Fallout fans surprised with free download you can grab now

A new experience has dropped for Fallout players looking to test their skills outside of the vault.

You’ve likely been a surfacer for some time now, fending for yourself as you explore the Wasteland, and so you’ve faced many challenges already.

However, this latest trial is more unforgiving than what you’ve previously come up against.

You should also check out Fallout 76: Milepost Zero, if you haven't already

A surprise free download has become available for Fallout 76 players.

It’s a public test version of Gleaming Depths, the next update for the game that’s due to launch later this year.

The new endgame event will add a gruelling last challenge, in which your character has to join forces with other players to successfully handle the raid bosses blocking your path.

Raids aren’t new to Fallout 76, however, don’t let that fool you into a false sense of security; Bethesda promises that this will “punish” certain character builds.

By all means, you can try to face these challenges alone – and you may even succeed – but Bethesda wants this update to be about teamwork.

“The Gleaming Depths raid is a new endgame activity designed to be faced by a party of four highly levelled and geared players,” explains the publisher.

While you need to learn to work as a cohesive unit, you don’t have to worry about "time gating” thanks to the update allowing for “back-to-back" raids.

You can wait for this major update to release, or you can test your skills right now on the public test servers.

To unlock the new content, simply head to the Ash Heap and find the Gleaming Depths entrance; new map markers have been incorporated to make locating this new area easier.

Once you’re there, who you choose to aid you through these raids will make or break you.

Choose wisely.