Fallout 76 Season 23: Burning Springs Release Date & Season 22 End Date

As Fallout 76 heads into its twenty-fifth major update, players are preparing to enter Burning Springs, a new chapter that expands the Appalachian wasteland into post-War southeastern Ohio. This update doesn't just bring a new region — it also marks the beginning of Season 23: Blood × Rust, following the end of Season 22: Appalachian Modern Living.

Burning Springs Update Overview

Burning Springs is scheduled to release on December 2, 2025, simultaneously across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. The update is free for all players and represents Fallout 76's second major map expansion, adding a fresh region filled with new characters, factions, creatures, and bounty-hunting mechanics.

Developed by Bethesda Game Studios and Double Eleven, and published by Bethesda Softworks, Burning Springs brings players deeper into the heart of the wasteland, with its scorched landscapes and industrial ruins inspired by southeastern Ohio.

One of the biggest highlights is the appearance of The Ghoul from the Fallout TV series — voiced once again by Walton Goggins — who takes on a new role offering Bounty Hunt missions. This crossover between game and show adds a familiar yet menacing face to Appalachia's ever-evolving lore.

Season 22 End Date & Season 23 Start Date

Fallout 76's current season, Season 22: Appalachian Modern Living, will officially end on December 2, 2025, making way for Season 23: Blood × Rust, which begins the same day.

This seamless handoff ensures no downtime between the end of one season and the start of the next — so players should finish any remaining Season 22 scoreboard ranks and challenges before the update goes live.

New Features in Burning Springs

Season 23: Blood × Rust

• Launches alongside the update.
• Introduces a raider-themed aesthetic with strong industrial and metallic motifs.
• Brings new rank rewards, challenges, and C.A.M.P. decor tied to the Rust King's faction.

New Region: Burning Springs, Southeastern Ohio

• The second world-map expansion after Expeditions.
• Features a mix of ruined industrial zones, small settlements, and irradiated wilderness.
• Thematically focused on “blood and machinery,” tying into the new raider conflict.

Bounty Hunt Missions

• Introduced via The Ghoul, who now operates as a quest-giver.
• Players can hunt notorious outlaws and mutated bosses for caps, reputation, and unique loot.
• Dozens of targets populate the event Bounty Hunting: Head Hunt, including figures like Anna the Nuka-Queen, The Cleaner, and The Rust King.

New Factions

• Rust King's Army – a brutal industrial raider faction dominating the region.
• Ash Cavers – remnants of miners who've turned their underground strongholds into fortresses.
• Lemon Boy Gang (mentioned) – a chaotic splinter group tied to the region's backstory.

New Items in Burning Springs

The expansion also introduces several fresh consumables, crafting components, and quest items to support the new gameplay systems.

Consumables

Junk Items

Miscellaneous Items

These additions deepen Fallout 76's crafting loop — hunters and explorers will find new reasons to collect, cook, and trade across Appalachia's markets.

For players looking to prepare ahead of the Burning Springs update, it's the perfect time to stockpile valuable materials and equipment. You can also buy Fallout 76 items from trusted trading platforms to speed up your progression and fully experience the new crafting and bounty systems without the grind.

New Characters & NPCs

From Archie the Kid to Beastmaster Lina and Gregory Dixon, Burning Springs introduces a diverse new cast. The settlements — particularly Highway Town, Athens, and Rust Kingdom Arena — serve as new social and quest hubs.

Notably, The Rust King himself rules as a regional boss, embodying the Blood × Rust theme in both lore and combat design.

New Creatures

Expect “Burning Variants” of classic Fallout monsters — Radhogs, Burning Deathclaws, Irradiated Oguas, and more — roaming the wastes. These variants feature enhanced damage and elemental fire effects, adding a more dangerous twist to exploration.

Locations Highlights

The new map is dense with lore-rich areas:

• Highway Town – central quest hub and settlement.
• Athens Lunatic Asylum – new dungeon-style interior.
• Hocking Hills State Park – scenic area turned ghoul-infested landmark.
• Rust Kingdom Arena – new event site with boss encounters.
• Tycoon Lake and Ash Cave – environmental storytelling zones rich in loot and encounters.

What to Expect as a Player

The Burning Springs update signals a major shift for Fallout 76's seasonal flow. Between the new bounty-hunting system and map expansion, it's one of the game's most ambitious updates since The Pitt.

Players should:

• Finish Season 22 progression before December 2.
• Prepare builds for new creature types — especially fire and radiation resistance.
• Plan inventory space for new gear and loot introduced through the bounty system.
• Explore early — being among the first to uncover Burning Springs' secrets often yields bonus rewards and discoveries.

Summary

• Update Title: Burning Springs
• Release Date: December 2, 2025
• Season 22 End: December 2, 2025
• Season 23 Start: December 2, 2025
• Developers: Bethesda Game Studios / Double Eleven
• Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
• Price: Free Update
• Key Features: New Ohio region, bounty-hunting missions, Blood × Rust theme, The Ghoul crossover

Burning Springs represents a true evolution for Fallout 76 — blending lore from the TV universe with fresh regional storytelling. With its gritty industrial tone, expanded map, and high-stakes bounty hunts, Season 23: Blood × Rust feels like the next natural step for players who've followed the game's steady growth since launch.

Veterans can look forward to new progression and tougher challenges, while returning players will find a compelling reason to dive back in — exploring a new frontier that fuses rust, blood, and the unyielding survival spirit of Appalachia.