Background information
Nightdive Studios is fighting to keep long-lost games out of obscurity
by Philipp Rüegg
Fallout 76: Burning Springs – The Ghoul and you
1.10.2025
Translation: Megan Cornish
Fallout 76 brings the coolest character from the TV series into the game, as Walton Goggins’ Ghoul becomes a quest giver in the new expansion Burning Springs.
What’s the coolest thing about Prime Video’s Fallout TV series? The set designs? No. The detailed realisation of the game world? Nope. It’s Walton Goggins, who delivers the series’ best performance as the nameless Ghoul. The developers at Bethesda have apparently figured this out, because in the new Fallout 76 expansion, Burning Springs, the leather-skinned cowboy becomes a central NPC – complete with Goggins’ original voice.
But that was 2018. A lot’s happened since then: Wastelanders introduced NPCs, Steel Dawn added the Brotherhood of Steel, The Pitt expanded to Pittsburgh. And now Burning Springs is the biggest update since 2020 – an entirely new region in post-apocalyptic Ohio, stretching across a scorched desert landscape.
Western vibes and bounty hunting in the wasteland
Ohio’s in the Midwest of the United States, not actually part of the Wild West – the romanticised version which pop culture has sold us for decades. In the world of Fallout 76, however, that doesn’t matter: Highway Town – the expansion’s central community hub – exudes a dusty Western atmosphere that immediately grabs me.
Here, you meet The Ghoul in the Last Resort Saloon (subtle) to take on his infamous bounty hunting missions. The system’s well-thought-out: there are simple, routine hunts en route and more challenging bounty hunts as public events, giving all players on the server a role. This massive amount of manpower’s needed, because developer John Rush claims the quests are among the most demanding things the game throws at players.
Bethesda promises regularly rotating bounties, giving players a reason to keep checking back for The Ghoul. Diligently collecting bounties can even get you access to The Ghoul’s legendary revolver from the TV series.
More story, more decisions
The preview session – which I was able to attend virtually – had some promising dialogue options reminiscent of classic Fallout. For example, one mission began with a conversation with a seemingly helpless woman, who – after a few wrong(?) decisions – turned out not to be so helpless after all. This resulted in my character later coming to in prison.
Behind bars, he met various fellow inmates to either forge alliances or start fights with. These kinds of multi layered quests are what define the Fallout series. If the launch is to be believed, there’s now much more space for branching storylines in the online version of the RPG.
The Rust King, trained Deathclaws and new factions
Besides The Ghoul, Fallout 76 is getting another exciting new character called the Rust King – an intelligent super mutant who has more to offer than the usual «GRAAAAH SMASH!» While we haven’t seen much of the ugly muscleman yet, what has been shown is promising. As a quest giver, his influence permeates the entire Burning Springs region. Players have to interact with him and his minions as part of various missions.
Speaking of missions, have you always wanted to fight side-by-side with a Deathclaw? Then I’ve got good news for you. In the new Arena mode, you’ll receive situational support from the monsters as you work together to mow down waves of enemies.
The update also introduces new human factions whose favour you’ll have to win. Each faction has its own quest lines, rewards and moral dilemmas. The developers promise that players’ decisions will have real consequences.
Rewards include unique Western-themed weapons and armour. There are also brilliant new furnishings for the camp and even new fish to catch. Shooting all the time gets boring after a while.
Accessibility and long-term plans
The Fallout 76 servers have grown considerably as a result of the TV series, and the community’s expected to grow even further with the second instalment, which launches in December. Bethesda knows this, and is making sure new low-level players aren’t left behind. There’s no minimum level required for a trip to Burning Springs.
Enemies scale with a player’s level, so both newcomers and veterans will be challenged. According to Bethesda’s John Rush, «There’s never been a better time for adventures with friends in the Wasteland». That’s marketing, of course, but what was shown at the event backs him up.
The add-on’s a good deal either way, because Burning Springs is free for all Fallout 76 owners. No season pass, no premium currency, no catch. After all the controversies of the early years, it’s almost suspicious. But maybe Bethesda has learned that you can’t win back trust with microtransactions.
All’s well that ends well?
A botched launch doesn’t necessarily spell the end for a game. No Man’s Sky went on to become an indie favourite, and Final Fantasy XIV developed into one of the most successful multiplayer games of all time after its reboot. Whether Fallout 76 can one day boast a similar success story remains to be seen.
But Bethesda's going in the right direction. Update by update, patch by patch, the unplayable 2018 debut has been transformed into a decent online RPG – and Burning Springs has given sceptical franchise fans a strong reason to give it another chance.
The fact that it needs a TV star might be a sign of Bethesda’s current situation. After the pretty mediocre Starfield and endless Elder Scrolls VI delays, the studio desperately needs a win. Can Walton Goggins help them get one? He’s a safe pair of hands after all.
Fallout 76: Burning Springs is due to be launched in December 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series and PC.
Rainer Etzweiler
Freelance Editor
rainer@rockstar.chIn the early 90s, my older brother gave me his NES with The Legend of Zelda on it. It was the start of an obsession that continues to this day.
Gaming
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
Background information
Interesting facts about products, behind-the-scenes looks at manufacturers and deep-dives on interesting people.
Show all
