A collectible Chronicle Power Armor Helmet is being recalled due to a hazard within the product. Fans had hoped to get their hands on cool collectibles from the Fallout franchise and several companies have stepped up to deliver just that, but it seems that one of these items has gone badly wrong.
Why is the Chronicle Power Armor Helmet Being Recalled?
There are any number of reasons why an item such as this could be recalled, but the actual reason is certainly one of the stranger ones I've heard. Apparently, there's the possibility that there could be mold in the fabric insert on the inside of the helmet.A bit of mold might not be that big of a deal to you, but there are people out there with mold allergies who could suffer worrisome health problems from the presence of mold. There's also a risk to immunocompromised people, and then there's the risk fo the mold potentially spreading and messing up your house. Ask anyone who has had to deal with a mold problem in their home and you'll get a good idea of how serious this problem could potentially be.
As such, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall for this product.
Chronicle Power Armor Helmet Recall Details
It's important to note that this is not the helmet that was shipped with the Power Armor Edition of Fallout 76; this is an entirely separate item. They are, however, working on a full-sized Power Armor collectible and they have done work on Collector's Editions in the past, including the Power Armor Edition itself. For now, though, the scope of this recall is restricted to this one specific item, when they released a specific standalone T-51b Power Armor Helmet (the Power Armor Edition was just plain T-51).Here are the relevant details of the recall from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission page on the recall:
Hazard:We've reached out to Bethesda, GameStop, and Chronicle and will update this piece if we have any additional details. If you happen to own one of these Chronicle Power Armor Helmet collectibles, you should contact the GameStop you purchased it from to get a refund.Mold can be present on the fabric insert inside the helmet, posing a risk of respiratory or other infections in individuals with compromised immune systems, damaged lungs or an allergy to mold.
[...]
Description:
This recall involves the T-51b Power Armor Helmet. The one-size fits-all helmet is constructed of ABS plastic and has a polyester/cotton blend fabric liner with elastic. The product name “T-51b” and “Power Armor Helmet” appears on the product packaging.
Remedy:
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled collectible helmets and contact GameStop for a full refund and return instructions. GameStop is contacting all known purchasers directly.
Update: Bethesda confirmed with us further that it was NOT the Power Armor Edition helmet. Thus if you bought that, your helmet is not impacted by this recall. Here's the precise statement from them:
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: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/Chronicle-Recalls-Power-Armor-Collectible-Helmets-Due-to-Risk-of-Mold-Exposure-Recall-Alert.
Update #2: GameStop and Chronicle have both responded with the same statement, the relevant portions of which we'll reproduce below:
The recall only involves the Fallout 1:1 Power Armor Nuka Cola Helmets that have a red painted finish with white-colored exterior tubing around the sides.In short, if you're not one of the 32 people who has a Chronicle Power Armor Helmet that looks like the one in our header image, you're not affected by this recall.[...]
Only 32 units of the recalled helmets were actually sold and shipped to consumers, and all of those consumers have been identified and notified directly about the recall, offering a full refund. No other models, editions, or colors of Power Armor Helmets are involved in this recall. Accordingly, the Fallout 76 Power Armor Edition helmets, which have a gun-metal or grey color painted finish and gray or black colored exterior tubing around the sides, and which were sold as part of a bundle with a video game and other collectible items, are not being recalled.
What do you think of the Chronicle Power Armor Helmet being recalled? Are you upset that you're going to be losing out on a cool collectible? Let us know in the comments below!