While Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase that runs annually every Summer Game Fest is primarily a time for its game publishing wing to show off all the new games and projects coming to Xbox platforms across console and PC, the firm also uses the presentation to announce content updates for its existing titles as well.

During this year's show, it did exactly that with a sweet new trailer for The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), ZeniMax Online Studios' long-running 2014 MMO set in Bethesda's grand RPG universe. Specifically, the trailer reveals that the focus of the upcoming Season 1 will be on the Thieves Guild — one of my favorite The Elder Scrolls factions, and one that's been out of the spotlight for quite some time, too.

Indeed, there hasn't been new Thieves Guild content in ESO since 2016, so it's nice to see that the scoundrel and vagabonds out there are finally getting some love after a decade-long period on the backburner. You can watch the trailer below; Season 1 is slated to go live on July 8, 2026, and will be available on ESO's Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC (Steam, Epic Games), Mac, PS5, and PS4 platforms.

Though the content in Season 1 "builds on the original narrative" for the Thieves Guild, ESO's developers say that it will also feature "a new story and cast" of characters that make this more than a simple extension of what was already there. The storyline will largely be centered around a conflict between the guild and the Koldane Cartel — a shady clan of merchants suspected to be a front for organized crime.

It's also worth noting the presence of Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness, at the end of this teaser; he loves causing chaos, so I'm sure we'll be dealing with plenty of it when he shows up.

The narrative's quests will no doubt challenge players to sneak, steal, and assassinate, though the trailer also makes it clear you can take a more direct combat-forward approach to your objectives too — a good option for those roleplaying more of a swashbuckling rogue. It's also been said that the story will expand into the High Rock kingdom of Daggerfall.

Outside of the Thieves Guild content, ZeniMax noted that "Season 1 will bring many new adventures and evergreen systems to add new ways for players to engage with the characters, guilds and environments around them." So all-in-all, whether you're a fan of the Thieves Guild or not, Season 1 should bring plenty for all players to enjoy.

Season 1 is ESO's first full season after "Season 0," the period that kicked off after the developers announced the move to a seasonal content model earlier this year. The MMO is shifting away from paid expansions, and will instead release most forms of new content for free across three-month long seasons reminiscent of those in other live-service multiplayer titles.

Will you play The Elder Scrolls Online to check out Season 1 and the new Thieves Guild story content? Let me know below. Remember that it's on Xbox Game Pass, so if you have a membership you can jump in for no extra cost!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Elder Scrolls Online is one of the few genuinely strong MMOs still thriving today, alongside RuneScape, World of Warcraft, and a handful of others. Unlike those PC-only giants, though, Elder Scrolls Online is also available on console.

That wider availability has always been a strength, but one thing that has frustrated Xbox players for years is the lack of Xbox Play Anywhere support. The feature would allow players to carry their saves and achievements across console and PC using the same Xbox account.

For those unaware of what ESO is, the game lets you team up with friends or explore solo in a massive shared world, featuring regions from across the Elder Scrolls series. The story takes place before the events of Skyrim, giving players a chance to explore Tamriel in an earlier era.

A long-requested feature finally set to arrive, just not quite yet

TrueAchievements actually spotted this before us, so credit where it’s due.

Over on Reddit, ZeniMax Community Manager u/ZOS_JessicaFolsom cross-posted from the ESO forums confirming that the team plans to roll out Xbox Play Anywhere later this year and join Xbox Game Pass. That means the feature is not live yet, even though it briefly appeared on the game’s Xbox app page.

The Community Manager stated: “Later this year, ESO for Xbox will be available as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, including PC support.”

“Later this year” could mean any time in the coming months, but it is still encouraging to see the feature officially on the way.

It is also worth noting that the game is coming to Game Pass. For a buy-to-play MMO, being included in the service is a significant addition and helps strengthen Game Pass overall.

There is one important caveat, though. This is not an account merge or transfer system.

Players will log into their Xbox account through the Xbox app on PC and play on the Xbox servers. Existing PC accounts will remain separate and continue running on the PC servers.

I have not played the game in quite some time, so I was not even aware that the servers were separated like this.

It is also worth mentioning that ZeniMax Online Studios has confirmed that full cross-play between Xbox, PlayStation, and PC is in development. However, there is no release window yet, and it is described as a technically complex process.

Passing it over to you!

Are you planning to try ESO on PC once Xbox Play Anywhere support goes live, or are you sticking to console? Let us know in the comments and make sure to take part in our poll below:

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

One of the longer-running games in the Bethesda Softworks umbrella is getting a major shake-up, with The Elder Scrolls Online fully embracing a shift into a seasonal model. While the team at ZeniMax Online Studios was already experimenting with this shift last year, it's now being fully embraced, with regular seasons and a complete rethink of how new quests, zones, and more are added to the game.

During a recent Q&A ahead of Wednesday's livestream, I had the chance to listen to game director Nick Giacomini and executive producer Susan Kath discuss how The Elder Scrolls Online is changing across 2026.

First up, Kath indicates that most new playable content will now be free for all players who own the base game or are playing through a subscription like Xbox Game Pass.
Prior expansions will be folded into the base experience for The Elder Scrolls Online as the Seasons progress.

Per Giacomini, the team is focused on "resilience and transformation," and is trying to provide a far more transparent approach to updates and planning than has been given to players in the past. Each season will last for three months, with Season 0 kicking off in the spring and adding the Dark Brotherhood, Imperial City, Orsinium, and Thieves Guild to the main game.

Season 0 brings a limited-time event called the Night Market, which may stick around for longer if it's well-received by players. This is described as a group event zone, with differing factions to aid in exchange for special rewards, including a new house.

Promised reworks are also being included, starting with Season 0, with the Dragonknight class. The Two-Handed skill lines and the Werewolf are all getting a significant rebalance and visual refresh.

Looking ahead, Season 1 will bring new story quests and Thieves Guild-related content, as well as a new quest involving Sheogorath. Meanwhile, Season 2 will see the Greymoor expansion (which added the province of Skyrim) added to the main game. Additional rebalancing and visual reworks will be spread throughout these seasons and beyond.

A team at ZeniMax Online Studios is also hard at work on cross-play, though players shouldn't expect this to arrive anytime soon.

For players interested in earning more special stuff, The Elder Scrolls Online is getting a battle pass-esque system called Tamriel Tomes. Completing weekly and seasonal challenges unlocks new pages with new rewards. Seals of Endevaour, armor, weapon styles, and more will be included.

The Elder Scrolls Online is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Mac. It's also included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

While still recovering in the wake of a game cancellation and staff being cut, ZeniMax Online Studios' studio game director, Rich Lambert, wants the team to be the most successful studio possible.

During a recent conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Lambert and other members of the studio leadership talked about what it's been like at the team following Microsoft's round of gaming layoffs in July, as well as what the studio hopes to do in the future.

"I want us to be the most successful studio in our entire organization," Lambert says. "That's a big thing to say because we've got Bethesda Game Studios, we've got MachineGames, and id – the list goes on. But I want us to be that group that everybody looks at, like we do with [Bethesda Game Studios]."

"You look at Todd Howard's group and [...] it's, like, five Game of the Years in a row, and this massive legacy and all that," he adds. "That's what I want us to do."

ZeniMax Online Studios is known for its work on The Elder Scrolls Online, but prior to July's cuts, the team was working on another big, unannounced massively multiplayer online role-playing game. This game, codenamed Blackbird, was canceled despite Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer reportedly loving it when he played it.

When asked more specifically about the team's plans, Lambert does say he still wants to make more outside of The Elder Scrolls Online.

"I want to make more games," he replies. "I'm not done yet, and the team continues to want to make more games as well.

"I don't think you can ride one thing into forever. I mean, obviously we want ESO to be successful, we want it to be that 30-year MMO, and commit to it," he adds. "But if you put all your eggs in one basket, there's issues."

Even before the recent layoffs, ZeniMax Online Studios was changing how it worked on The Elder Scrolls Online, with 2025's updates taking a vastly different shape compared to the regular yearly Chapter model that the team had previously used.

Xbox is still feeling the weight of recent cuts

The layoffs in July had far-reaching implications across the Xbox division, with multiple teams affected and numerous projects canceled.

One particularly painful loss was the closure of The Initiative, a studio founded back in 2018. The team was working on a reboot of Perfect Dark, which had been shown off in the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase.

Microsoft reportedly had talks with Take-Two Interactive around letting that publisher fund and publish the project, but the companies were not able to reach an agreement.

What will ZeniMax Online Studios do next?

As someone who enjoys The Elder Scrolls Online, I'm glad that the team at ZeniMax Online Studios is working on finding new ways to update and improve the experience.

There are a number of features and additions that have been on my list for some time. Personally, I'd love to see cross-play added, as not being able to team up with friends on a different platform feels increasingly strange in a world where practically every new multiplayer or co-op title has some kind of cross-platform play.

I've also made no secret of repeatedly asking the developers in the past about romance options for our characters, something they've repeatedly told me they are also interested in, but without any other tangible updates.

I do still also hope that this team gets to launch a new, non-Elder Scrolls game at some point. I have no idea if reviving Project Blackbird will be viable years down the line or if there'll be something else that makes sense to work on, but it would be a shame for such a talented studio to never launch any other new games.

When I spoke to unionized workers at ZeniMax Media earlier this year in the wake of the layoffs, they described the mood as "rancid," with numerous talented developers being cut. I can only hope that things improve in the months and years ahead.

Mere weeks ago, quality assurance testers at Microsoft-owned ZeniMax Media were celebrating.

ZeniMax Workers United-CWA was first formed back in 2023, and after almost two years and nearly going on strike, the union ratified a contract with Microsoft, securing better pay, a set of principles for how AI would be used, and more.

On Wednesday, July 2, Microsoft announced mass layoffs, with cuts across the Xbox division that encompasses numerous companies, including ZeniMax.

It's upended the lives of many testers at ZeniMax Workers United, who are feeling whiplash from how everything has unfolded. While the Communication Workers of America (CWA) isn't sharing exact numbers — over 300 workers were part of ZeniMax Workers United before the cuts — the team has been impacted, with Windows Central confirming that some testers were cut.

"The mood and the morale at work is rancid," says one employee. "People are very angry. People are frustrated. The vibes are off, to put it mildly."

Page Branson, a senior QA tester who works on The Elder Scrolls Online and as part of the union's bargaining committee, tells me that the layoffs have taken a toll on the remaining team.

"Emotionally, it was one of the worst working days I've ever had at any job I've ever been at, to see what was going in real time," she says.

"Studio-wide, we lost so many talented, wonderful workers for seemingly no reason. Every single person that got laid off was someone that I trusted to get the job done, and people that we absolutely needed. That's what makes this rough."

The CWA is doing what it can at the moment, providing support for workers who were laid off and those who are still at ZeniMax but are now feeling the loss of their team members.

"It is very reassuring that CWA is fighting for the people that got laid off in whatever ways they can," Branson adds.

Almost two years of fighting for a contract

ZeniMax Workers United-CWA bargained for almost two years before ratifying a contract with Microsoft in June. The contract, which is the first of its kind, is described by Branson as a "grassroots" effort, one that involved compromises on all sides.

"I think from where we started to where we ended up, we landed in a really good place, and it's a great jumping-off point for what happens after," she explains.

One of the main sticking points during negotiations was the nature of remote work, and whether or not testers could be allowed to work, adding that while the union accepted a hybrid work policy, it's something that the bargaining unit is keeping an eye on for future contracts.

Speaking before the layoffs, ZeniMax QA contractor Jessee Leese tells Windows Central that contractor wages were raised "very early on" during the bargaining process, with "significant jumps" for testers that were previously not paid enough to account for basic cost of living increases.

Historically, ZeniMax Media hires all testers on a contract basis, with skilled workers who do a good job theoretically being made more permanent offers. In practice, there was sometimes a lack of clarity around when or if it would happen. That's something this contract helps to clarify.

Now this contract provides guidelines, meaning management has to be clearer about exactly how long a contracted employee can expect to work for, as well as what the process for potentially being converted to full-time will look like.

Other hot-topic issues secured in the contract include guiding principles around outsourcing and the usage of AI systems. While the union isn't seeking to eliminate either from being used, the team fought to ensure that Microsoft is not allowed to replace an internal job with an outsourced worker or an AI tool.

The union also fought for better crediting policies, and ZeniMax Media is now responsible for holding an online record to ensure that anyone contributing to a game is properly credited.

"A lot of the challenges with our contract were due to the fact that we were writing things from scratch," Leese explains, adding that once issues were figured out, it made things easier for other gaming teams that are bargaining for their first contract.

Leese and others stayed in contact with organizers at other unionizing workers under Microsoft's gaming division, such as at Blizzard Albany and the World of Warcraft team.

All of this work was hard-fought, making the sudden impact of the layoffs even more devastating.

"You can't make good products and you can't make good art when you are terrified that you could lose your job at any moment," Branson says. "I want empathy from people right now to understand the human cost of a decision like this."

So, what happens now?

At the time I'm writing this, the CWA is still negotiating for a large number of unionized employees at ZeniMax Online Studios, whose roles are at risk after the team's project, codenamed Blackbird, was canceled mere months after Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer reportedly couldn't stop playing it.

Because these employees are also unionized but have not yet had a specific contract, they are keeping their jobs until the exact details of severance are agreed upon by Microsoft's lawyers and the CWA. Many of them may still end up being laid off, but it's a layer of protection that simply wouldn't be present if they hadn't unionized.

Being in a union isn't some silver bullet that will always shield against layoffs. But for Branson and the others I've spoken with, it's more necessary now than ever in order to have every bit of protection possible.

For those that have not yet unionized (under Microsoft or other North American gaming companies), they are encouraged to sign up for United Videogame Workers-CWA.

It's not clear what is next for ZeniMax Workers United-CWA, but the union isn't going to stop fighting.

"Organizing and unionizing is going to be the best way video game workers can protect themselves," Branson says. "They should do that as soon as possible."

Bethesda Softworks and ZeniMax Online Studios shared The Elder Scrolls Online 2025 Direct on Thursday, giving details on what players can expect over the next year for this long-running massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that has reached 26 million players so far.

As previously outlined by ZeniMax Online Studios head Matt Firor, The Elder Scrolls Online is shifting away from its long-held yearly chapter model, with the studio experimenting with Seasons for adding quests, features, and quality of life improvements to the game.

I had the chance to see this Direct ahead of the broadcast, as well as listening to Firor, creative director Rich Lambert, and executive producer Susan Kath answer some questions about these next adventures in Tamriel.

If you missed it live, you can find The Elder Scrolls Online 2025 Direct below:

The Seasons of the Worm Cult arrives in 2025

The first story unfolding under this new model is the Seasons of the Worm Cult, which is a direct sequel to the original story that shipped with The Elder Scrolls Online at launch.

The titular Worm Cult are up to something. In pursuing them, players are heading to the island of Solstice. This island is mainly populated by various Argonian and High Elf groups.

This season will also introduce the Writhing Wall server event, which Lambert describes as the biggest event that's ever taken place in The Elder Scrolls Online. This multi-stage event will allow everyone playing on a server to pitch in, culminating in the siege of the soul-powered wall that's dividing the island.

According to Kath, not all seasons will necessarily be the same length, and future seasons could run for six or even just three months.

The other big focus of the Direct is Subclasses, a new feature that's on the way for all players to use. With Subclasses, players that reach level 50 can take a skill line from one or more classes into their existing character, shaking up their playstyle and encouraging some wild experimentation.

Lambert explained that naturally, this feature will require players to own the content they want to pull from. For example, if you're playing as a Templar and you want to use an Arcanist skill line for your Subclass, you'll need to own The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom chapter.

