Fallout Power Armor Helmets sold at GameStop are being recalled due to risk of mold infection.
To be fair, this isn't Bethesda's fault this time. This time the blame can be squarely placed on GameStop's shoulders, who can then blame a defect at a Chinese manufacturing plant somewhere. Wherever the buck finally lands, the issue is the same: some T-51b Power Armor Helmets sold at GameStop last June had mold in them.
Mold is bad, particularly if you have a compromised immune system, damaged lungs, or an allergy to mold. Mold can cause respiratory illness requiring an antifungal agent. In serious cases, it can lead to cardiopulmonary issues and even death.
Before you start to panic, it's not every T-51b Power Armor Helmet sold. It's the Power Armor Nuka Cola Helmets with red painted finish and white exterior tubing. These are similar to the helmets that came packaged in the Power Armor Edition of Fallout 76 but have that special Nuka Cola paint job. They're all made of plastic with a polyester/cotton blend on the interior lining, which is where the mold is.
Only 32 of these helmets were sold out of the 20,000 total helmets, according to the CSPC. The recall was issued on September 19th.
Bethesda issued their own statement to DualShockers ensuring that everyone knew where to place the blame. “The helmets that are being recalled are not from our Fallout 76 Power Armor Edition but are instead a different line of helmets sold exclusively by GameStop. The Fallout 76 Power Armor Edition helmets are unaffected. Consumers should visit the product recall page for instructions if they have purchased the GameStop helmet.”
GameStop is offering full refunds to anyone with a moldy helmet. Details are on the CSPC website.
Even though it’s not technically Bethesda’s fault, it’s still a really bad look so soon after the whole nylon Fallout bag fiasco. And with Doom Eternal set to also have Doomguy helmets issued that are very similar to the Fallout helmets, there’s every chance a similar issue could hit those helmets too.
(via GameRant)