- Uncover Tamriel’s Mysteries with the Rumors System - 18 September 2026
https://esosslfiles-a.akamaihd.net/ape/uploads/2026/09/8d002fcf75f71b9dab08967caeed252d.jpg Delve into the secrets of the past with the new Rumors system, coming soon as part of Season One. Arriving with the Update 51 base-game patch on September 28 as part of Season One, the new Rumors system is a fun new way to experience the world of The Elder Scrolls Online, allowing you to you collect and interpret clues, explore Tamriel, and unravel its mysteries. I Heard a Rumor… When designing this new system, the team wanted to provide a new way to delve into the world of Tamriel beyond the traditional questline pathways. “The goal of Rumors was to create an old-school questing and narrative scavenger hunt experience,” explains Jason Barnes, ESO’s Associate Design Director. “By removing most traditional quest UI assistance, we wanted players to put their thinking caps on, decipher clues, and en…
- Prepare for the Perplexing Puzzles of the Nowhere Vault - 17 September 2026
https://esosslfiles-a.akamaihd.net/ape/uploads/2026/09/a9336b6db660b0419964a818da935e23.jpg Learn about Season One’s puzzling new kind of adventure, the Nowhere Vault. Arriving with the launch of Update 51 on September 28, the Nowhere Vault challenges players to explore a mystifying new PvE experience for solo or group play, with special rewards for those who can unravel its myriad mysteries. Nowhere in Particular “The Nowhere Vault exists in a space outside Nirn itself,” explains Jason Barnes, ESO’s Associate Design Director. “Not quite a Daedric plane, but a plane of Sage Voernet’s own choosing. It was created not only to house rare treasures and artifacts, but to test adventurers Voernet deemed worthy of its challenges.” Any adventurer with a Nowhere Key can face the trials of the vault, and with the help of Voernet’s enigmatic assistant, you can put your skills to the test. “Urli, a…
- It's still very much possible to make good Skyrim mods "without any use of AI" in 2026, declares the maker of a new DLC-sized Black Marsh expansion - 8 September 2026
The latest beefy expansion mod to hit Skyrim is an adventure to the Argonian homeland of Black Marsh, complete with hist trees and humid swamps. Though, its creator seems to be hoping the trip to the southern tip of the mysterious province will do more that just entertain, serving as a reminder that it's still possible for solo modders to make ambitious works happen for free without resorting to using generative AI. Read more
- "You can’t just throw new people at that problem": Bethesda devs doubt future Elder Scrolls and Fallout games will have the same "quality level", after losing seasoned staff to Xbox cuts - 2 September 2026
Unionised Bethesda Games Studios staff embroiled in Microsoft's latest round of mass layoffs have expressed further doubts about the company's ability to create games at the "quality level" of the very bestest Elder Scrolls and Fallout projects, as they continue to haggle with Microsoft over severance terms. Read more
- An Update on the Warden and Class Refresh - 1 September 2026
Hi Everyone. Below is a link to a letter from the ESO development team, sharing an update on the ongoing Warden and Class refresh work. Article Link
- Golden Pursuits—Straight to the Crate - 21 August 2026
https://esosslfiles-a.akamaihd.net/ape/uploads/2026/08/ccdf7c01e1c9f4cc38732649d52e7e31.jpg Earn up to 20 Crown Crates free during a new Golden Pursuits campaign! Straight to the Crate Earn up to 20 free Crown Crates during the new Straight to the Crate Golden Pursuits campaign, now live and continuing until September 17, 2026. Check out the milestone rewards you can unlock during this timeframe, simply by playing the game: Complete four activities—5 Xanmeer Crown CratesComplete nine activities—5 Wraithtide Crown CratesComplete 14 activities—5 Scalecaller Crown CratesComplete 18 activities—5 Diamond Anniversary Crown Crates https://esosslfiles-a.akamaihd.net/ape/uploads/2026/08/8abe1f1e4faee080195e5d03578b9886.jpg https://esosslfiles-a.akamaihd.net/ape/uploads/2026/08/f22f5727eefd1e7bbe56ae8b36710642.jpg https://esosslfiles-a.akamaihd.net/ape/uploads/2026/08/60e40fe452ed453bf21f8533cd1b…