Skills used for a Subclass will also cost more points, in an attempt to keep things balanced.

Things are beginning with a prologue quest that's free for all players and available today.

After that, the first part of Seasons of the Worm Cult is slated to launch in June, with the Writhing Wall event coming in the fall. The second part of Seasons of the Worm Cult is set close out 2025.

Personally, I still have some questions about exactly how this change into a seasonal model is going to affect The Elder Scrolls Online in the long run. For now, it's clear there's still plenty to look forward to, and I'm looking forward to taking on the Worm Cult sometime this summer.

The Elder Scrolls Online is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Mac. The base game is available in Xbox Game Pass.

There's a few big shifts coming for ZeniMax Online Studios' ongoing experience in Tamriel.

As 2024 draws to a close, ZeniMax Online Studios head Matt Firor shared a message with fans of The Elder Scrolls Online, celebrating the studio's accomplishments and talking a bit about what players can expect in 2025.

The biggest change is coming exactly how content will be coming in the future. While The Elder Scrolls Online has used annual expansions referred to as Chapters since 2017 — the most recent one, Gold Road, launched a few months ago — this model is finally being retired, as the team wants more room to experiment that isn't possible on shorter timelines. In place of Chapters, The Elder Scrolls Online is shifting to Seasons, with each Season taking place over three or six months, bringing a mixture of story content, events, dungeons, and more.

Alongside this big shift, the team is going to be looking at a list of things to improve largely based on player feedback. This includes improving performance in Cyrodiil, improving the way combat feels through animation and effects, and making guilds easier to manage and engage with. The developers are also planning to improve the player user experience, with a better patcher and UI on PC.

Looking ahead, there's another content update coming in March 2025, while the team is planning to share more in a big announcement at some point in April 2025. This is a bit further off than the usual January reveals that Chapters previously received.

ZeniMax Online Studios has another game in the works

The Elder Scrolls Online has been a sometimes-underrated earner for Xbox and Bethesda, and it's impressive that the team was able to adapt and chug along for this many years. Slowing down a touch and changing how things work really isn't surprising, though it does raise some questions for me.

A huge reason myself and many others have enjoyed The Elder Scrolls Online is because it didn't feel like a chore to play, and I could take a break for months only to hop back in and not feel like I've missed anything. I hope the new seasonal model still reflects this kind of design philosophy.

Another aspect I'm sure is at play here is that ZeniMax Online Studios is working on another game. Little is known, but the team has vastly expanded over the last few years in support of this project, while is also using a completely new engine. Back in 2022, there were over 200 developers working on this project, a number that's almost certainly grown since.

While I'm sure the Elder Scrolls Online team would appreciate having more room to breathe, it wouldn't surprise me if they're also taking this opportunity to move some staff over to this yet-unrevealed game.

This also comes as ZeniMax Online Studios recently unionized, a trend we're seeing at multiple Xbox teams, including at Bethesda Game Studios and the World of Warcraft development team at Blizzard Entertainment.

The Elder Scrolls Online is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Mac. The base game is also included in Xbox Game Pass.

Another major game studio is unionizing.

Amid the hustle and bustle of the Game Awards 2024, we also learned that ZeniMax Online Studios, developers of The Elder Scrolls Online, are unionizing with the Communication Workers of America (CWA) as ZOS-United CWA. Per the press release, an "overwhelming majority" of developers at the studio signed union authorization cards or voted through a secure portal. The union includes 461 members across the U.S, including web developers, engineers, and artists.

“Today, I’m intensely proud of my coworkers at ZeniMax Online Studios who are joining thousands of video game workers exercising their power to bring more stability to the industry,” said principal economy designer and ZOS United-CWA member John Hartzell. “Regardless of your studio, your title, or where you’re from, unions work to benefit us all."

With satellite offices around the U.S and in Hungary, ZeniMax Online Studios is one of the larger studios under the Xbox umbrella, with the team shipping yearly chapters for The Elder Scrolls Online while also working on a new IP that's powered by a new engine.

Microsoft voluntarily recognized the union, keeping with the pattern the company has taken since reaching an agreement with the CWA to remain neutral in any employee unionization efforts.

Unionization continues to grow at Microsoft Gaming

Over the last couple of years, as Microsoft laid off 2,500 employees across its different gaming divisions, unions have been formed across ZeniMax quality assurance (QA), Activision Central QA, the World of Warcraft team at Blizzard Entertainment, and even all of Bethesda Game Studios. With the addition of ZeniMax Online Studios, thousands of employees under Microsoft Gaming are now unionized.

“By coming together and forming a union, we’re able to take a powerful step forward in ensuring a better future for ourselves and for our families, to create protections against layoffs and workplace exploitation, and to provide additional layers of support for workers beyond what FMLA and workplace policies already provide,” said senior motion graphics artist and ZOS United-CWA member Alyssa Gobelle. “At ZeniMax, unions belong here.”

ZeniMax QA workers recently went on a one-day strike, protesting Microsoft's lack of negotiation around remote work and methods of outsourcing. At the time, the workers told me negotiations were continuing in good faith surrounding other issues, but the union felt action was necessary in order to get Microsoft's attention on these problems.

Personally, I'm always happy to see more unions across different gaming studios. While they aren't a one-stop solution, unions are proven to massively help workers, giving them a way to negotiate through problems and find solutions, as well as leaning on each other for support, like we're seeing now with the growing network of unions at various Xbox studios.

A Daedric Prince who doesn't know what's going on or why other Daedra are fighting over them. A massive forest has sprung up overnight. Daedric incursions threaten the Empire's forces. With all of that combined, it's worth at least trying to figure out what's going on.

That's the main gist of Gold Road, the latest chapter of The Elder Scrolls Online. In it, players are tasked to figure out what's going on and keep fate itself from completely unraveling. Overall, it's a solid new entry in this ongoing story that brings some interesting quests to explore and a great new addition to gameplay in the form of Scribing. 

Due to the nature of this expansion, there will be some unmarked spoilers in this review from last year's chapter, The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, as Gold Road is the second half of the Secrets of Apocrypha story arc that began in 2023.

This review was made possible thanks to a code provided by Bethesda Softworks. The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

What is The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road?

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road is the latest story chapter for ZeniMax Online Studios' long-running massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Gold Road takes players into the West Weald, a region in southern Cyrodiil that includes vast vineyards, rolling hills, and the titular Gold Road. 

In order to play a story chapter or any other DLC in The Elder Scrolls Online, players will naturally need to own the base game. Alternatively, it's also included in Xbox Game Pass. Either way, chapters are then a separate purchase from the main game, with each chapter expanding the world through new locations to explore and a new storyline to go through, as well as dungeons, achievements, and sometimes other features. 

Traditionally, one of the defining features of The Elder Scrolls Online is how the story chapters each tell a different narrative, meaning players can pick up the latest chapter and simply hop in without fear of having missed out. That's not exactly the case here, for reasons I'll delve into below. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road — Story and characters

Gold Road continues the story that began with last year's chapter, The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, with the formerly unknown Daedric Prince Ithelia wandering the West Weald. Ithelia doesn't know what she can do or why she's out of her prison, but her very existence is a threat to all of fate, at least according to Hermaeus Mora, the Daedric Prince of Knowledge. The story alternates between investigating Ithelia and the Dawnwood, the latter of which is a strange forest that has suddenly appeared in the West Weald, causing the Recollection — a mysterious faction of Wood Elves — to surge out across the land.

Ithelia, a Daedric Prince whose very nature changes fate, is by far the most compelling element of the story. Any point where you get a chance to talk to her feels like peeling back the curtain just an inch on a Broadway stage house packed with secrets. The implications of her domain and the paths she walks are truly fascinating, and I wish we got to explore them even more.

Outside of these conversations, I do wish the main story played out with a bit more mystery. A dearth of characters means that certain revelations don't really come across as a surprise, and while it's never bad or unenjoyable, events with the Recollection and other investigations across the West Weald play out in a fairly straightforward fashion. 

It is worth noting that there's a free epilogue that's accessible once you've played through both Necrom and Gold Road. This additional handful of quests caps off the story threads that have been carried through the Secrets of Apocrypha adventure, and while I wish we had some grander revelations, the story concludes in a way that certainly feels true to Tamriel's mythos while still leaving the door cracked for future revelations. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road — Gameplay and features

For the most part, the gameplay functionality in Gold Road is the same as it has been across several prior chapters. Unlike last year, there's no new class, so players can continue to use their Arcanists or other classes without the encouragement of spinning up a new class.

The one big exception is in the addition of Scribing, a new feature that requires purchasing The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road to access. In the West Weald, players can embark on a series of quests to unlock Scribing, which is meant to function as an in-universe predecessor to spell-crafting. 

Once unlocked, you can customize specialized skills with different effects and appearances, changing the function and aesthetic to your liking. It's a really cool system that I hope the developers expand in the future, as it really allows for a unique spin on characters outside of just following recommended builds.

Across the chapter's side quests, things do liven up with some variety, with a murder mystery being examined by Mizzik Thunderboots — the Khajiit conjunction of Hercule Poirot and Benoit Blanc — being a particularly delightful highlight. 

As for new companions, there are some coming, but not right now. Two more companions are slated to be added to the game toward the end of 2024, with more details to come in the months ahead. This isn't a massive loss — only because I'm sticking with Sharp-as-Night, voiced by the iconic Brandon Keener — but the delay is worth noting. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road — Visuals and performance

ZeniMax Online Studios has long maintained a strong art direction for the Elder Scrolls Online, and that hasn't changed here. As longtime players return to a land last seen in Oblivion, the technological advancements made since then mean the West Weald looks better than ever. The ever-present autumnal tones mean it has a relaxed vibe, making exploration pleasant and encouraging a sense of frolicking even amidst danger. 

That changes at the edge of the newfound Dawnwood forest, with warm vineyards and gentle streams giving way to scorched earth and devastation ahead of the towering greenery. It's a scene not unlike that of the burned edges of Fangorn Forest in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and it has a similarly jarring effect whenever you reach its borders.

While it's not quite as unique as last years betentacled domain of Apocrypha, it's still beautiful to behold, and I found myself frequently stopping to admire the sunset in the West Weald as the amber glow consumed the nearby forests and hills.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road — Accessibility and approachability

While The Elder Scrolls Online already features a number of accessibility-related options, there's nothing new in Gold Road that isn't available to other players as well. This comes back to the fact that Gold Road is an expansion, and with the notable exception of Scribing (as discussed above), the gameplay here is the same as players can expect from other parts of the long-running game. That's the same across combat and accessibility. 

If any new accessibility features are added in the future, they'll almost certainly be available to everyone playing the game, not just those that buy Gold Road or whatever chapter happens to correspond with that update.

As for the chapter's overall approachability, this is the first time in a long while that I wouldn't immediately recommend a chapter for newcomers. Instead, I really encourage interested players to at least go through the Necrom chapter first. While you can play Gold Road without its 2023 predecessor, the story here is far more meaningful if you have knowledge of some prior events heading in. As a reminder, you'll get all the prior chapters and this year's adventure if you purchase the Gold Road Collection. If you're looking to enter this game, that's your best route.

Additionally, the aforementioned epilogue is only available to players that complete both Necrom and Gold Road, so you'll need to play it anyway in order to see how the story arc ends.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road — Final thoughts

Ultimately, The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road is a solid new yearly entry for the multiplayer world of Tamriel. It's a change of pace from how the in-game stories have traditionally been told, with the team choosing to make a chapter that heavily relies on and eventually requires something that came before. Not every decision here works perfectly, and I wish multiple points in the story weren't played so safe, but I still had a lot of fun with my time in the West Weald.

I do hope The Elder Scrolls keeps its overall approachability, but I wouldn't mind more two-year arcs in the future. I also truly hope we haven't seen the last of Ithelia, and I'm hopeful to learn more about her and her paths in the years ahead.

The Elder Scrolls Online is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Mac, and for fans of MMORPGS, it's one of the best Xbox games available.

Between the Daedric Prince, who nobody knows is on the loose, and a large forest that's popped up overnight, things in Tamriel are never boring.

I recently had the chance to play through the first several hours of The Elder Scrolls Online's next big chapter, Gold Road, where the aforementioned events are kicking up an environmentally incongruous dust cloud of new quests for players to explore. Continuing on from where things ended in last year's Necrom story, Gold Road follows up on the big reveal, with some uncertain but ill-boding repercussions as Ithelia roams and her followers take action. 

Overall, I came away wanting to immediately continue my time in Gold Road, and I'm looking forward to seeing the story through all the way when it arrives in the summer. Barring some technical issues that need ironing out, ZeniMax Online Studios and Bethesda Softworks appear to be offering one of the most interesting additions yet to this long-running MMORPG. For now, here are my thoughts on the opening to The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road.

Back to the West Weald

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road takes players to the West Weald of Tamriel, a section of southern Cyrodiil that was previously seen in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. That means you'll be seeing a similar warm autumnal color palette, with plentiful rolling hills to frolic over. Much of what you'd expect is here, with new achievements and gear to collect. Things don't stay overly familiar, however, as there are also some alien elements thanks to a strange forest that suddenly appeared. 

Without diving into any spoilers, the main questline for Gold Road is focused on finding out just what Ithelia — the newly freed and previously unknown Daedric prince from the cliffhanger at the end of last year's story — is up to. There's also a new threat in the form of the Recollection, a strange faction of Wood Elves that have banded together much faster than would seem possible at first glance, whose influence even threatens the central city of Skingrad.

I'm always down for a mystery, so I had fun following these threads early on, trying to gather information on the who, what, where, when, and why, threatening to consume this portion of Tamriel. Being in the dark can be fun when there's a pressing reason to find answers, and the confusion surrounding trying to figure out what Ithelia is searching for is more than enough to keep me invested. 

There are some fun encounters with challenging mixes of enemies and a couple of threatening bosses early on that kept me on my toes — to be fair, I wasn't using my main handful of characters, so I was playing at a disadvantage compared to how I might normally be — which kept combat from getting too rote or annoying. 

While I didn't get to play every side quest in the region, there were a couple of highlights that broke away from the normal "find these three items and return" design that has been heavily relied on for so long. A particularly fun side adventure saw the return of everyone's favorite Khajiit investigator, Mizzik Thunderboots! Together with the intrepid Elsweyr answer to Benoit Blanc, I enjoyed solving a mystery involving disappearing legionnaires, missing memories, and a strange tide of ill fortune for a well-off household.

The Elder Scrolls Online always puts a lot of effort into the performance acting for its quest, so allowing the dialogue and uneasy mood to take focus worked well. This is the kind of side quest I'd like to see more of moving forward.

While my time was naturally limited, there's also an all-new Scribing system that I can see absorbing countless more hours in the chapter's full release. Scribing is a predecessor to spell-crafting, allowing you to customize unique skills with different effects and appearances. The sample I've seen so far is impressive, and I can only imagine what dedicated players are going to concoct. 

Unfortunately, I did run into a couple of technical issues during the hours I spent in this early version of Gold Road. A couple of these issues were small glitches or errors with descriptions and text that'll obviously be fixed in the final release, but one particular problem caused a headache, as I ran into a gnarly crash error twice when exploring right outside Skingrad.

While a crash would be frustrating but easy to recover from, I was then unable to reload the character in question at all, as the game would continually run into the same exact error whenever I was trying to load said character. I did flag this problem for the developers, so I'm certainly hopeful it'll be fixed when the chapter arrives, but it's still worth flagging here as it did interrupt the flow of checking out the early quests in Gold Road.

