Fallout 76 update 2.31 was released on October 20, 2026, for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. This maintenance update prioritizes resolving exploits within “The Slasher” questline and adjusting rewards for Infestation activities.
The Slasher Quest and Exploit Fixes
The primary focus of this update is addressing multiple exploits discovered in “The Slasher: Mask of Truth” quest. Bethesda has patched several progression loops, specifically regarding grave-digging map reuse and the collection of quest-related notes. These changes ensure that the questline functions as designed.
Infestation Rewards and Perk Adjustments
Bethesda has increased the Scrip rewards for completing Infestations. This adjustment aims to make the gameplay loop more viable for endgame progression. Additionally, the Electric Absorption legendary perk now correctly activates when players are targeted by Infestation-type enemies, correcting a previous oversight where these enemies did not trigger the perk’s effects.
Bethesda is currently investigating a reported issue where some Infestations complete automatically without player input. A fix for this specific bug is expected in a future update.
Weapon Balance and AI Changes
Update 2.31 introduces corrections for explosive damage calculations across several weapons, including the Gamma Gun, Cremator, Resolve Breaker, and Hellstorm Missile Launcher. These corrections ensure that damage output aligns with intended values.
Players participating in encounters involving Mad Dog Malone will notice a change; the NPC now utilizes a Minigun. This change was implemented to prevent pathing issues caused by his previous melee-charge behavior, which often led to the character getting stuck.
New Crafting and Inventory Management
The update adds several new vanity options to the Armor Workbench. Players can now access crafting recipes for the following outfits:
- Holiday Belle
- Black Ice
- Lucky Shot
- Enclave Technician
Inventory management has been adjusted with a weight reduction for Poseidon Energy items. Both the Poseidon Energy Outfit and Headwear now weigh 0.1. This change allows players to carry these items with a minimal impact on total carry capacity.
Stability and Performance
While the update is available for all platforms, it includes specific crash fixes targeted at Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 consoles. These stability improvements address reported hardware-specific crashes. Further details on console-specific performance can be found on UpdateCrazy.
