Who would’ve thought that nearly eight years in, Fallout 76 would still be evolving in ways that feel both nostalgic and refreshingly new? Yet here we are, prepping our Power Armour for a trip across the Ohio River in Fallout 76: Burning Springs, the game’s latest major update, set to launch this December. Bethesda gave us an exclusive first look at what’s to come during a recent online showcase hosted by Bill LaCoste and Jon Rush, followed by a Q&A session where I got to dig deeper into the new content and even sneak in a question of my own. What followed was a compelling glimpse into a bold new chapter for Appalachia, one steeped in sand, raiders, and yes, Deathclaws.
Beyond the Bridge
Hints of this update had already started bubbling up through the community’s ever-watchful data miners on the Public Test Server. Rumours of changes around Point Pleasant and the once-collapsed Silver Bridge turned out to be more than just speculation. For the first time, players will be able to cross that iconic structure into uncharted territory: Welcome to Burning Springs, a new region that introduces parts of Ohio into the world of Fallout 76.
Visually, Burning Springs stands apart. Where Appalachia has always leaned into lush forests or irradiated decay, this new region is defined by its arid aesthetic: think desert dust, broken highways, and makeshift raider camps patched together with old-world metal and bad intentions. During the presentation, Bethesda made it clear that Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, and the upcoming second season of the Fallout TV series served as direct inspirations. When I asked Jon Rush about this during the Q&A, he broke it down into three design pillars: Desert, Deathclaws, and Raiders. And honestly? It shows.
All hail the Rust King
Your journey into Fallout 76: Burning Springs begins with a quest called The Phoenix in the Flame. Without spoiling too much, you’ll end up in the clutches of the Rust King, a super mutant overlord who rules the aptly named Rust Kingdom. From the moment he’s introduced, standing over a gladiator-style arena reminiscent of Caesar’s Legion, you get the sense that this guy isn’t just another brute with a crown. He’s a force, a challenge, and in some way a comical relief.
Eventually, you’ll find your way to Highway Town, a rugged hub full of shops, side quests, and that trademark Fallout hostility just beneath the surface. It serves as a pseudo-safe zone, functionally similar to Whitespring Resort but dressed in rust and broken neon. Characters like Runt dole out missions, and the unfolding story will gradually present an opportunity to challenge the Rust King’s rule, though you’ll need to gather an unlikely team first.
Of course, no wasteland is complete without creatures to ruin your day. Alongside returning enemies are new horrors like the Hog Rat, a grotesque hybrid that looks like it crawled straight out of a nightmare. Raiders, specifically the Rust Raiders, dominate the region, and Deathclaws are not only back, but armoured and angrier than ever.
Not just a ghoul but THE Ghoul
One of the biggest surprises of the presentation came in the form of a very familiar face tucked away in the back of The Last Resort bar. Yes, The Ghoul, as played by Walton Goggins in the Amazon TV series, makes his debut in Fallout 76: Burning Springs. Canon purists, don’t worry… it works. Thanks to ghoulification, he’s lived long enough to show up in this timeline, prosthetic teeth and all. And yes, Goggins recorded all his lines for the game, prosthetics in place to match the voice to the character.
The Ghoul doesn’t just show up to say a few lines and disappear. He’s the face of a brand-new feature: Bounty Hunting. Offering two types of contracts: Grunt Hunts for solo players and Head Hunts for teams. This system tasks you with tracking and eliminating high-value targets. Grunt Hunts are plentiful and approachable, while Head Hunts are limited to one per server and offer much bigger rewards. You’ll travel to roughly twenty unique locations, fighting through enemy waves before your bounty appears, with a countdown ticking toward failure. It’s a gritty, satisfying new loop, and while it’s currently exclusive to Burning Springs, Jon and Bill hinted at expanding it across Appalachia in future updates.
Sinkholes and Super Mutants
Two new public events were also showcased—Sinkhole Solutions and Gearing Up. The former drops your team into a battle against Radscorpions and the fiery Ogua after wiping out infested nests. The latter might just be one of the most Fallout things ever conceived: escorting and armouring a Deathclaw as it lumbers through the wasteland. It’s bizarre, it’s tense, and it all culminates in a brutal showdown against a Matriarch Deathclaw.
More than just Dust
Beyond the core content, Burning Springs brings with it quality-of-life consistency. You can set up C.A.M.P.s, go fishing (with a few new species to catch), and yes, you can nuke the region. Just not Highway Town. Nuking other areas will reveal unique flora for crafting and exploration. Meanwhile, Milepost Zero and the Blue Ridge Caravan Company are relocating to Highway Town, further cementing the area as a new player hub.
If you’re new to Fallout 76, you can jump straight into Burning Springs right after emerging from Vault 76. Jon and Bill were honest about that: although they want new players to enjoy the content in any way they prefer, they also gently recommend exploring the main game first and, more importantly, making a few friends. Still, the option is there, and that accessibility is appreciated.
For those playing as Ghouls, introduced in a previous update, Burning Springs continues to deliver unique content. Ghoul characters will enjoy alternate dialogue, different reward paths, and choices that reflect their… shall we say, unique worldview. Bethesda’s ongoing commitment to making these perspectives matter in the world is something that deserves credit.
The Question
Now, let’s address the question that crops up with every update: cross-play and cross-save. According to Jon and Bill, it’s just not feasible right now. The team is focused on delivering content like Burning Springs, and implementing full cross-save would require a huge shift in resources. It’s not a hard no—but it’s not something to expect any time soon. At seven years deep, it’s a tough needle to thread.
That said, players won’t have to wait long to get their hands on the new update. Fallout 76: Burning Springs lands on the Public Test Server October 2nd, with a full release planned for early December, right alongside the launch of Fallout TV Season 2. A clever bit of synergy, and frankly, a well-timed way to pull old and new players back into the wasteland.