A lot to look forward to

Having seen only the opening chunk of the 30+ hour storyline that this particular chapter of The Elder Scrolls Online has to offer, there are a number of questions that I still hold regarding how everything will play out. Just how far does the rabbit hole go for the Recollection? What is this new Daedric Prince really up to? These questions need answers, but so far, things are shaping up well.

I'm also hopeful that the technical issues I encountered will be polished up. Obviously, this build was a work-in-progress, and the team is still ironing lots of things out, but I certainly wouldn't want to run into those crashes on my main characters in the full release. 

The Elder Scrolls Online is celebrating its 10th anniversary across the next year — the celebrations are taking place across 2024 and 2025 in recognition of the gaming launching twice, first for PC and then later for consoles — and while it hasn't been entirely smooth sailing, it's really impressive to look back and see how far this game has come. With nearly $2 billion in spending so far and a by-all-accounts impressive chapter coming this summer, things don't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

I'm eager to get back to the West Weald later this year and continue unraveling the mysteries surrounding Ithelia, the Recollection, Scribing, and everything else taking place along the Gold Road. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road is slated to launch on June 3, 2024, for Windows PC and Mac, while the Xbox and PlayStation versions will arrive on June 18, 2024. The base game for The Elder Scrolls Online is available now in Xbox Game Pass. 

Daedric influence mean that once again, cults in Tamriel are up to no good. 

I recently had the chance to play through a preview version of Bedlam Veil, one of two dungeons included in The Elder Scrolls Online: Scions of Ithelia. This DLC pack is kicking off 2024's story for The Elder Scrolls Online, introducing new adventures that players can hop into ahead of the launch of the Gold Road expansion this summer. 

Oathsworn Pit heralds a bloody investigation, with a training pit of Daedric Prince Malacath being raided by a strange group of Wood Elves. Meanwhile, the aforementioned Bedlam Veil sees demiprince Fa-Nuit-Hen requesting aid, as a cult has attacked his smaller realm of Oblivion in search of a powerful relic.

As usual, the two dungeons in the first DLC for the year tell distinctly standalone stories, but there's some resonance with later events, plot threads, and characters for anyone paying close attention. From what I've played, Scions of Ithelia is the perfect way to warm up for the year's escapades, with some clever encounters that reward careful footwork. 

Bedlam Veil heads back into Maelstrom Arena

While playing through a preview version of Bedlam Veil alongside members of the ZeniMax Online Studios development team, it was pointed out that while players may have visited Maelstrom Arena all the way back in The Elder Scrolls Online: Orsinium (November 2015), things are a bit different in Bedlam Veil. This section of the realm has an "unfinished" look as Fa-Nuit-Hen often uses it to store raw materials, meaning you should expect a degree of haphazardness instead of strict combat arenas. 

My session didn't have time to go through them all, but there are even some optional side puzzles that you can solve as you're making your way through the dungeon. These puzzles provide some solid rewards, giving you a bit of an easier time in a particular boss fight, and are especially recommended if you're playing on the harder difficulty.

Combat is still the main focus, however, with this primordial realm bringing together a number of challenging fights that require paying careful attention to your surroundings. You'll face powerful foes, but there are also a number of special gameplay mechanics at work. I won't spoil any particular examples, but if you aren't careful with your footwork, you're in for a rough time. These mechanics show up in force during some of the boss fights, which are among my favorites from recent dungeons added to The Elder Scrolls Online over the last couple of years. 

Central to the intrigue of Bedlam Veil is The Blind, a mysterious figure leading the invading cult. The Blind bears more than a passing resemblance to Tho'at Replicanum of the Endless Archive — something the developers indicate is also an intentional choice, though the connection isn't being fully explained at this time.

Outside of the fun story beats, players can also expect the usual kinds of rewards for going through Bedlam Veil and Oathsworn Pit, including new achievements and some special item sets.

Not too long to wait

Overall, Bedlam Veil is a great experience. I'm looking forward to going through it again with enough time to check out the different puzzles scattered through the dungeon. While I didn't get to take a look at the Oathsworn Pit yet, assuming it's of similar quality to its sister dungeon, then this is definitely a DLC worth grabbing. 

The mysteries are at an all-time high heading into Gold Road later this year, and I'm looking forward to learning more about these factions and characters as this later story unfolds in the coming months. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: Scions of Ithelia is available now on Windows PC and Mac. It is slated to launch for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4 on March 26, 2024. Meanwhile, The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road is scheduled to arrive in June 2024. 

What you need to know

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road is the 2024 expansion for ZeniMax Online Studios' ongoing MMORPG. 
• This chapter follows up on the cliffhanger ending of 2023's Necrom chapter, with players in hot pursuit of a previously-unknown Daedric Prince. 
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road is slated to launch on June 3, 2024 for Windows PC, with the Xbox and PlayStation console versions coming on June 18, 2024. 

The next big chapter of ZeniMax Online Studios' MMORPG is on the way. 

The teams at the studio and Bethesda Softworks shared new details on Thursday, revealing that Gold Road is the next big expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online. This expansion is directly following the big reveal at the end of The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, with the plot following the newly-revealed Daedric Prince, Ithelia. 

Ithelia's trail leads to the West Weald of Tamriel, a region of Cyrodiil that borders Elsweyr and Valenwood. The zone players explore will include three distinct regions, with the Autumn-rich colors of the Gold Road, the rocky Colovian Highlands, and the mysterious jungle rainforest of the Valenwood Annexation. 

Gold Road also introduces "Scribing," a new feature that's meant to be a predecessor to spell-crafting in-universe. Scribing allows players to customize unique skills, changing out primary, secondary, and even tertiary effects. Players can even customize the colors with Styling, with 22 options at launch.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road is launching on June 3, 2024 for Windows PC and Mac, with the Xbox and PlayStation console versions launching slightly later on June 18, 2024. It's sized comparably to past expansions, with around 30 hours of story and side quests for players to explore.

What else is coming to The Elder Scrolls Online in 2024?

Prior to the launch of Gold Road, update 41 will arrive in March 2024, bringing a Prologue that bridges the gap between the events of Necrom and Gold Road. 

In the third quarter update, the team will again be focusing on quality of life features and fixing bugs, though there is a new Housing feature coming as well. No real details are known at this time.

Finally, before the year ends, there'll be a PvP-themed update in the fourth quarter update. This'll also be when two new companions arrive. 

Is now a great time to jump into The Elder Scrolls Online?

As someone who definitely didn't start playing The Elder Scrolls Online when it first launched, this is a good time to hop in. For anyone considering starting out, I recommend beginning by diving into the Necrom chapter, since it ties directly into the story being told in The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road. There's also a free trial available right now on all platforms, granting access to older DLCs and expansions. 

Analysis: A fun year ahead

The Elder Scrolls Online really found its groove last year, and I had a ton of fun going through the Necrom story. Continuing on that path is a great idea, and I'm curious to learn more about this Forgotten Prince, Ithelia.

Ithelia is described as being a "180" from the tentacles and eldritch horror of Hermaeus Mora, being instead of "crystal and color." That's an intriguing addition to The Elder Scrolls lore, so I'll be eagerly awaiting Gold Road's launch in June.

What you need to know

• The Endless Archive is a free addition to The Elder Scrolls Online. 
• This roguelike mode was added to the Windows PC and Mac versions of the game on Oct. 30, 2023. 
• The Endless Archive is now available on Xbox and PlayStation consoles. 
• The Endless Archive is accompanied by Update 40, which adds a Group and Activity Finder and more. 

The latest addition for The Elder Scrolls Online is now available everywhere.

The Endless Archive is the fourth content drop of the year for The Elder Scrolls Online, and the final addition for the year-long Shadow over Morrowind adventure. While the Endless Archive has been available for players on Windows PC and Mac for a couple of weeks, it's now available on Xbox and PlayStation consoles. 

Bethesda Softworks and ZeniMax Online Studios shared a gameplay trailer for the new mode to commemorate its launch across all platforms. You can take a look at the gameplay trailer below:

What is the Endless Archive?

Unlike most of the usual end-of-year additions for The Elder Scrolls Online, the Endless Archive is not story-focused. It's also not a paid DLC, instead being entirely free for all players who either own the base game or are subscribed to Xbox Game Pass. 

The Endless Archive adds a roguelike mode that players can go through by themselves or in co-op with someone else. Players fight randomized enemies, including various bosses that have been pulled from throughout the history of this MMORPG. 

In our pre-launch preview of the Endless Archive, I wrote that "The flow of combat and feedback loop the team has implemented seems compelling, and it's fantastic to see an update like this be entirely free for all players."

Update 40 is also available

Update 40, the latest update for the game, is also now available across all platforms. This update brings a number of widely-requested features, including a Group and Activity Finder tool with extensive options for sorting by player type. 

The update also includes some refinements crafting through the addition of Grandmaster Crafting Stations, which will allow players to save a huge amount of space in their apartments. 

What you need to know

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Endless Archive is a new update that's radically different from the usual fourth content drop that ZeniMax Online Studios does. 
• Endless Archive provides players the opportunity to go on infinite runs, challenging randomized enemies and bosses in order to claim unique rewards.
• A new trailer for Endless Archive gives an overview of the ebb-and-flow of a run. 
• Endless Archive is slated to launch on Oct. 30, 2023 for Windows PC and Mac, with the console versions getting this free update on November 14.

The next big addition for The Elder Scrolls Online is almost here.

Developer ZeniMax Online Studios shared a new trailer on Monday, showing off what players can expect to experience when going through the Endless Archive in The Elder Scrolls Online. The Endless Archive allows for infinite runs against random enemies and bosses, with fights neatly divided up so players can easily track their progress. You can check out the trailer below:

Unlike the usual story DLC that caps off a year-long adventure, Endless Archive is free for all players. Anyone who wants to play simply needs to own the base game or be subscribed to Xbox Game Pass, no expansions required.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Endless Archive is slated to launch for Windows PC and Mac players later today, with Xbox and PlayStation users getting access on Nov. 14, 2023. 

Analysis: A fun time for all

In our preview of the Endless Archive, I wrote that "As always, the devil is in the details, but now that I've seen the Endless Archive in action, I'm highly interested and cannot wait to dive in with a friend or even by myself."

All of that is still true. This looks to be a fun, fresh idea for The Elder Scrolls Online, and while I'm sure balance passes will happen as needed, I'm really excited to go hands-on and see how far I can get with my Arcanist.

While ZeniMax Online Studios has followed a set routine for the past several years of The Elder Scrolls Online, this year's post-expansion content is shaking things up. 

I recently had the chance to watch two developers from ZeniMax Online Studios play through a run of the Endless Archive, discussing what the team has come up with for this more unusual addition to The Elder Scrolls Online. Overall, I've come away impressed. While the Endless Archive is a far cry from the story-based finales the studio has previously opted for, the nature of this update means it can have a much more substantial, lasting impact. 

Plenty to do

Endless Archive is set to coincide with Update 40 for The Elder Scrolls Online, an update that's adding several quality-of-life features for players to take advantage of. Chief among these is the new Group & Activity Finder, which can sort and find like-minded players for almost anything in the game. Several filters can be used, and you can set a password to keep things private.

Players can also take advantage of the Grandmaster Crafting Stations, which will save a huge amount of space in their apartments, requiring far fewer separate stations to be set up. New Antiquities are on the way, as is a new deck of cards for Tales of Tribute, but all of these are unlocked by partaking in the Endless Archive.

For years, the year-long content for The Elder Scrolls Online was set in stone, with a paid story-based DLC capping off events set in motion during the year's big expansion. ZeniMax Online Studios is eschewing that design with Endless Archive, a new activity with roguelike elements that is free for all players. You don't have to buy anything except the base game to play, though Elder Scrolls Online Plus subscribers will get a small amount of extra rewards for playing. 

The Endless Archive is physically located in Apocrypha, so players who own The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom can physically walk to the archive. Players who don't own the expansion (or anyone who just doesn't want to walk) can get there by fast traveling through the map. 

Lead encounter designer Mike Finnigan tells me that Endless Archive has been in development for "just over a year," although the team has primarily been working on the update for the last eight months "in earnest." 

Within the Endless Archive, players hop into the ever-shifting libraries of Hermaeus Mora by themselves or with a friend. In a duo or by themselves, players then go through different randomized Stages, clearing out hordes of foes plucked from throughout the history of The Elder Scrolls Online. Things are balanced around a duo, and nothing is adjusted for solo players. However, solitary adventurers should steel themselves.

Finnigan tells me that after hearing tester feedback, the Stages are being rebalanced so that you'll only have to clear two Stages instead of three before taking on a boss fight, slightly speeding up the process of clearing a Cycle. These boss fights are also random and pull from numerous expansions and locales. 

Senior combat designer Rob Garrett tells me there are over 60 possible bosses, and several required unique tuning to get them to work in new arenas than they were initially designed for. This also required a level of collaboration between the different design teams that's never been seen before, but the team is happy with the results. 

From time to time, players can also earn Verses, a choice of unique bonuses that might give you extra gold from defeated enemies or extra damage from particular kinds of attacks. Watching the developers carve through Stage after Stage, I'm struck by how well everything seems to flow. There's a great feedback loop at work here, something that should feel even better to play when the number of Stages in a Cycle is slightly reduced. 

Special Avatar Verses can also be obtained, granting powerful effects like being turned into a Werewolf Behemoth or other monstrosities. However, I, unfortunately, didn't get to see this in action in the hour or so of gameplay I watched.

You'll also be able to break up the flow of your runs by partaking in side content, such as being temporarily turned into a Watcher to stop an infestation of Tomeshells. These shorter side quests are optional, but completing these includes various long-term rewards and Achievements.

After four Cycles, the fifth boss fight is against Tho’at Replicanum, a special fight for the Endless Archive. Tho'at gains new abilities the further and further in players get, making them a more dangerous fight to take on even as the rewards get higher and higher. Beating Tho'at is the end of an Arc, increasing the difficulty of mobs and bosses fighting in the next Arc. Players only have a limited number of lives as they go through, and when you're out of lives, that's the end of a particular run.

You can power up for future runs, though. Going through Arcs will unlock gear unique to the Endless Archive, but you'll also have Archival Fortunes, a new currency that can be used at special merchants around the entrance to the Endless Archive. Archival Fortunes can be used to purchase permanent unlocks, and anyone subscribed to ESO Plus will get more Archival Fortunes as they go through different runs. 

If, for some reason, you don't have time to continue a particular run, you can exit instead of continuing and print your score, resetting everything for a future run. 

Not too long to wait

Since I first learned that ZeniMax Online Studios was changing its approach to yearly content this year, I've been curious about what was happening. The flow of combat and feedback loop the team has implemented seems compelling, and it's fantastic to see an update like this be entirely free for all players. 

As always, the devil is in the details, but now that I've seen the Endless Archive in action, I'm highly interested and cannot wait to dive in with a friend or even by myself. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: Endless Archive will arrive for Windows PC and Mac players on Oct. 30, 2023. Xbox and PlayStation players can explore these infinite corridors starting on Nov. 14, 2023. The base game for The Elder Scrolls Online is included in Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass memberships.

What you need to know

• Endless Archive is a new PvE mode coming to The Elder Scrolls Online alongside Update 40. 
• Endless Archive pits players against randomized foes in the unending library of Hermaeus Mora, with special rewards like cosmetics, a mount, and a pet. 
• Endless Archive is an addition to the base version of The Elder Scrolls Online, meaning it's completely free for all players regardless of what DLC they've bought.
• Update 40 also adds a number of other improvements such as a new Grouping Tool and Grand Master Crafting Stations.

The next addition to the world of Tamriel is a bit different than past chapters. 

