Fallout 4 mod tool release date scheduled for 'early 2016'

Publisher Bethesda is preparing to release Fallout 4's mod tools in "early 2016," according to the game's executive producer.

In a newly published video from Bethesda, Todd Howard explained that Fallout 4's mod creation kit (which allows players to extensively edit and modify the game code) "will come out early 2016" on PC. However, he said that the timetable was still "fuzzy."

He explained: "We're doing it [mods] on the PC in a similar manner to what we did with Skyrim. You'll have all the PC mods, but what's really exciting is we are finally bringing it to console."

Such is the complex nature of creating mods, it is likely that Howard is not suggesting here that theXbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of Fallout 4 will give users creative mod controls. What is more likely, and has been previously understood, is that the console versions will be able to play modified PC code.

"Once we get the creation kit out on PC, it's then going to come to Xbox One," Howard added.

At E3 in June, Bethesda revealed that Fallout 4's mods would ship on Xbox One before PlayStation 4, as part of a wider deal arranged with Microsoft.

"There's a lot of back-end things we need to do, and once that's done the plan is to talk with Sony and get them on board. But the timetable is kind of fuzzy right now. "

The Fallout 4 release date has been set for November 10 across PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.

Bethesda has also announced that Fallout 4 will be getting expansion packs starting in 2016. Fallout 4's DLC will be available through the game's $30 DLC pass.

On top of paid DLC, Fallout 4 players will get free updates on a regular basis.