bethesda studios but had instead been planning the attack for weeks.
In a shocking move earlier this week,Microsoft decided to close Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks, two acclaimed studios under the Bethesda umbrella. In the hours after the announced closures, a Twitter user noticed thatsomeone had detonated a nuclear bomb in Phil Spencer’s Fallout 76 camp, eliminating the Xbox boss' home base.
At the time, this was commonly seen as an act of protest against the Xbox head for the closures of the Bethesda studios. It’s easy to see why -Arkane Austinand Tango Gameworks both had legions of fans around the world,all of which have been calling out Microsoftfor its decision to shutter the two beloved developers, despite critical acclaim and millions of games sold.
It turns out the Fallout 76 attack wasn’t a form of protest, but rather it was the culmination of weeks of planning from one player. “It’s not much to it I’ve been planning to catch him for a while now to see if he would agree to a fight,” the Fallout 76 player toldKotaku, adding that “Trying to take him down was just a personal goal for me after I finished the main quest line.”
It’s a very strange turn of events in what at first seemed a pretty straightforward scenario. You’d be absolutely forgiven for assuming this was an act of protest against the closure of several adored studios.
Revenue from game subscriptions like Xbox Game Pass has barely grown in 2 years, potentially explaining Microsoft’s studio closures.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”