ZeniMax Online Studios and Bethesda Softworks shared on Thursday that The Elder Scrolls Online is getting a new mode called Endless Archive. Accompanying Update 40, Endless Archive puts players in the infinite winding libraries of Hermaeus Mora, where randomized groups of monstrous foes await. 

As a mode with some roguelike elements, Endless Archive is designed so that each run is different from the last. Players can earn special rewards for taking part in Endless Archive, including a mount, a pet, and some special cosmetics. Perhaps most noteworthy is the price, as Endless Archive is completely free for all players, since it's being added directly to the base game. 

In addition to Endless Archive, there's a number of other improvements being added with Update 40. Grand Master Crafting Stations are on the way, letting players distill the number of attuned crafting stations in their apartments and housing to clear some space. 

There's also a new Group Finder tool, so players can search for likeminded adventures based on whether or not they want to use part chat, preferred playstyle, and more. 

Endless Archive and Update 40 are slated to arrive in The Elder Scrolls Online on Oct. 30, 2023 for Windows PC and Mac players. The Xbox and PlayStation versions of the game will be updated on Nov. 14, 2023. 

Analysis: You can't beat "free"

These additions seem extremely fun, and I'm looking forward to giving Endless Archive some runs. Making this entirely free was definitely the right call, and while it's a shake-up from how the year-long adventures have worked in the past, I think time will show this to have been a great decision. 

For anyone that hasn't tried it yet, I absolutely loved the latest story expansion. In my review of The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, I wrote that "The story and writing are top-notch, and even if the quest design feels a little dated, it's worth pushing through to find out just what's really going on. Picking up new companions (including the excellent Sharp-as-Night) doesn't hurt either."

What you need to know

• Some games are coming to the Epic Games Store for the first time, and in celebration, these games are free for a limited time.
• The Elder Scrolls Online is free to own forever on the Epic Games Store through July 27, 2023.
• Meanwhile, the Homeworld Remastered Collection will be free starting on July 27 and running though Aug. 2, 2023.
• You just need an Epic Games account to redeem these games and keep them.

If you're looking to grab some Windows PC games for free, you're in luck. 

A couple of titles are headed to the Epic Games Store for the first time, and to celebrate the new platform launch, these games are free for players to redeem and keep forever. All players need is an Epic Games Store account, which is free to create in the event you don't have one already.

The first game is The Elder Scrolls Online, the base version of ZeniMax Online Studios' and Bethesda Softworks' MMORPG. This game is free to grab right now through July 27, 2023. 

Claiming the game for free through the Epic Games Store will reward you with the Sigil of the Alliance War Back Bling for Fortnite, and if you buy the Necrom expansion, you'll get the Ebonheart Battleaxe Pickaxe and Ebonheart Battleaxe Back Bling items as well.

Next up is the Homeworld Remastered Collection from Blackbird Interactive and Gearbox Software, which will be free for players to grab starting on July 27 and ending on Aug. 2, 2023. The Homeworld Remastered Collection multiplayer beta includes cross-play with the Steam version of the game, so friends can play together no matter where they own the remastered space strategy games. 

Windows Central's take

Free is free, so even if you're not the biggest user of the Epic Games Store, you should absolutely make sure to redeem these games. 

This is good timing for anyone who has yet to get into The Elder Scrolls Online, as it's perfect to try out before deciding to get the fantastic new expansion, The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom. Meanwhile, Homeworld 3 is coming next year, and if you've never played the first two games, the remasters have some great quality-of-life changes that make them very approachable for newcomers.

What you need to know

• ZeniMax Online Studios is celebrating the launch of the Arcanist class in the Necrom expansion with rewards for players that are leveling up their Arcanist.
• In the Ascent of the Arcanist promotion, any players that reach level 10 as an Arcanist will receive a number of in-game rewards. 
• These rewards can also be claimed by anyone that has already reached level 10 with an Arcanist character.
• Ascent of the the Arcanist is running through July 28, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Who doesn't like getting neat bonuses?

The developers of The Elder Scrolls Online are introducing a new promotion called Ascent of the Arcanist, which is running through July 28, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. ET. With this new promotion, players are being rewarded for trying out the Arcanist class introduced with game's latest expansion, Necrom. 

In order to earn the special bundle of rewards, players need to reach level 10 with an Arcanist character before the promotion ends. Anyone who has been playing since Necrom's launch and has flown past that milestone need not worry, as they'll immediately be able to redeem the rewards as well. 

Here's everything included in the Ascent of the Arcanist bundle:

• Scrawl of the Arcanist Visage face markings
• Scrawl of the Arcanist Tattoos body markings
• Devoted Torchbug pet
• 3 Grand Gold Coast Experience Scrolls (150% EXP for one hour)
• 1 Skill Respecification Scroll

Once players have met the requirement, they'll be able to redeem the bundle by heading to the Crown Store in-game. 

Windows Central's take

This is a neat way to nudge more players into trying out the Arcanist. In my review of The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, I found that the Arcanist was easily one of the my favorite classes in the game, well worth making a new character for. It also thematically fits the story, which sees players in uneasy service to Hermaeus Mora to prevent a threat to Apocrypha and Nirn alike.

When Hermaeus Mora, the Daedric Prince of Knowledge, tells you they don't understand a mysterious new threat, it's probably worth paying attention.

That's the kickoff for Necrom, the 2023 expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online. The team at ZeniMax Online Studios made some changes for this year's content roadmap, but players still got a new large expansion to enjoy. With Necrom, a dark mystery lurks, presenting a threat to both the world of Nirn and to Apocrypha, the realm in which Hermaeus Mora lurks. 

Outside of this story, which takes players across a new region of Morrowind and the Daedric realm of forbidden secrets, The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom introduces a new class, companions, and more. Overall, it's some of the most fun I've had in this MMORPG so far, and a compelling expansion to pick up regardless of how long you've been playing. 

Disclaimer: This review was made possible by a review code from Bethesda Softworks. The company did not not see the contents of this review before publishing.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom — What I liked

The plot kicks off quickly, as the eldritch Hermaeus Mora...needs some help? It turns out that the Daedric Prince somehow cannot perceive a threat to Apocrypha and Nirn, a thing that really shouldn't be possible. With the stakes so high, the player is recruited into unravelling a dark mystery with multiple components.

Without revealing too much, it's a compelling story, one that had me hooked almost immediately but doesn't show its hand too frequently. Last year's expansion, High Isle, was also a mystery, but here the story is more contained, and the developers have clearly taken feedback on the pacing of the 2022 expansion, as I never felt tired or like I was running around unproductively in circles.  

Players also won't be waiting for DLC packs later on in the year for a final confrontation with some big antagonist. This change to how the developer is doing things has some potential drawbacks (more on that below) but overall, I really don't think it took away from how dense the narrative was in Necrom. On the contrary, it made things more exciting knowing for sure that most of the details would be wrapped up and that what's coming next would be something completely different. 

Necrom also introduces two new companions to recruit: Azandar Al-Cybiades, a Redguard Arcanist, and Sharp-as-Night, an Argonian assassin. Both are solid additions to the small but growing roster, bringing personal side missions to get you invested before recruiting them. 

In particular, I have a feeling that Sharp-as-Night, voiced by Brandon Keener (Garrus in the Mass Effect games) will become a fan favorite, not only for his versatility in combat but also his dry wit and constant wry remarks. 

Outside of your companions, Necrom introduces an entirely new way to play The Elder Scrolls Online with the Arcanist class. One of only three classes added to the game since launch — the last one to be added was the Necromancer in 2019's Elsweyr expansion — the Arcanist draws on the power of Apocrypha to use weird magic for healing and offensive attacks.

I made an Arcanist character to play through Necrom, and I'm glad I did, as this class is extremely fun. It's fairly easy to pick up, with devastating energy attacks and powerful healing magic that keep you alive even against powerful foes. The class has some special talents that hard to master however, with the Crux system adding an additional layer of complexity for anyone that truly wants to see their spells shine. 

Speaking with some of the developers before Necrom's launch, they noted that the Arcanist had already become a studio favorite, and it's hard to see how that won't extend to the general playerbase moving forward. The abilities and possibilities this class provides are exciting. 

Finally, the developers have spoken openly about how things will work a bit differently for the year-long Shadow over Morrowind adventure. In previous years, a year's adventure in The Elder Scrolls Online would consist of a DLC pack, then the big expansion, and then two more DLC packs later in the year. 

While we've already gotten a DLC before this with Scribes of Fate, the third quarter update for Necrom is going to be primarily focused on quality-of-life patches and improvements. Meanwhile, the fourth quarter DLC is supposedly something very, very different from any prior content packs. It's not easy to judge right now how this shake-up will play out, but in theory, the idea of taking a quarter to focus specifically on needed fixed and responding to community feedback bodes well for the game. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom — What I disliked

While I didn't really have a problem with it, some players may be upset at seeing Morrowind again, even if it's a new section of that particular province. While I never get tired of the vibrant colors and all-around strangeness that Morrowind provides, I can see some players being annoyed that about half of this expansion is visually familiar, even if the Telvanni Peninsula is somewhere we've never technically visited before.

Outside of that, while the writing quality here is fantastic and carries the plot forward with speed, the actual quest design is extremely familiar to what's come before. It's not the end of the world, but if you've been tired before of having to find three key locations per quest before returning to a central location and then repeating the process again at each new spot, you better get comfortable.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom — Should you buy?

Overall, The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom is a great time and has provided a great new reason to jump back into ZeniMax Online Studios' MMORPG or check it out for the first time. The story and writing are top-notch, and even if the quest design feels a little dated, it's worth pushing through to find out just what's really going on. Picking up new companions (including the excellent Sharp-as-Night) doesn't hurt either.

Even if you've got characters you've invested a ton of time in, I highly recommend trying out the Arcanist, which is by far and away my new favorite way to play. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, Mac, PS5, and PS4.

What you need to know

• The Arcanist is a new class being added to The Elder Scrolls Online with the Necrom expansion. 
• A new trailer provides an overview into the myriad powers of the Arcanist, who wields a fraction of the power of the Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora. 
• Speaking with the developers, the Arcanist is a favorite at the studio, and it's expected to be the main class for many new players. 
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom is launching on June 5, 2023 for Windows PC and Mac, with the console versions following on June 20.

The next class coming to ZeniMax Online Studios' ongoing MMORPG is likely to be a fan favorite.

That's according to combat lead Brian Wheeler, who spoke regarding a new trailer for the Arcanist class that's coming as part of the Necrom expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online.

"I’m looking forward to seeing the Arcanist giving players a run for their money for 'this is my new main,'" Wheeler explained in Q&A with Windows Central. "We’ve created something really unique to ESO, and anyone that gets their hands on it immediately has a grin from ear to ear." 

"We’ve had a lot of people at events and in the studio say the Arcanist will be their new main class so I’m betting that holds true when Necrom launches!"

The new trailer for the class focuses on the abilities of the Arcanist, which range across offensive and defensive capabilities such as summoning tentacles and energy beams to blast an opponent or using ethereal hands to block and reflect damage. Meanwhile, the Crux system allows players to enhance their abilities as they master the class, but is not a "hard requirement" for having fun. You can check out the trailer below:

The Arcanist draws power from Hermaeus Mora, something that Wheeler notes was tricky for the team, as they didn't want to just make a "scary" class, and focused on emphasizing the Black Books. The Arcanist veers wildly between textbook precision with some abilities and is far more unstable with others, with Wheeler saying that team used an analogy of cooking for crafting the class. 

Sometimes, someone may understand a recipe to its core and handle it with ease, but if it's more unfamiliar and complicated, they might almost mess it up even with the exact instructions.

"Runeblades looks and feels precise and exact because it’s committed to heart and is your core attack, where as Abyssal impact is much more unstable and almost possesses you for a moment as you blurt out tentacles from your arm," Wheeler said.

The Arcanist stands out visually with elaborate attacks and defenses, with the team focusing on making sure the effects were impressive, but not detrimental. As part of the quality assurance testing, the developers set up a dozen Arcanist and spammed every ability to ensure it wouldn't cause hitching and making sure the abilities remained responsive. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom is part of the year-long Shadow over Morrowind storyline, and is slated to launch on June 5, 2023 for Windows PC and Mac players, with Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4 players able to join in on June 20, 2023.

Windows Central's take

I'm really looking forward to Necrom, as the tone and setting seem like the perfect shift for The Elder Scrolls Online. I was already torn, but after seeing some of these abilities in action, I'm convinced I'll have to start up an Arcanist character alongside my Templar.

What you need to know

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom is the next big expansion for the ongoing MMORPG, and a core part of the year-long Shadow over Morrowind story.
• ZeniMax Online Studios and Bethesda Softworks shared a new trailer for The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, showing some of the areas players will explore and the deadly foes that are in store. 
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom is slated to launch on June 5 for Windows PC and Mac, with the console versions arriving on June 20, 2023.

Knowledge is power, and the Daedric Lord Hermaeus Mora has plenty of both. 

In a new trailer for The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, Hermaeus Mora shares a glimpse into what's awaiting players in the expansion. With new areas to explore in both Morrowind and the realm of Apocrypha, there's plenty to explore, with dangerous threats lurking. You can check out the trailer below:

The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom is a big expansion, introducing the new Arcanist class and dozens of hours of quests, but it's only one part of this year's adventure. Shadow over Morrowind already began with Scribes of Fate, which is available now, and the adventure will continue after the arrival of Necrom with some updates focused on quality-of-life updates. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom is scheduled to launch on June 5, 2023 for Windows PC and Mac, while Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4 players can dive in on June 20, 2023.

Windows Central's take

This year's story is extra-interesting as someone who has always found Hermaeus Mora fascinating. Seeing the different threats the team at ZeniMax Online Studios has come up with is exciting, and while I'm looking forward to diving in with my Templar, I think I'll have to start an Arcanist as well.

The next major expansion to The Elder Scrolls Online, Necrom, doesn't arrive until June 5. But I had the opportunity to dive into an hour-long sneak peek at the game at GDC 2023, ahead of the public test server launch on April 17.

Necrom adds 30+ hours of new quests, so I could only scratch the surface of what this portion of Shadow over Morrowind will cover. But I had the chance to explore two new zones, test out the new Arcanist class, receive a quest from fan-favorite Skyrim character Hermaeus Mora from Skyrim, and catch a glimpse of the latest Trial. 

I also got a chance to speak with ESO game director Matt Firor briefly about what gamers have most to look forward to from the new expansion. Necrom absolutely brings a different vibe than the High Isle expansion last year. And based on my brief ESO: Necrom preview, I suspect Apocrypha will become a new favorite area for ESO players to explore.

Elder Scrolls: Necrom adds Apocrypha — the Oblivion realm ruled by the Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora in the Dragonborn DLC — and the Telvanni Peninsula. The second zone first appeared in 1994 Elder Scrolls: Arena and could only be seen at a distance in Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, making this the first time players could visit it in three decades.

I asked about how the 1994 game influenced Telvanni Peninsula design, and Firor joked that "it's not flat and 8-bit anymore," and that their main focus was to faithfully incorporate the lore across the last 20 years or so into your experience in Telvanni.

House Telvanni is a powerful, reclusive, and amoral group of Dunmer wizards that was popular with Morrowind players for their meritocratic approach to rising in the ranks (and in spite of some odious beliefs like being pro-slavery). No doubt you'll find plenty of morally dubious characters and tough choices in the Peninsula in ESO, too.

Still, I spent most of my hour as an Arcanist in Apocrypha, exploring my Eldritch horror surroundings; I was told about 60% of Necrom's content is in this zone, in order to counterbalance some players' fears that this was "just another Morrowind expansion." 

