Bethesda Softworks is announcing that the Broken Steel expansion, set to arrive in March, will, amongst other things, increase the level cap for characters created in the game to 30. This means that players will be able to max out more skills and enjoy more perks as they go through the Capitol Wasteland.

Jeff Gardiner, who is the lead producer on Broken Steel, has talked to Eurogamer, confirming that the new level cap would also mean that the ending of the game as it stands at the moment would be amended. He stated that “along with removing the game's 'ending' with Broken Steel, we figure raising the level cap would allow them to. We plan on raising it to level 30 - but it will be a long, hard climb to get there!”

It's good to see that Bethesda has taken to heart the rather tough reaction that players have had towards the ending of the game, which felt rushed and not thought through. The final choice particularly felt out of place in a role playing game struggling at every moment to offer meaningful choice, which felt natural to the situation and to the character. Removing it might be the best way to make sure that the open ended nature of Fallout 3 is preserved and also allows Bethesda to create as much added content as they want.

Until March, Bethesda will deliver two other pieces of DLC for Fallout 3. In January, gamers will receive Operation: Anchorage, which will offer a chance to fight a simulated liberation of Alaska, while in February, The Pitt will arrive, taking role players to Pittsburg to fight for or against vicious gangs.

Don't forget that there's also a GECK out for Fallout 3, a complete modding tool allowing players to create everything from perks to weapons, enhancing those aspects of the game that felt neglected by Bethesda.