Fallout 76 announces its biggest expansion to date

GAMING NEWS Fyra Frost - 02-Oct-2025, 1:00 pm

Bethesda is preparing to deliver the largest update to Fallout 76 since 2020. The new expansion, titled Burning Springs, arrives this December and will open the doors to a vast new region, introduce bounty hunting as a core gameplay system, and add multiple storylines, events, and rewards designed to keep the wasteland alive and evolving. Unlike previous DLC like the Atomic Angler Bundle, the Skyline Valley - Lost Treasure Bundle or the Atlantic City High Stakes Bundle, this new expansion will be available for free to all those who own the base game.

A new region: The Wastelands of Ohio

The expansion introduces a completely new explorable area set in the ruins of Ohio, accessible through the rebuilt Point Pleasant Bridge. This region adds more than 20 new locations and settlements, mixing eerie post-war landscapes with vibrant new social hubs. One standout is Highway Town, a community built among the remains of a shattered overpass, which now serves as both a player gathering spot and a quest hub.

The biggest new gameplay system is bounty hunting, which will be guided by "The Ghoul," voiced and portrayed by Walton Goggins, a direct tie-in to the Fallout television series. Players can take on quick missions known as Grunt Hunts, ideal for short play sessions, or participate in large-scale Headhunts, server-wide events where groups band together to eliminate powerful enemies. These hunts introduce unpredictable encounters, with adversaries ranging from armored deathclaws to bizarre themed gangs.

Burning Springs also brings a fresh narrative featuring new characters such as Eugene and the self-proclaimed Rust King, who leads a brutal faction obsessed with combat and dominance. Players will face choices that influence the outcome of this subplot, further expanding the ongoing lore of Appalachia. Alongside these story-driven elements, new enemy types like mutated RAD-Hogs will appear, and some can even be tamed as wasteland companions.

In addition to its central storyline and bounty system, the update introduces multiple public events. Among them are Sinkhole Solutions, which challenges players with environmental hazards, and Gearing Up, an event where survivors must escort armored deathclaws across hostile terrain. Fishing also receives an expansion, with new species, locations, and camp integration, providing a calmer contrast to the chaos of combat.

Players can expect a wide range of new rewards, including weapons, cosmetics, and references to the Fallout TV series. Notably, The Ghoul's iconic firearm will make its way into the game as a unique unlockable. With new loot and progression systems tailored for different playstyles, Burning Springs aims to keep both new and veteran players engaged.

A milestone for Fallout 76

According to the development team, this expansion has been designed as both a standalone adventure and a complement to the growing Fallout universe beyond gaming. Its release in December will coincide with the arrival of the TV show's second season, creating a bridge between the on-screen adaptation and the interactive wasteland.

With a massive new region, innovative bounty systems, challenging events, and a deeper connection to the broader franchise, Burning Springs marks a turning point for Fallout 76. It’s shaping up to be the biggest reason to return to Appalachia in years. I you haven't discovered this post-apocalyptic adventure yet, you just need to visit our comparator for the best deals on Fallout 76 digital codes.