“Country boy” John Denver surely didn’t have a post-apocalyptic video game in mind when he co-wrote “Take Me Home Country Roads”, but “humanitarian” Denver, would likely be thrilled to see it used to raise money for such a noble cause.
Fallout 76 is the prequel to the Bethesda Game Studios award-winning Fallout 4 and the first online multiplayer game in the Fallout franchise. Fallout 76 reveals the remaining “Dwellers” of Vault 76 as they begin rebuilding their community after the Great War. The setting of the latest Fallout installment is…you guessed it, West Virginia. In a press release last week, Bethesda explained their choice of the classic John Denver song for the trailer.
“In the spirit of Fallout 76 and global rebuilding, we’re proud to team up with Habitat for Humanity — a global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries, to advance the vision that everyone deserves a decent place to call home.”
Beginning July 4, the inkspots-inspired cover of John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads”, as heard in the Fallout 76 official announcement trailer, will be available on the iTunes store for purchase. Watch the official Fallout 76 trailer below and then listen to John Denver’s original version of the song.
Bethesda will donate 100% of its proceeds, with a minimum donation of $100,00, from sales of the single to Habitat for Humanity to assist in the organization’s goal of transforming lives and communities through affordable housing.
Attendees of E3 2018, also had the opportunity to donate to Habitat before July 4, by visiting the Bethesda booth, June 12-14 during show hours. Show attendees could drop 79 cents into a Mement-o-Matic coin machine to collect a commemorative penny, with all proceeds from the machine going to Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing organization that builds and improves homes and assists with housing needs after natural disasters. Volunteers and homeowners aid in the construction and renovation of the houses, with homeowners contributing many hours of work on their own homes. Learn more about Habitat for Humanity here.
At the urging of his friends, Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr., changed his name to John Denver after moving to LA to pursue a career in music. His music reflected his love of nature and his political and social views. Denver was frequently recognized for his work with various charitable and humanitarian organizations. According to an article last October, Denver’s estate released his previously unheard song “The Blizzard.” coinciding with the 20th anniversary of his death. Denver died in 1997, after the plane he was piloting crashed, but his legacy as a humanitarian lives on through his music as he continues to help the less fortunate.
The scheduled release for Fallout 76 is November 14, 2018 on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One