After the dungeon-heavy Scribes of Fate, Necrom will certainly shift in tone and ambiance. I liked some of the new monsters, like these hermit crab-like monsters burrowed into flying books that attacked me at one point.

I'm not allowed to discuss the main questline with Hermaeus Mora, but I can and will share my brief side quest I stumbled upon (skip past the next image if you'd rather not be spoiled, but I won't spoil much). 

I discovered a group called The Chorus whose bodies sang in harmony while their minds resided in a shared dream realm. But one chorus member was causing disharmony and waking people from the dream in their attempts to escape; so you had to defend the Chorus from monsters and then enter the dream yourself to find the culprit and discover their motive.

Rich Lambert, creative director of The Elder Scrolls Online, told WC in a previous interview that players found some of their recent quests a "little bit too formulaic," and that they've taken that feedback to heart. I can't possibly speak to Necrom's full experience after an hour of play, but this one side quest intrigued me, and I'm anxious to find out how it ends.

I'm also not allowed to discuss the Sanity's Edge Trial, beyond what's already been revealed (you'll enter a Mage Guild member's mind to save them). So I'll simply say that the creepy ambiance before the attempted delving has me excited to form a 12-person team and get started with the mental rescue.

I'll admit that I haven't spent as much time in ESO in recent years, so I died a few times trying to figure out the Arcanist class after skipping its tutorial. 

The Arcanist mechanics rely on "crux," or combo points. You build up crux by damaging enemies or healing allies in succession, and then you can activate crux to make your abilities more effective or trigger new effects. Any ability can be used without crux, but you'll need to use your points wisely or else certain moves won't be worth using!

With the Arcanist class, "you can choose when to be hardcore," Firor says. For more "casual" players like me, you can use its abilities without really relying on crux at all, as you would with another class, and still complete dungeons and quests. But for more hardcore content for long-time players, the Arcanist has more strategic depth than their previous classes.

What will intrigue players most is Arcanists' new portal ability called Apocryphal Gate to move to another location instantaneously; the portals are apparently static, meaning you don't have to recast the spell if you choose to return through it. The devs assured us that the portal ability can't be used to go out of bounds, though I'm certain players will challenge that claim during the PTS.

I asked Firor what excites him most about Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, and he pointed to the return of plotlines and characters from both the 2002 Morrowind game and the 2017 ESO Morrowind expansion. So you'll have both "fun stuff with new characters, but you're going to run into some old friends too."

Some of the allies revealed during my Necrom preview included an Altmer follower of Hermaeus Mora, a dead Telvanni magister who's prickly but lonely, and a Dunmer male whose name matches that of a Morrowind NPC you might remember.

Firor also hinted at the next fall 2023 update that they're not revealing just yet, but that would continue the theme that "Morrowind is in danger and Hermaeus Mora is involved somewhat." So you can expect to spend more time in that psychedelic, mushroom-filled land throughout the year.

While I'm still eagerly waiting for Elder Scrolls VI, it was funny to see the devs reveal a map of Tamriel and just how much of it is now available to explore in The Elder Scrolls Online now. I can't share the map (sorry!), but there are only a few key locations left for Bethesda to mine that ESO hasn't already touched upon!

My Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom preview made me excited to dive back into the world as a relative beginner, and the reactions of my fellow media members (who all seemed to be more familiar with ESO's recent expansions than me) were all positive. Evidently, Necrom will only solidify ESO as one of the best Xbox games for anyone who loves MMORPGs and exploration. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom is launching on June 5, 2023 for Windows PC and Mac players. It's also coming to Xbox and PlayStation consoles on June 20, 2023.

This year's big adventure for The Elder Scrolls Online is Shadow Over Morrowind, and this story is being introduced with the launch of Scribes of Fate. 

Ahead of the DLC's launch, I had the chance to go through a portion of it alongside some of the developers at ZeniMax Online Studios. Scribes of Fate consists of two new questlines for The Elder Scrolls Online in different areas. From what I've played so far, there's plenty in store for skilled players and newcomers alike, with some particularly fun boss fights that require careful thinking. 

In Scrivener's Hall, you'll aid Keshargo, the former leader of the Scribes of Mora, in regaining control of the group and recovering a powerful tool, the Itinerant Staff. Meanwhile, in Bal Sunnar, there's a mystery surrounding the Telvanni — one of the Great Houses of Morrowind — and the clues to unraveling said mystery are quite literally scattered through time. 

In my preview session, I played through the Scrivener's Hall dungeon, helping to restore control of the Scribes of Mora and defeat Valinna, a radical who has taken control of the group and is using the order for her own purposes.

The storyline of this dungeon is centered around a group that studies Daedric planes, and that means players also get to see a few different realms. There's an impressive amount of variety given the tightly-paced setting, This includes the Deadlands, as well as the Spiral Skein of Mephala (arachnophobes should steel themselves now). 

While the main focus is on chasing down Valinna, there are a number of side passages across these Daedric planes that offer additional rewards if you decide to explore them. 

There are three big boss fights included with this dungeon, each of which can be a dangerous challenge if players just charge in without thinking. Any groups facing down some of these foes will have to communicate well in order to find success. 

I don't want to spoil how any of them work, but all of them use some of the most unique gameplay mechanics I've seen across The Elder Scrolls Online in a long time, taking advantage of the environment and requiring you to think outside of immediately spamming your relevant abilities. In particular, Ozezan the Inferno — a powerful Infernium — quickly becomes unmanageable if you aren't paying attention.

Outside of the boss fight, this dungeon actually grants an early look at some new abilities players will be able to use later in the year. The Elder Scrolls Online: Shadow Over Morrowind is adding the Arcanist, a new class that wields Apocryoha magic of Hermaeus Mora. Some of these magic abilities are in the hands of the Scribes of Mora, keeping players on their toes as they confront new kinds of magic for the first time, and giving a taste of what they'll be able to use themselves soon enough.

When I asked the developers at ZeniMax Online Studios about how this will connect to the overarching story for Shadow Over Morrowind, they noted that it's of course not required that players go through these dungeons, but those that do will get more out of it. As an example, it seems like we haven't seen the last of the Itinerant Staff, and it's possible one or two friendly faces might show up later on as well.

Overall, it took about an hour to go through this dungeon, though it should be noted that we didn't stop to explore the side passages. Combined with the adventure in Bal Sunnar, which I haven't gotten the chance to play yet, any experienced played that are eager for new things to do in Tamriel should enjoy this DLC pack ahead of the main event later this year. 

Over the past several years, The Elder Scrolls Online has continued to grow into one of the best games for anyone that enjoys MMORPGs but doesn't want to deal with the fear of missing out or being required to catch up on dozens or hundreds of hours of content. We'll see how that continues with The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, but for now, things are promising. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: Scribes of Fate is currently available for players on PC and Mac, and will be launching on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4 on March 28, 2023. Meanwhile, The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom is scheduled to launch on June 5, 2023 for PC and Mac, with the console versions following on June 20, 2023. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: Shadow over Morrowind is the next big yearly adventure for ZeniMax Online Studios. Central to this 2023 outing is The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, which is the next summer expansion for the long-running MMORPG. 

This expansion is taking players back to Morrowind, specifically, to the Telvanni Peninsula, with a story that focuses on the powerful Dunmer mages living there. Players will also be exploring the dark Realm of the Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora, last seen as a powerful figure in the Dragonborn expansion for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in 2012. 

There are a lot of big changes on the way here, with this expansion introducing the third new class since launch. ZeniMax Online Studios is also shaking up exactly how it rolls out its yearly content, at least in the second half of the year. To get a better idea of where the team is at and what players can expect, I spoke with Rich Lambert, creative director of The Elder Scrolls Online. 

When I asked Lambert why the team decided to visit this section of Morrowind right now, he explained that it came about due to internal discussions reviewing the previous year's content, which the team always does in order to help guide future content. The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle was focused on grounded politics, and the team wanted something fresh.

"We liked the idea of doing something with Hermaeus Mora, because Hermaeus Mora is just this really, really cool Daedric Prince and we haven't really done a lot of that content in ESO," Lambert says. "When we started looking at what this was and where this could be, we landed on the Telvanni Peninsula, because it's the home of the Telvanni, who are some of the most powerful mages in all of Tamriel. That lent itself to this perfect blend of cosmic horror meets Elder Scrolls."

Lambert added that the team doesn't want the Daedric Prince to feel too different from what players have already encountered. Instead, players can expect to learn a lot more about Hermaeus Mora as the story progresses. There's also a surprise new biome that wasn't shown in the global reveal, but players can discover it once the expansion launches.

In my review of The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle, I found that the change of pace for the main story worked well in a great new setting, though the political machinations weren't quite as fleshed out as I'd hoped. Lambert notes that the team took a lot of the feedback to High Isle to heart, noting player reception to quests and chapter structure.

"That's definitely one of the things I think we try to pride ourselves on, lessons learned. We're always learning, every time we build something new we're learning, and we definitely got a bunch of good lessons in terms of how to tell stories," Lambert says. 

"We took a really good hard look at feedback from not only High Isle but Blackwood as well, and some of the feedback there was players started to say we're a little bit too formulaic. So we tried to really address that in this year's content, the stories we tell over the course of the year, and how we tell those stories."

Looking to the horizon, I asked Lambert if there was any update on the community's request for some sort of romance, with the director explaining that there is not at this time, though there is a lot he's excited for in general that he just can't talk about right now.

While The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom will bring another 30-hour story, two new companions, and a new region to the game, for many players the biggest addition is the new class, the Arcanist. To date, only two classes have been added to The Elder Scrolls Online since it first launched, for a total of six so far. 

Lambert says the team has been throwing around ideas ever since the addition of the Necromancer in 2019, with the studio trying to make any new class seem very special, while also keeping an eye on possible new technical challenges like memory optimization. As a result, they've been "a little more on the rare side," with development on the Arcanist "kicking off in earnest" mid-2021. 

The Arcanist wields powerful eldritch Apocrypha magic which draws on the realm of Hermaeus Mora, making it fit thematically with the new expansion. One of the many abilities used by the Arcanist is called Apocryphal Gate, allowing the user to set portals and instantly move to another nearby location. 

This was a bit of a challenge, with Lambert admitting that "movement-based abilities are always something that can be persnickety," with the team having to try and guess what players can use it for, then build on it from there. 

ZeniMax Online Studios has shipped four content packs a year, every quarter, for the last several years. This has stayed consistent in the past no matter what needed to be done, with the studio reducing the scope of some things to preserve work-life balance while also adjusting to remote and hybrid work. While the first half of 2023 will see Shadow over Morrowind unfold in a similar fashion to previous year-long adventures, the second half will have some major (but needed) changes. 

Lambert explains that for the third quarter update, the team is focused primarily on quality-of-life improvements and additional polish. He notes that the need for bug fixes and additional polish has been one of the "loudest" pieces of feedback from the community for some time, necessitating the need to adjust the content pipeline in order to directly improve the overall experience. 

As for the fourth quarter, the team is working on a dungeon runner of sorts, something Lambert laughingly notes he let slip during the reveal event. While it's something the studio is really excited about launching, it needs some more work, which means picking and choosing what content to launch for the end of the year.

With the recent layoffs at Microsoft, one of the teams reportedly affected was ZeniMax Online Studios. I asked if this had any impact on the team's content planning, with PR quick to note they wouldn't be talking about that. 

Overall, while there's a large shift of pace coming in the second half of the year, Shadow over Morrowind seems promising. The team at ZeniMax Online Studios is taking an interesting stab at new topics and a new class for this year, while also dedicating some time to hopefully fix issues the community has raised for quite some time. 

We'll have to wait and see how it all plays out but for now, I'm eager to see what's in store. For anyone that continues to enjoy MMORPGs at their own pace or in guilds, this may be one of the best Xbox games of the year to play.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom is launching on June 5, 2023 for Windows PC and Mac players. It's also coming to Xbox and PlayStation consoles on June 20, 2023.

What you need to know

• The Elder Scrolls Online is an ongoing MMORPG from Zenimax Online Studios and Bethesda Softworks.
• During the Xbox Developer_Direct show, the ESO team revealed the next chapter for the game's story.
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Shadow Over Morrowind returns the franchise to Morrowind for the first time since 1994.
• The first chapter, Scribes of Fate, will arrive in March, while Necrom will land a few months later in June.

The High Isles adventure in The Elder Scrolls Online concluded late last year, and fans have been eagerly waiting for news on what comes next for Xbox's in-house MMORPG. On Wednesday, Zenimax Online Studios finally revealed The Elder Scrolls Online: Shadow Over Morrowind, the game's next adventure that begins in just a few months.

Revealed during the Xbox Developer_Direct show, Shadow Over Morrowind starts with two new DLC — one being a major story expansion — in the location not seen in the franchise since The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind back in 1994. The Elder Scrolls Online expansion follows the conclusion of the Legacy of the Britons adventure with Firesong.

First up is The Elder Scrolls Online: Scribes of Fate, a minor DLC that includes two new four-player PvE dungeons. Players will need to keep their wits about them as they battle through the magic-riddled domains of Scrivener's Hall and Bal Sunnar. Scribes of Fate releases for Windows PCs on March 13, 2023, and will come to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PlayStation two weeks later on March 28, 2023.

Next is The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, a major expansion that should keep players busy for quite some time. With over 30 hours of brand-new story content, the Necrom chapter of Shadow Over Morrowind will feature two expansive zones in Eastern Morrowind, two new companions, and ESO's seventh playable class: the Arcanist. The Arcanist will feature a wide array of powerful abilities and mechanics drawn from the Daedric Prince of Oblivion.

The Necrom expansion officially launches on June 5, 2023 for Windows PC players, while Xbox and PlayStation players will have to wait until June 20, 2023 in order to get their hands on it. There's likely much more to come with the Shadows Over Morrowind adventure in the following months, although players will have their hands full with The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom expansion in the meantime.

The Elder Scrolls Online is one of the best Xbox games around for fans of MMO titles, especially since it is fully available for Xbox consoles and is included in Xbox Game Pass. With Shadow Over Morrowind bringing highly-requested new features like a playable class, it's certainly an exciting time to be an ESO player. If you want to experience it for yourself, the base game is included in Game Pass and all subscribers get discounts on DLC and expansions.

You can see more images of The Elder Scrolls Online: Scribes of Fate and Necrom below.

What you need to know

• In a livestream, developer ZeniMax Online Studios shared details on The Elder Scrolls Online: Firesong, the final DLC in the Legacy of the Bretons storyline.
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Firesong focuses on the mystery of the druids on the Isle of Galen. 
• This DLC will also finish the story started in 2022 with Ascending Tide, and will allow for a final confrontation with the Ascendant Lord.
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Firesong is slated to launch on Nov. 1, 2022 for PC and Stadia, with Xbox and PlayStation players getting access on Nov. 15, 2022.

As 2022 begins to wind down, so too is the year-long Legacy of the Bretons adventure in The Elder Scrolls Online. There's still plenty to explore though, including a brand new DLC called Firesong.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Firesong closes out the story that began in Ascending Tide and continued through The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle. Firesong is set on the Isle of Galen, which is the home of the druids. The druids are currently embroiled in a civil war, with the Firesong Circle attacking the Stonelore and Eldertide Circles.

Outside of this conflict, players who have gone through all of the main story so far will also be able to confront the Ascendant Lord, putting together clues from across the year's storyline. Beyond these major questlines, there's a host of other improvements coming as well, including a new Tales of Tribute Patron, The Druid King. This new Patron provides players a new way to strategize in this card game.

