Despite releasing the free Wastelanders content update for Fallout 76, it would seem that Bethesda has introduced a new batch of game breaking bugs along with it.
According to reports from a number of players, some of the NPC companions from the Wastelanders update are stealing their weapons and ammo if they are dead. In other words, if a player is unfortunate enough to be killed next to an NPC, there is a chance that that NPC will steal the dead player's equipment and use it for themselves without the option to take it back. As one might imagine, the bug can be seen as a major inconvenience, especially if players lose rare or powerful weapons.
So far, it is not exactly clear what causes the bug to activate because other players' reports have conflicted with those that reported the bug by saying that it never happened to them. Nonetheless, Bethesda has acknowledged the issue and is looking into it. Hopefully, the company will administer a quick fix and patch out the bug before more players are unfortunate enough to have their weapons stolen by an NPC. For now, it would be best to not use any rare weapons and store them in a safe place and switch over to less powerful variations that are worth losing.
Seeing how Wastelanders is fairly recent, having bugs in it shouldn't be seen as too surprising. Due to that, as players continue to uncover more of them, Bethesda is sure to continue removing them out of the game, which in return will provide a smoother experience in the future.
Game0breaking bugs are nothing new to Fallout 76, nor Bethesda games in general. For instance, a few months ago, players reported that a bug caused them to lose their armor stats and weapon durability, which created a lot of chaos and fear within the community. Additionally, another bug was discovered around that same time that allowed players to steal equipment from other players. Although the bugs were patched out eventually, they already created enough damage for the game and those who were directly affected. Still, Bethesda continues to aim for a better Fallout 76 experience for everyone.
Source: GamingBolt