Toilet paper shortages are not just happening in the real world–they’re happening in the virtual world of Fallout 76 too.
It’s a pandemic world these days, and people are stocking up on essentials. Canned soups, vegetables, and staples like rice and pasta are getting hard to come by, while even more essential items like toilet paper have virtually disappeared from store shelves. Apparently, folks think the end of the world will mean toilet paper production grinds to a halt.
Maybe that’s true. But if the end of the world is anything like Fallout 76, we’ll be fine. Toilet paper will still be around. It will just cost you an arm and a leg.
Since art loves to imitate life, players in Fallout 76 have taken to hoarding toilet paper due to the ongoing coronavirus epidemic. The virus isn’t actually present in Fallout 76 (although there are certainly other diseases you can catch), however, this hasn’t stopped people from buying up entire inventories of toilet paper in order to resell at a huge markup.
This simultaneous increase in demand combined with a restriction of supply has caused Fallout 76’s TP prices to skyrocket. A single roll that would have sold for just a few caps now sells for a few hundred–sometimes thousands.
It’s ludicrous. And yet, folks are continuing the joke like it’s the end of the world. Anything for a laugh these days, right?
Meanwhile, in the real world, people really are unable to find toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and other essentials to stock up for an extended pandemic. It’s getting crazy out there. You can hardly blame a poor gamer for turning to the virtual world in order to feel like they have as much toilet paper as they could ever need.
Whether or not you’ve got a toilet paper hoarding problem, stay home, stay safe, and wash your hands. And if you’ve got an extra roll of TP to spare, maybe consider giving it to a friend. Just leave it on your porch and they’ll come to pick it up. Social distancing is still a thing, too.
Source: Polygon, Twitter