Regardless of what expansions and DLC you've purchased, everyone will get to benefit from Update 36, which is slated to launch alongside The Elder Scrolls Online: Firesong. This update adds a new text-to-speech accessibility option, Simplified Chinese option, the ability to hide combat pets, and more.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Firesong is currently scheduled to launch for PC and Stadia on Nov. 1, 2022. As usual, the console version is two weeks behind, so the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4 versions of the DLC will be available on Nov. 15, 2022.

Even as numerous games are delayed and pushed, the team at ZeniMax Online Studios is continuing to deliver new content on a yearly basis to its MMORPG, The Elder Scrolls Online. 

The latest paid content chapter, High Isle, is part of 2022's Legacy of the Bretons adventure. Compared to most of the prior expansions, which have seen the addition of Daedric threats, dragons, and vampires, High Isle is relatively low-key. The plot revolves around attempted peace talks for the Three Banners War and the mysterious Ascendant Order working to prevent peace from transpiring. 

This new story and setting feel fresh, exploring distinctly high fantasy Breton feudal society, which was a refreshing change of pace compared to everything else in The Elder Scrolls Online so far and indeed, The Elder Scrolls franchise as a whole. While the initial setup is intriguing, it's worth noting that the central plot doesn't dive into the political situation between factions as much as I'd have liked.

Still, for anybody already enjoying other parts of The Elder Scrolls Online who's looking for more to do, High Isle is a must-play. If you're a prospective newcomer, it also makes an equally-solid entry point. 

Disclaimer: This review was made possible by a review code provided by Bethesda Softworks. The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle — What I liked

High Isle is set in the Systres Archipelago, an Elder Scrolls location that hasn't been explored until now. As opposed to most of what players have seen — across The Elder Scrolls Online and mainline entries in the series alike — the Systres Archipelago is distinctly high fantasy with a vibrant coastal setting. 

The area has a mix between rural Druid gatherings and upscale castles. Breton lords and ladies use the titular island of High Isle as a kind of vacation paradise while the northern island of Amenos is used as an open-air prison for common criminals and political prisoners.

The plot kicks off when the player character becomes embroiled in trying to help in peace talks for the Three Banners War, which are being opposed by the mysteriously well-equipped Ascendant Order.

Earlier this year, I mentioned in my preview that this kind of grounded story, mired in political intrigue, felt like a much-needed break from various world-dooming threats, and that largely holds true. The stakes are lower by comparison, but this DLC still manages to feel tense and important as you uncover secret correspondence and piece together who might be behind the Ascendant Order. Playing attention to the scraps of evidence you gather will pay off, and you may even be able to solve the mystery.

While the structure of many missions can fall into familiar territory (this is an MMORPG after all), the tone and characters provide fun set dressing. Wandering a party trying to find a way to get everyone distracted is nothing new in gaming, but when the ever-charming playboy Jakarn offers to help, the results are amusing and memorable.

Outside of the main plot, High Isle provides two excellent additions in the form of new companions with Isobel and Ember, a knight in training and a mage apprentice, respectively. Both have great introductory quests, and gaining the allegiance of both was a highlight during my time throughout High Isle. Without diving into spoilers, Isobel's quest involves aiding her in becoming a knight and freeing a childhood friend from arranged marriage. Meanwhile, Ember has a spell that got a bit out of hand, so she needs some help turning people back into animals. 

I mainly chose to travel with Ember and benefit from her magic skills since I was playing as my Templar character who shared a skillset with Isobel. However, both are great fun to have around as they comment on your quests, and I'm happy to see the developers continue to double down and expand the companion roster.

I also have to reiterate that the new card game activity Tales of Tribute is a lot of fun. While it's a bit complicated — there are numerous decks to collect that include cards with varying effects — once you get the hang of it, it's easy to lose time playing and formulating different strategies. There's even a dedicated questline specifically for going through a tournament and becoming a better Tales of Tribute player.

The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle — What I disliked

While I enjoyed the setting and story, for the most part, it is disappointing that the political angle isn't as explored or fleshed out as it could have been. I understand that MMORPG stories tend to require things to be far more straightforward than would be possible in a single-player adventure, but it still feels like there was room for more. 

It would've been nice to get perspectives on the Three Banners War from more characters, as well as the reasons highborn nobles would have for keeping the conflict going or choosing to support peace. Instead, this is largely skipped over in most conversations except for one small story section that hints at some of the complicated relationships different families have. If you could aide houses in exchange for information or choose who to trust, it could help make the plot feel more complex instead of so on the rails.

To be completely fair here, this isn't the full story. The High Isle chapter is merely a fairly large portion of the adventure, with two more DLC packs slated to launch later in the year. It's entirely possible we'll see other aspects of the political machinations explored in these two packs. 

Still, I really enjoyed the change of pace that knights, lords, and the rivalries of feudal society provided, so I'm a bit disappointed it wasn't explored even further, especially since what is here is really good. 

The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle — Should you play?

Despite my disappointment at how shallow portions of the main story turned out, The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle is ultimately a good time. There's plenty to do, lots of great side quests, the new companions are compelling, and Tales of Tribute is a fantastic addition that's sure to prove popular among players.

Over the last few years, The Elder Scrolls Online has steadily grown into one of the best Xbox games for MMORPG fans to play, and that hasn't changed here. Due to the structure of how The Elder Scrolls Online works, with story content not being gated off to any players based on level requirements, I highly recommend any new players consider starting with The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle. If you're not a new player, you should play it anyways. It's the change of pace you may not realize you wanted.

The Elder Scrolls Online is closing in on 21 million players, and while the developers at ZeniMax Online Studios appear to be taking things slower with this year's adventures, it's promising to be some of the team's best work yet.

Compared to the numerous past crises that have threatened huge regions, if not all of Tamriel, High Isle feels decidedly calmer. There's no ancient or powerful Daeadra returning, no sudden return of Dragons, no widespread vampiric invasions. Instead, the threats posed in this expansion are seem to be far more subtle and insidious. As part of the 2022 year-long adventure, Legacy of the Bretons, the upcoming High Isle expansion is offering what appears to be the most different story in the Elder Scrolls Online so far.

The dangers and beauty of High Isle

On the surface, everything is fine on the Systres Archipelago, with the two islands of High Isle and Armenos serving as a vacation spot and a massive prison, respectively. High Isle serves as a second home for Breton nobility, who come to enjoy food, wine, tournaments, and the pleasant climate. Meanwhile, Armenos is a massive open-air prison, something The Elder Scrolls Online creative director Rich Lambert compares to a medieval version of Escape from New York.

As the story begins, the Society of the Steadfast, led and funded by Bacaro Volorus, is seeking an end to the Three Banners War that consumes Tamriel. As peace talks commence, the threat of sabotage emerges after the mysterious Ascendant Order strikes out across High Isle. These bannerless knights, led by the Ascendant Magus and the Ascendant Lord, claim to speak for the everyday people, but not everything may be as it appears.

The Three Banners War is a conflict that hasn't really been addressed over Elder Scrolls Online's history, so why return to it? According to Lambert, it's because the team wanted a more "grounded, political" storyline while avoiding the "cosmic threats" of past years.

"Those are great and those are fun and those are fine, but if you keep doing them over and over and over, there's a little bit of burnout, for not only your players but for the team," explains Lambert. "The Three Banners War is something that we haven't touched on since launch, so it's been eight years since we've even thought about that, so it just made sense. And then as we started figuring out 'The Bretons are a part of this, they're a Feudal society, politics plays a huge part in them.' It all just kind of came together."

A mystery unfolds

After spending a few hours hands-on with some of the new content, I can happily say there's a lot to like in this beautiful yet dangerous expansion. Players will hop into the action almost straight away, and it quickly becomes apparent that the Ascendant Order are more than just some ragtag group of bandits. The mainline quests will have you doing a variety of tasks, from restoring a lighthouse, investigating kidnappings, infiltrating a tournament, and more all in the early hours of this new story.

As you begin looking into the mystery of who the Ascendant Order truly are, you'll become familiar with the various noble houses and their petty feuds, including those who would benefit from seeing the war continue. The focus on politicial intrigue here isn't just set dressing, it's the substance and it truly delivers a great change of pace compared to usual Elder Scrolls heroics.

Building on the Companions system introduced in 2021's Blackwood expansion, High Isle offers two more Companions for players to meet and use: a Khajit mage named Ember getting up to trouble with her experiments and a Breton named Isobel who is toiling away to become a knight while trying to save her friend from an arranged engagement. Despite more Companions and Lambert's prior affirmation that the studio is looking into romance as a feature, there's nothing new on that front for now.

I found myself invested in figuring out the machinations of who was really behind the various attacks, compiling a list of suspects and trying to leave no tournament ground unturned. This early portion of the plot kept me on my toes and with a total of 30+ hours of content in High Isle, I'm sure there are plenty of secrets left to discover.

Always accessible

I also appreciated how accessible the story was. Playing on a preview server with a new character, all it took was completing the tutorial before jumping into High Isle. It's a breath of fresh air compared to the grind and structure of many other MMORPGs, and it's something that ZeniMax Online Studios is well aware of. The developers are working with this ease of accessibility moving forward, even as it means segmenting the different stories so they can be played in any order.

"We have this concept of 'time is a construct of the player and the player's journey through the world,'" Lambert said. "So, when we're telling stories, we're focused on the player's perspective of things and what the player knows at any one given time."

When I asked Lambert if the studio had a commitment to keeping this accessible structure to the game for future expansions, even years down the line, he answered with an enthusiastic "absolutely." He added that it's "part of the magic of ESO" and that the level of freedom offered by The Elder Scrolls Online "makes us unique."

Time for a round of cards

Another big addition coming with High Isle is a card game, Tales of Tribute. Found in taverns and pubs, it's a card game where players try to accumulate Prestige while earning the favor of four Patrons. While you'll collect decks of cards, it's not like other deck-building games where you choose your particular draw pile before play. Instead, two decks are shuffled together for both the player and their opponent to draw from, meaning there's a degree of uncertainty and luck.

On your turn, the player draws cards, earning gold to spend on more cards or to earn favor with one particular Patron. There are all sorts of various combos and special effects, but by and large, playing cards will build up Prestige, while any unused Gold is swept away and lost at the end of a player's turn, which requires players to think ahead of their current turn and try to build up combos with their hand of cards. Victory comes when you build up 40 Prestige or acquire the favor of all four Patrons.

As you might surmise, Tales of Tribute also comes with an extensive set of rules that may be a little confusing at first. Once I got the hang of it however, I found myself engaged, and it's something I'll be spending a lot more time with across PvP and PvE in the full release. This isn't just some side activity; it also offers a full quest line, complete with unique rewards.

Minigames inside of bigger titles, especially card games, aren't exactly unheard of — Gwent in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt immediately comes to mind — and it seems like the team has taken special care to make sure Tales of Tribute feels both fun and like it belongs in this world.

"Obviously you look to see for inspiration what other teams do, but I think part of the magic is being able to take and build your own thing and make it unique and special," Lambert explained.

"We weren't trying to just look at everything else and say 'OK, this other group did this thing, we can't do that.' It was more like 'what can we do that fits with ESO but that also blends well and fits into the world?' and that ended up as something unique as well," added Irenio Calmon-Huang, Tales of Tribute's lead designer.

Right now, the developers are squarely focused on making Tales of Tribute as good as it can possibly be at launch, but aren't opposed to adding new features in the future if it proves to be a hit.

A lot to look forward to, a lot to polish

All of that being said, there's definitely some wrinkles for the developers to iron out. I was told ahead of playing that this was an early preview build with known issues, and these issues were definitely present. Multiple textures out in the open world failed to load properly, and numerous assets — especially the cards and rewards in Tales of Tribute — were unfinished. After completing the tutorial for Tales of Tribute, everything crashed, requiring a reset.

Meanwhile, I was forced to leave one particularly interesting quest line unfinished. The enemies in a vast cavern system wouldn't appear, even when I tried reloading the game. Load times in general were also a fair bit longer than is usual for the game.

Even in this early state, High Isle holds intriguing promise, and I'm excited to continue wading through this political mystery that's been woven. If the rest of High Isle is as compelling as what I've played so far, this latest chapter ensures that The Elder Scrolls Online is continuing to earn its place as one of the best Xbox games available. Hopefully, the developers will be able to use this remaining time before launch to polish everything as much as possible.

The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle comes to PC and Stadia on June 6, 2022. Console players across Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4 will gain access to High Isle on June 26.

What you need to know

• The Elder Scrolls Online players have experienced frequent disconnects while playing the title via Xbox Cloud Gaming.
• The Xbox Cloud Gaming team has identified the issue and in order to fix it, The Elder Scrolls Online will be temporarily removed from Xbox Cloud Gaming for a few months, starting from Feb. 11.
• The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMORPG set in The Elder Scrolls universe developed by Zenimax Online Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks.

Elder Scrolls fans have been experiencing some trouble when attempting to play the critical-acclaimed MMORPG, The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO). When attempting to play the game using Xbox Cloud Gaming, players will frequently disconnect from the servers. The title's developer, Zenimax Online Studios, and the publisher, Bethesda Softworks, have now issued a response via the The Elder Scrolls Online's official Facebook page, outlining plans to implement a fix.

While the team has identified an issue impacting Xbox Cloud Gaming, The Elder Scrolls Online will be temporarily removed from the service, while working on a fix. The title will depart on Feb, 11 at 12:00 p.m. (PST) / 3:00 p.m. (EST) / 8:00 p.m. (GMT). Zenimax Online Studios ensures players they can still play The Elder Scrolls Online and access their existing ESO accounts by downloading the game to an Xbox console such as the Xbox One, Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S.

Will this fix be done in time before the first chapter of The Elder Scrolls Online: Legacy of Breton event, High Isle arrives in June 2022? We will have to wait and see how this plan fares to find out. While the developer is yet to commit to a strict timeframe, The Elder Scrolls Online is expected to return to Xbox Cloud Gaming at a later date.

What you need to know

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Legacy of the Bretons is the new year-long adventure in ZeniMax Online Studios' ongoing MMORPG.
• The big story chapter, High Isle, is slated to arrive in June 2022 on all platforms.
• Two new companions are being added, alongside a new card game called Tales of Tribute.
• The Elder Scrolls Online has crossed over 20 million players so far.

During a livestream, ZeniMax Online Studios revealed that the next year-long adventure for The Elder Scrolls Online is called Legacy of the Bretons. It's taking players to a new region called the Systres Archipelago, a series of islands that take inspiration from the Mediterranean Sea. While the Gates of Oblivion in 2021 dealt players the unfortunate task of stopping Mehrunes Dagon, Legacy of the Bretons is far less apocalyptic, though perhaps no less sinister.

While this year-long event will bring new DLC across the months to come, the big story chapter is High Isle. This new story is set to launch on June 6 for PC, Mac and Stadia players. Players on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS5 and PS4 will gain access shortly after that on June 21, 2022.

You can check out the key art for this expansion below:

Eschewing the carnage of Daedra lords, Legacy of the Bretons is based on political intrigue, with the Society of the Steadfast seeking to end the Three Banners' War, while The Ascendant Order have darker ambitions. The Elder Scrolls Online is continuing to grow as one of the best Xbox games available, with over 20 million players so far, up from the 18 million that had played ahead of the Deadlands expansion back in 2021.

ZeniMax Online Studios creative director Rich Lambert previously told us that the reception to companions had been extremely positive and the developers are building on that in Legacy of the Britons. Two new companions are on the way, with Ember, a streetwise Khajit, and Isobel, a Breton working to become a knight. Finally, there's a new minigame on the way, in the form of a card game called Tales of Tribute, with both PvP and PvE support.

