Fallout 76’s Massive Burning Springs Update Adds Amazon Series Character and a Brand-New Location

Bethesda has released the huge Burning Springs update for Fallout 76, introducing a sprawling new location in Ohio, a bounty hunting system, additional public events, and a host of fresh gameplay mechanics.

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Players can now cross the bridge at Point Pleasant and venture into the wastelands of Burning Springs—a scorched, toxin-ridden region ruled by the ruthless Super Mutant known as the Rusty King. This marks the start of a new story arc that will unfold in future updates. Along the way, you’ll encounter new characters, including The Ghoul from Amazon’s Fallout series, voiced by Walton Goggins.

A major highlight of the update is the introduction of a fully-fledged Bounty Hunting system. Bounty hunters can pick up contracts at the Highway Town Saloon and set out after “grants”—random mutated targets whose traits also affect nearby enemies. Rare posters trigger Head Hunt events, challenging public encounters with legendary foes. Completing bounties nets players powerful rewards, including new 1–3 star legendary modifiers, many of which scale with kills or tie into “feral” mechanics.

Beyond the main storyline and bounty hunting, Burning Springs adds two new public events. In Gearin’ Up, you’ll help a trained Deathclaw survive a sparring match at a junkyard. In Sinkhole Solutions, you’ll destroy radscorpion nests under firestorms and sandstorms. New fish species have been added—including a “local legend”—and there’s a massive side quest, Dirty Laundry, tasking you with finding 150 (or maybe even 151?) secret Abraxodyne suitcases.

The update also kicks off the new Blood X Rust season, closes out Milepost Zero (with unique rewards redistributed to regional vendors), and introduces a new C.A.M.P. pet: the Ohio radhog, possibly the cutest-yet-grossest mutant for your base. The seasonal Dom Pedro weapon also debuts—a hand cannon with switchable calibers that can punch straight through enemies.

Meanwhile, Bethesda has revamped the emote wheel, improved the Gleaming Depths raid rewards, made tweaks to V.A.T.S., fixed numerous bugs, and enhanced combat, C.A.M.P., UI, and event systems.

Burning Springs is available now on all platforms and, according to the developers, will serve as the foundation for several upcoming Fallout 76 updates.

By the way, Season 2 of the Fallout TV series premieres December 17. You can check out the trailer here.