Fallout 76 B.E.T.A. Impressions

After 20 hours spent in the West-Virginian wasteland of Fallout 76 via the now-concluded B.E.T.A. (playing on Xbox One X, if you’re curious), I’ve been left with an overarching sense of curiosity. Mainly, I’m curious why Fallout 76 exists.
That’s not meant to be a criticism. With so many elements working together and against one another, I wonder why this is the next Fallout game that we’re playing, as opposed to one that leans harder into the traditional story-driv