The Elder Scrolls Online continues to grow as one of the best Xbox games available, as developer ZeniMax Online Studios is launching the fourth content pack for the game's year-long Gates of Oblivion storyline very soon. Titled The Elder Scrolls Online: Deadlands, it's taking players into Oblivion to deal with Mehrunes Dagon and bring this chapter of Elder Scrolls lore to a close, following the three earlier chapters in the Flames of Ambitious, the Blackwood expansion and the Waking Flame.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Deadlands comes to PC and Stadia on Nov. 1, while the console version for Xbox and PlayStation players arrives on Nov. 16.

Forging ahead

Tackling the threat of Mehrunes Dagon wasn't easy for the team, who understood the importance of Mehrunes Dagon and Oblivion in The Elder Scrolls. "It was all about finding the right balance of nostalgia while forging our own path," creative director Rich Lambert tells Windows Central. He explains that while it hasn't been an easy journey, the team's experience with the Greymoor expansion that saw players return to Skyrim gave the developers the required confidence.

It's been a big year for the game, one shaped by player feedback. Deadlands introduces two new biomes, and while one is the classic fire and brimstone that players expect, another is a void of wastelands and storms. It's a piece of new lore that the team is eager to explore. The designs of both were shaped in response to player complaints regarding Elsweyr, the caves in which were often deemed difficult and confusing to navigate. All of this was designed as the effects of the pandemic continue to linger.

"We were re-learning how to be collaborative," Lambert says of the transition to working from home. "Working on an MMORPG, it's not as simple as walking by a desk, seeing over someone's shoulder and saying 'Hey, what's up with that?' You have to book meetings for everything, which is definitely slower. We reduced scope where needed to ensure the health and work-life balance of our developers."

It also came at a time of big change for the studio, as Microsoft finalized the acquisition of its parent company ZeniMax Media, bringing Bethesda Softworks in as part of the Xbox first-party family, including ZeniMax Online Studios. It's early days still, but there's a bit of cross-collaboration that's starting to occur.

"We're still trying to learn from each other," Lambert explains. "They are extremely happy with the success of ESO, there's lots of meetings, they're learning from us on how we can ship four content packs in a year."

Even with all of this going on, the team delivered a huge feature in the Blackwood expansion, the addition of Companions. This was something that the team had internally discussed working on for a long time, but it was a huge technical challenge. The planning started coming together over the last couple of years, as the game's direction became more and more apparent.

"It just made sense with figuring out what we wanted to be," Lambert explains. "We wanted to be an Elder Scrolls game first and foremost." Even once the team was sure it was something they wanted to do, Companions took a long time to figure out because of the performance cost. If every player has a companion active, the server strain is essentially twice as high as it'd be otherwise, something the team is still looking at.

There's more on the horizon for Companion features though, especially for anyone feeling pangs of love. "Player response [to Companions] was overwhelmingly positive," Lambert states. "Players really like the concept of romance. It'd be a major miss not to introduce that at some point."

For more immediate improvements, Update 32, a patch accompanying the launch of Deadlands, is bringing a new Armory system, allowing players to easily swap between different builds. Lambert tells this came about as a mixture of internal discussion and feedback from players, noting that "Pure RNG can be cruel." This system is designed to take away any pain from swapping between gear for different builds, promoting experimentation.

With all of these changes, ZeniMax Online Studios is certain that now is the right time for players to jump in if they haven't before. "It's a true Elder Scrolls experience," Lambert says. "You can play at your own pace, play solo, we have a lot of players who just play for the story. It's your journey through your personal world, it's not about collecting all the gear. That comes naturally if you play a certain way."

Lambert is a huge fan of Mehrunes Dagon and he notes that while feedback has been positive all year, he's eager to see what players think of Deadlands. The studio will be holding a year-end retrospective to discuss how 2021 went very soon. Deadlands is set to close one of the biggest years for The Elder Scrolls Online so far, with a storyline that players are enjoying, but of course, ZeniMax Online Studios is hard at work on what comes after. Just what is that, exactly?

"Something that's very, very different," Lambert says with a chuckle.

The Elder Scrolls Online is currently available on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, PS5, PS4 and Stadia. The base game is also included with Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass subscription on Xbox consoles.

What you need to know

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Gates of Oblivion is the next big expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online.
• It was revealed during the Game Awards 2020.
• A reveal event is coming on January 21, 2021.

The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMO developed by ZeniMax Online Studios under Bethesda Softworks. During the Game Awards 2020, ZeniMax Online Studios revealed The Elder Scrolls Online: Gates of Oblivion, the next chapter in the massive saga. Take a look at the new trailer below.

While the reveal event in the trailer is dated for January 21, 2020, this is assuredly a typo meant to say January 21, 2021.

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The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor is the latest chapter for the critically-acclaimed massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Instead of taking you to giant mushroom-covered islands or sweeping deserts, you're transported to Western Skyrim where you can explore the city of Solitude, its surrounding areas, and the fabled Dwemer kingdom of Blackreach.

While Solitude and the surface world are almost exactly what you get with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Blackreach has been greatly expanded and is filled with even greater dangers this time around. It's not just one small area where you go around collecting Nirnroot for a shady farmer.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor exploration and setting

One of the most mysterious areas in Skyrim is the underground city of Blackreach. Blackreach was, from my understanding, the crowning achievement of the mysterious and extinct Dwemer. The Dwemer is The Elder Scrolls' take on Dwarves, even though they are a race of Elves. It is unclear why they went extinct, but it seems like it was due to an experiment gone wrong that converted the entire population into pure energy.

Greymoor lets you explore the city of Blackreach, but it is much bigger than what we got the last game. It's a major part of the map in the expansion, even though the city is underground. I can't remember the last time I explored a massive underground city in any game, well, aside from The Elder Scrolls V. The thrill of discovery that comes with stepping into Blackreach is unparalleled, and is probably the highlight of new content.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor characters and story

Greymoor starts off with an intriguing quest. You land on the shores of Solitude and are handed a notebook by a dying man. Unraveling this conspiracy requires you to team up with Lyris Titanborn again as well as a cast of some unique and quirky characters. If you're a newcomer, the introduction is similar to how The Elder Scrolls V begins.

When I first heard that the story focused on vampires and werewolves, I was weary because I didn't like the Dawnguard expansion for The Elder Scrolls V. Luckily, Greymoor is presented in such a way that you're never bored and are genuinely intrigued by the mystery. Those hoping for a quest involving different realms and dragons will be disappointed, but I think the Greymoor expansion's story is one of the better ones made by ZeniMax Online Studios. Despite that, it doesn't feel as epic as our first outing in the frozen lands of Skyrim.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor bugs and performance

I'm not sure if this is a bug or an intentional omission, but some of the voiced dialogues are absent from Greymoor. This mostly applies to Lyris Titanborn. It would've been nice to see some consistency because having characters speak for the majority of the campaign, and then witness a lack of voice acting, is jarring, and takes you out of the experience.

The Western Skyrim region seems to be optimized much better than other areas of the game on Xbox One X. The frame rate is still locked at 30 frames per second (FPS), but doesn't appear to suffer from drops that plague other regions of The Elder Scrolls Online. Even exploring snow-covered peaks doesn't seem to impact the frame rate.

The Elder Scrolls Online still looks a little bland compared to The Elder Scrolls V. Hopefully, with next-generation consoles around the corner, it'll get a visual upgrade because the developers still want to support it for a long time. The game needs a massive upgrade to lighting more than anything else. A boost to 60 FPS on Xbox Series X wouldn't hurt either.

Solitude and other areas of Skyrim also look exactly the same as they do in The Elder Scrolls V. It's unclear why they do because there's a 1,000-year difference between the two games. I understand that gamers may be delighted to see a familiar area, but surely the team could've changed it around a little bit. It's just not possible for one city to look exactly the same for 1,000 years.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor final thoughts

Overall, Greymoor is a good expansion that managed to surprise me. I didn't expect the plot to revolve around a compelling conspiracy, breaking into warehouses, and getting involved with well-known political figures. It gets even grander from there. Ever since The Elder Scrolls V came out, I've been hoping that the team at either Bethesda Softworks or ZeniMax would let us explore Blackreach. Years later, it's finally happened and it was worth the wait.

While there's a lot to like about Greymoor, my only real issues lie with the base game. Combat is still a little clunky, and the visuals are in need of an overhaul. Loading screens are also terrible on consoles, even with a solid-state drive. ZeniMax clearly wants to continue telling stories in this expansive world, but The Elder Scrolls Online needs to change to take into account better hardware. With next-generation consoles around the corner, the team has the tools necessary to do exactly that. Let's hope that it seizes this opportunity.

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The game was reviewed on an Xbox One X with a code provided by the publisher.

A few months ago, Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor for Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. Ever since the massively multiplayer online game (MMO) launched, players have been asking the team to let them relieve The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's glory days. Well, that wish has been granted, and the latest expansion does precisely that.

According to Bethesda, the Dark Heart of Skyrim beats from the depths in Greymoor. You are tasked with exploring the snow-swept region of Western Skyrim and face an ancient vampiric army as part of a year-long gothic adventure. However, there are plenty of other surprises in store.

The Greymoor expansion is now available for The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, and you can upgrade your existing version to it for $40. However, there are other editions as well, that include many cosmetic items. Just head over to the Microsoft Store to take a look.

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A few months ago, Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor for Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. Ever since the massively multiplayer online game (MMO) launched, players have been asking the team to let them relieve The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's glory days. Well, that wish has been granted, and the upcoming expansion – that launches in May on PC and June on consoles – does precisely that.

According to Bethesda, the Dark Heart of Skyrim beats from the depths in Greymoor. You are tasked with exploring the snow-swept region of Western Skyrim and face an ancient vampiric army as part of a year-long gothic adventure. However, there are plenty of other surprises in store.

One of the most mysterious areas in Skyrim is the underground city of Blackreach. Blackreach was, from my understanding, the crowning achievement of the mysterious and extinct Dwemer. The Dwemer is The Elder Scrolls' take on Dwarves, even though they are a race of Elves. It is unclear why they went extinct, but it seems like it was due to an experiment gone wrong that converted the entire population into pure energy.

Greymoor lets you explore the city of Blackreach, but it is much bigger than what we got in Skyrim. According to a press briefing Windows Central attended, it is a major part of the map in the upcoming expansion, even though the city is underground. I cannot remember the last time I explored a massive underground city in any game, well, aside from Skyrim. Hopefully, it will live up to the hype the developers built during the briefing.

The Elder Scrolls Online started off as quite a miserable experience, but the removal of the required subscription and the addition of content-rich expansions has made it one of the best MMOs on the market. It even runs at 4K resolution on Xbox One X. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of content in the game. You will explore diverse regions from deserts to sprawling cities.

Previously, The Elder Scrolls Online has provided a lot of enjoyable experiences, but the game has not been able to capture the mystery of Skyrim to this day. There is just something about the snowy peaks and ancient ruins that feels more enigmatic than the rest of Tamriel. I am glad that the developers decided to revisit this region because it is still the highlight of the franchise, even after all these years.

I am excited for Greymoor because it takes us back to Skyrim, but also gives us new content to explore. I was worried we would have to explore the same areas, but since Greymoor takes place hundreds of years before the events of the last entry in the franchise, it is going to be quite different. We will not be limited to a small portion of Blackreach this time around, but can access other areas of the mysterious city. If you loved Skyrim, or love fantasy games in general, you should check out Greymoor.

If you want to get a slight taste of what Greymoor has in store, you can play the free prologue right now. It has been available for a few weeks. It is only a bite-sized portion of the campaign, but you will know what to expect when the expansion drops in a few weeks on PC and consoles.

What you need to know

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr launched a while back on Xbox One and PC.
• The next chapter of the game takes you to Skyrim and lets you explore Blackreach.
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor hits PC on May 26 and Xbox One on June 9.
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr can be purchased for $40 through the Microsoft Store.

The Elder Scrolls Online is popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) which has garnered a strong player base over the years. A large part of the game's success can be attributed to a steady influx of new content. Towards the beginning of June 2019, The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr launched on Xbox One and PC and it added dragons to the game. However, gamers missed the lands of Skyrim the most.

At The Game Awards 2019, Bethesda revealed that The Elder Scrolls Online will be heading to Skyim. This has been a long-requested update, and it's great to see that it's finally happening. The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor focuses on half of Skyrim, but the highlight of the experience has to be the ability to explore the fabled city of Blackreach.

Blackreach has always been an enigma for those who explored Skyrim. For me, it was a terrifying location that I didn't want to explore at first, but then couldn't get enough of when I started walking around the various towers and hallways. There are so many secrets, but it seems like The Elder Scrolls Online gives it even more importance.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor hits PC in May, but console owners will have to wait unitl June to get their hands on the latest expansion. However, there's a little suprise in store. Start today, you can experience a bite-sized portion of the Greymoor campaign by participating in the free Greymoor Prologue quest, available to all players. It looks like a lot of fun and I can't wait to hear how you like it. Bethesda was kind enough to give us early access to the title and it's amazing.

What you need to know

• The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMO set in Bethesda's famous Elder Scrolls universe.
• It gets new content and DLC packs all the time with new dungeons, areas, and more.
• The latest DLC, 'Harrowstorm,' is out now on PC and will come to Xbox One on March 10.
• You can buy the base game from the Microsoft Store for $20.

For those of you who are still playing Bethesda's MMO set in the Elder Scrolls universe, some new DLC is coming your way to add new dungeons and experiences to the game. The 'Harrowstorm' DLC is coming to the Elder Scrolls Online on February 24, 2020 (today) for PC players, and March 10, 2020 for Xbox One and Playstation 4 players.

The new DLC will apparently add two new challenging dungeons, Unhallowed Grave and Icereach, that prepares for Bethesda's planned year of content they're calling the Dark Heart of Skyrim. These areas should explore even more of the Elder Scrolls expansive lore, and give players a ton of new content to play throughout the next year. The Elder Scrolls Online still has a dedicated fanbase of players that should get a lot of time out of the planned DLC. You can check out the full blog post from Bethesda here.

The Elder Scrolls Online still has some nagging issues with performance on certain platforms, and has received some criticism for the confusing nature of their various collections and releases. However, the game continues to be a valuable experience for fans of the Elder Scrolls universe, and explores a ton of areas and cultures including Skyrim and Tamriel. If you're interested in playing, the base game continues to get more affordable as time goes on, coming in at only $20 at the Microsoft Store.

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What you need to know

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr recently launched on Xbox One.
• The expansion adds a new region and brings back dragons.
• The next Chapter of the game takes you to Skyrim.
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor collector's edition can be purchased for $130 on Amazon.

The Elder Scrolls Online is popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) which has garnered a strong player base over the years. A large part of the game's success can be attributed to a steady influx of new content. Towards the beginning of June 2019, The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr launched on Xbox One and it adds dragons to the game. However, gamers missed the lands of Skyrim the most.

At The Game Awards 2019, Bethesda revealed that The Elder Scrolls Online will be heading to Skyrim. If you're a fan of the MMORPG, be sure to check out The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor Physical Collector's Edition Upgrade. It comes with coins, a map, and an amazing statue of a demon. It's safe to assume that that's probably the main villain of the expansion.

The collector's edition is going for $130 right now so be sure to reserve yours before they run out. I just preordered mine. Oddly enough, I'm mostly excited about the coins!

What you need to know

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr recently launched on Xbox One.
• The expansion adds a new region and brings back dragons.
• The next Chapter of the MMORPG takes you to Skyrim.
• The game can be purchased for $40 through the Microsoft Store.

The Elder Scrolls Online is popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) which has garnered a strong player base over the years. A large part of the game's success can be attributed to a steady influx of new content. Towards the beginning of June 2019, The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr launched on Xbox One and it adds dragons to the game.

While the Season of the Dragon is coming to an end, we know where the next adventure takes us. We'll be venturing into Skyrim to stop a greater threat from the looks of it. In a press release Windows Central received, Bethesda said the following about the upcoming Skyrim-based content. You can take a look at an excerpt below.

Ever since The Elder Scrolls Online launched all those years ago, I've been wanting a Chapter that takes place properly in Skyrim. I can't wait to see what the team has in store on January 16 for the MMORPG. The wait is going to excruciating!

If you haven't played The Elder Scrolls Online yet, you can do so through Xbox Game Pass. While all the latest expansions won't be available, it'll still give you hundreds of hours of gameplay, and maybe more if you want to take part in the endgame challenges.

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What you need to know

• Xbox Live Gold members can play The Elder Scrolls Online and Rainbow Six Siege for free this week.
• Both games will be available to play free through September 3.
• Both games are on sale as well. Rainbow Six Siege is available to buy for $12, while The Elder Scrolls Online is available for as little as $10.

Microsoft is running another set of free play days for a couple of Xbox One games this week. If you're an Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, you can check out The Elder Scrolls Online and Rainbow Six Siege without paying a dime through next week. Both games will be available to download and play through September 3.

The Elder Scrolls Online is a massively multiplayer game set in the expansive world of Tamriel with 23 zones. Players will also be able to access Morrowind content in addition to the base game.

Rainbow Six Siege, on the other hand, is a team shooter where teams of attackers and defenders go head-to-head over an objective. All maps and game modes will be available to play throughout the event, as well as 20 of the game's operators.

Both games are available to download from the Xbox Live Gold site and via the Xbox dashboard.

If you want to pick up where you left off after the free play days are over, both games and their various DLC are on sale this week as well. You can grab The Elder Scrolls Online for as little as $10. Rainbow Six Siege's Deluxe Edition is also available for $12.

What you need to know

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset features a stunning collector's edition.
• It comes with a breathtaking statue and other items.
• Amazon has heavily discounted the package.
• You can purchase it for $27 through Amazon while supplies last.

A few days ago, The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr launched on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Usually, every expansion launches with a stunning collector's edition, but this one didn't. However, if you want to get your hands on a gorgeous statue and some amazing in-game items, The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset should suffice.

In The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset, you journey to the home of the High Elves and explore an all-new zone, unlock a new skill line of powerful combat abilities, and join the secretive Psijic Order on a mission to save the world from destruction. The Collector's Edition includes all content from the Digital Collector's Edition, as well as the following items.

• Mephala Statue: A monument to the Daedric Prince Mephala, this foot-long replica was unearthed from a cultist shrine.
• Razum-dar's Journal: A spy's report to Queen Ayrenn chronicling the knowledge collected during Razum-dar's investigation of Summerset.
• Map of Summerset: The home of the High Elves is open to foreign visitors for the first time in history. Let this map be your guide through previously uncharted lands.
• SteelBook Case: A limited edition metallic case, perfect for any collector's shelf.

Usually, the collector's edition goes for $90, but it's currently discounted to $27 on Amazon for the PlayStation 4 version. The Xbox One version is a little more expensive at $40. However, if you just want the statue, you can always check out the Amazon Warehouse Deals which sell used items. The collector's edition is going for $18, but the in-game items may already have been redeemed.

Xbox accessories you'll love

Every one of these quality accessories is guaranteed to enhance your Xbox experience.

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox One ($20 at Amazon)

PowerA's take on the Xbox One controller is an attractive pickup for budget-conscious gamers that nails all the basics.

Talon PDP Xbox media remote ($20 at Amazon)

The Talon PDP Xbox media remote is great for watching shows on your console.

Xbox One S vertical stand ($10 at Amazon)

Stand your console upright with this accessory.

What you need to know

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr recently launched on Xbox One.
• The expansion adds a new region and brings back dragons.
• You have to save the Khajiit homeland this time around.
• The game can be purchased for $40 through the Microsoft Store.

The Elder Scrolls Online is popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) which has garnered a strong player base over the years. A large part of the game's success can be attributed to a steady influx of new content. Towards the beginning of June, The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr launched on Xbox One and it adds dragons to the game.

According to Bethesda, Dragons have invaded Tamriel and it's up to you to stop them. The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr starts the "Season of the Dragon" which is a year-long adventure. You'll explore and defend the home of the Khajiit from an ancient evil, and command the undead with the new Necromancer class.

We've been testing out the game for the past week and can say that it features an intruging story. The mystery behind the dragon scourge unravels steadily, and each mission gets you closer to the truth. Aside from the main quest, it's quite possibly the best story The Elder Scrolls Online has ever told. There are also from the looks of it random dragons flying around which you can work together to take down. It definitely pays homage to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

While the visuals are astounding, the performance – even on the Xbox One X – is horrendous. The video provides just one example of what you'll have to endure. Other regions of the game don't suffer from this issue, but the Khajiit homeworld is plagued with stuttering and lower than 30 frames per second gameplay. It seems to be an issue of optimization because old areas don't exhibit any of these problems even with the latest patch.

Hopefully the team will fix these problems because millions of console gamers won't be able to enjoy the content. We've reached out to the company to see if they're aware of these problems and have a patch in the works.

The Elder Scrolls Online launched as a somewhat broken and unbalanced experience. At one point it was even supported by a monthly subscription model. Luckily, the developer changed the business plan and added a tremendous amount of content. After all these years, the game might be the best MMORPG on consoles.

There are two ways to play The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr at the moment. You can either buy an upgrade for $40 if you already own the base game, or you can purchase a complete bundle starting at $60. If you haven't played the game before, now's a great time to jump in.

Xbox accessories you'll love

Every one of these quality accessories is guaranteed to enhance your Xbox experience.

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox One ($20 at Amazon)

PowerA's take on the Xbox One controller is an attractive pickup for budget-conscious gamers that nails all the basics.

Talon PDP Xbox media remote ($20 at Amazon)

The Talon PDP Xbox media remote is great for watching shows on your console.

Xbox One S vertical stand ($10 at Amazon)

Stand your console upright with this accessory.

What you need to know

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr launched today on Xbox One.
• The expansion adds a new region and brings back dragons to the game.
• You have to save the Khajiit kingdom this time around.
• The game can be purchased for $60 through the Microsoft Store.

The Elder Scrolls Online is popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) which has garnered a strong player base over the years. A large part of the game's success can be attributed to a steady influx of new content. Today, The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr launched on Xbox One, and it adds dragons to the game.

Dragons have invaded Tamriel, and it's up to you to stop them. The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr starts the Season of the Dragon which is a year-long adventure. You'll explore and defend the home of the Khajiit from an ancient evil, and command the undead with the new Necromancer class.

The Elder Scrolls Online launched as a somewhat broken and unbalanced experience. At one point it was even supported by a monthly subscription model. Luckily, the developer changed the business plan and added a tremendous amount of content. After all these years, the game might be the best MMORPG on consoles.

There are two ways to play The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr at the moment. You can either buy an upgrade if you already own the previous expansion, or you can purchase a complete bundle starting at $60. If you haven't played the game before, now's a great time to jump in.

Excellent and affordable Xbox accessories

Up your Xbox experience with one (or all) of these budget accessories, all of which are approved by the gamers of Windows Central.

PowerA Play & Charge Kit for Xbox One ($15 at Amazon)

This charging kit keeps your Xbox One wireless controllers juiced up, and it offers batteries for two controllers. At just $15, this is hands-down our favorite budget charging companion.

ElecGear 4 Port USB Xbox One S Hub ($19 at Amazon)

This brilliant little USB splitter hub attaches perfectly to the side of your Xbox One S console. It's ideal for use with chargers, controllers, headsets, and more.

Controller Gear stand ($13 at Amazon)

Proudly display your Xbox gamepads with this stylish and functional stand. The licensed design is minimalist and black, and it has a hidden storage compartment, making the price of $13 a real steal.

Today, Bethesda announced the latest expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online called "Elsweyr." The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr takes you to dangerous locations where the Khajiiti cat people live. However, the twist this time around is that there are dragons roaming the skies which you probably have to fight. We'll find out more about the upcoming expansion in the coming months, but until then you can watch the spectacular reveal trailer.

The trailer focuses on the monstrous dragons which look even more menacing than The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Hopefully the content will live up to the hype. Apparently, 2019 is called the "Season of the Dragon." We would love to see random dragon encounters make their way into the game too! Are you interested in The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr? Let us know.

If you preorder The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr, you gain immediate access to the otherworldly Rahd-m'Athra Mount, the base Elder Scrolls Online game, the Morrowind and Summerset chapters, the Noble Clan-Chief costume, Blue Dragon Imp pet, Baandari Peddler Crate, and more when the expansion launches. The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr will be available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on June 4, 2019, with PC early access starting on May 20.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Recently, Bethesda announced the latest expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online called "Murkmire." Murkmire takes you to dangerous swamps and other "murky" regions in order to uncover a powerful artifact. Murkmire is now available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. It's been out on PC for weeks now. Usually, new content rolls out on PC a week or so before it's available on consoles.

In order to access to Murkmire, Xbox One X owners will have to download a 50 GB patch and purchase the DLC from the in-game store. Yes, that's right, the download is 50 GB. While the total file size only goes up by roughly 3 GB to around 94 GB, there are a lot of fixes and other tweaks in there. Hopefully performance improvements are part of the package.

The Elder Scrolls Online takes place in one connected world where you can stay up to date with everything your friends are doing. Whether you play alone or with companions, the game's combat system allows you to focus on action and tactics. You can use any weapon at any time, no matter what class, and customize your abilities to play the way you want.

There are hundreds of quests and other activities to engage in. The goal is to uncover the mysteries of Tamriel and seek heroic quests on your own schedule.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Recently, Bethesda announced the latest expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online called "Murkmire." Murkmire takes you to dangerous swamps and other "murky" regions in order to uncover a powerful artifact.

Murkmire will be available on November 6, 2018 on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. It's already out on PC. Usually, new content rolls out on PC a week or so before it's available on consoles.

The Elder Scrolls Online takes place in one connected world where you can stay up to date with everything your friends are doing. Whether you play alone or with companions, the game's combat system allows you to focus on action and tactics. You can use any weapon at any time, no matter what class, and customize your abilities to play the way you want. There are hundreds of quests and other activities to engage in. The goal is to uncover the mysteries of Tamriel and seek heroic quests on your own schedule.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

The Elder Scrolls Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) which has had its fair share of ups and downs. The game launched in somewhat of a broken state, but over the course of the past few years, it's become an engaging and fair experience. You can easily spend thousands of hours exploring the world of Tamriel if you choose.

The MMORPG takes place in one connected world. Whether you play alone or with companions, the game's combat system allows you to focus on tactics. You can use any weapon at any time, and customize your abilities to play the way you want. There are hundreds of quests and other activities. The goal is to uncover the mysteries of the land and seek heroic quests on your own schedule. You can explore the far reaches of Skyrim or the mysterious lands of Morrowind.

Aside from releasing major expansions like "Summerset", The Elder Scrolls Online gets smaller dungeons and other mission-based add-ons from time to time. The latest one is called "Wolfhunter", and it significantly alters the game. We've been playing it for the past day, and so far it's been a lot of fun despite the fact that it's not as deep as some of the other additions.

Wolfhunter mainly adds two new dungeons called "Moon Hunter Keep" and "March of Sacrifices". There are new gear sets and collectibles to find here as well. The free update includes a new competitive map called "Istirus Outpost", the "Respec 2.0" system, and a major overhaul to "Werewolf" skills.

Aside from the new areas to explore, Respec 2.0 has to be the most exciting change. According to Bethesda, you can now change individual abilities one by one, rather than being forced to add all of your skills from scratch. This means that players have more control over their builds.

Wolfhunter is a paid expansion which costs 1,500 "Crowns" from The Elder Scrolls Online's store. A free update also rolled out to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 users, which brought a series of improvements to the game. PC players have had access to these changes for the past few weeks.

If you're a fan of the game, be sure to give Wolfhunter a go. Even if you don't purchase the add-on, you should still give The Elder Scrolls Online a try because of the free improvements in the latest update. The game looks amazing on consoles, and even achieves native 4K resolution on Xbox One X!

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store
• See at Green Man Gaming

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

A few days ago, the latest expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online launched on PC. Today, the content is available on Xbox One. Summerset is the next chapter for the game and takes players to the incredible Isle of Summerset to explore the home of the High Elves for the first time since 1994's The Elder Scrolls: Arena. The expansion includes a massive new zone, main story, skill line based on the mysterious Psijic Order mages, and the introduction of jewelry crafting.

The game features Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro support as well. It pushes both consoles to native 4K resolution with added visual effects on Microsoft's latest console.

The Elder Scrolls Online takes place in one connected world where you can stay up to date with everything your friends are doing. Whether you play alone or with companions, the game's combat system allows you to focus on action and tactics. You can use any weapon at any time, no matter what class, and customize your abilities to play the way you want. There are hundreds of quests and other activities to engage in. The goal is to uncover the mysteries of Tamriel and seek heroic quests on your own schedule. You can explore the far reaches of Skyrim, the mysterious lands of Morrowind, or the sprawling metropolis of Daggerfall. Despite its missteps at launch, The Elder Scrolls Online is now an expansive experience all gamers can enjoy.

Gamers can purchase Summerset for $39.99 at various retailers.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store
• See at Green Man Gaming

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Recently, Bethesda announced the latest expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online called "Summerset". Summerset is the next chapter for the game and takes players to the incredible Isle of Summerset to explore the home of the High Elves for the first time since 1994's The Elder Scrolls: Arena. The expansion includes a massive new zone, main story, skill line based on the mysterious Psijic Order, and the introduction of jewelry crafting.

Luckily, it launched today for PC players. Summerset is accompanied by Update 18 which fixes a lot of bugs and makes the experience even better.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset should release for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on June 5, 2018. The game features Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro support as well.

The Elder Scrolls Online takes place in one connected world where you can stay up to date with everything your friends are doing. Whether you play alone or with companions, the game's combat system allows you to focus on action and tactics. You can use any weapon at any time, no matter what class, and customize your abilities to play the way you want. There are hundreds of quests and other activities to engage in. The goal is to uncover the mysteries of Tamriel and seek heroic quests on your own schedule. You can explore the far reaches of Skyrim, the mysterious lands of Morrowind, or the sprawling metropolis of Daggerfall. Despite its missteps at launch, The Elder Scrolls Online is now an expansive experience all gamers can enjoy.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store
• See at Green Man Gaming

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

In The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset, players will be able to discover the secretive mages of the Psijic Order and join their ranks to learn the ways of these ancient masters.

The Psijic Order had influenced a lot of the events that occur in Elder Scrolls games, but we don't know much about them. Today, Bethesda released a sneak peek video to help bring fans up to speed on one of Tamriel's most secretive organizations.

In the Summerset expansion, players travel to the isle of Artaeum to find and join the enigmatic Psijic Order for the first time in the franchise. This secret society of mages has returned after a 350-year absence, bringing with them a unique quest line and story that will have players travelling all over the region to close time breaches.

Once accepted into their ranks, players will have access to a new Psijic Order skill tree. These abilities include the ability to manipulate time. You can slow down and freeze enemies in place, meditate to restore your health and resources, or even rewind time itself by a few seconds.

The Summerset expansion is coming to PC on May 21, 2018 and Xbox One on June 5. The game runs at native 4K on Xbox One X.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store
• See at Green Man Gaming

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!