- Get More Out of Tamriel with the ESO Plus Free Trial - 20 August 2026
https://esosslfiles-a.akamaihd.net/ape/uploads/2024/12/7fd5508ee7240766d6f5d5bf21520f3c.jpg Enjoy access to the Craft Bag, DLCs, and more with ESO Plus free for a limited time! ESO Plus Free Trial The ESO Plus Trial is now live and continues until August 27 at 10AM EST. During this limited-time promotion, you can enjoy a vast collection of benefits designed to augment your adventures in Tamriel’s Second Era. These benefits include: Full access to over 30 DLC game packs—new zones, quests, dungeons, and moreIncludes 30 group dungeons and systems such as Antiquities and Tales of TributeA Craft Bag providing unlimited storage for all your crafting materialsDouble Bank space for all characters on your account10% increase to experience, gold, and Archival Fortune acquisition, crafting inspiration, Alliance Points, Tel Var Stones, and trait research ratesDouble furnishings and collectibles spa…
- Combat Updates – Update 51 PTS - 13 August 2026
Hi All. Below is a message from the combat team, touching on some of the feedback we've seen over the last two weeks of PTS. ______________________________________________________ Greetings! This week the combat team has an update relating to some upcoming changes we’ll be pushing to the PTS for Update 51. Before we get into the juicy details, we’ll quickly talk about general sentiments we’ve seen that have led us here, as these changes are in direct response to your PTS feedback and were not originally planned. Firstly, we’ve seen a good deal of feedback on the state of PvP regarding both Dragonknight and Werewolf, and their prevalence and often dominance in that space. Part of this is inevitable by nature of them getting their refreshes before others, but this has clearly been a frustrating experience that has diminished much of the benefits that Class Mastery has introduced (at least…
- Battle for Bonus Rewards during Whitestrake’s Mayhem - 5 August 2026
https://esosslfiles-a.akamaihd.net/ape/uploads/2026/08/ea39c55a419446b56e709ec29eb3eb16.jpg ESO’s premier PvP event returns with a refit this August, granting bolstered rewards for Tamriel’s warriors. Bring Glory to Pelinal Arm yourself with your best PvP gear and gather your strongest allies! The Whitestrake’s Mayhem in-game event has returned and is now live from August 5 until August 12. During this event period, as you duke it out with your fellow players in the Battlegrounds, Alliance War, and Imperial City, you can earn bonus rewards, including: 100% boost to Experience Point gains in Battlegrounds, Imperial City, and Alliance War100% boost to Alliance Point gains in Battlegrounds, Imperial City, and Alliance War100% boost to Tel Var Stone gains in the Imperial CityPelinal’s Boon Boxes, a special event reward box If you’re eager to progress your rank in ESO’s Veterancy system, the…
- ESO’s August 2026 Survival Guide - 1 August 2026
https://esosslfiles-a.akamaihd.net/ape/uploads/2026/07/b04fd0b57461a07583b5e49d3903714b.jpg Aromatic awards await as you quest with Sheogorath and complete activities this August! Golden Pursuits—Sheogorath Takes a Holiday (July 29–August 12) Sheogorath’s own Golden Pursuits campaign continues! Complete Golden Pursuits activities (primarily by playing the new Sheogorath questline) to earn gold, armor, and a unique customized action themed after the Daedric Prince himself. https://esosslfiles-a.akamaihd.net/ape/uploads/2026/07/96368af3ce2aa64c3fac217ca9340440.jpg Complete Uncle Sheo’s quests to unlock new rewards Bethesda’s 40th Anniversary Reward (July 30-August 13) There’s still time to claim the Bethesda 40th Anniversary reward! Enter the code Bethesda40 to unlock 2,000 Trade Bars (sent directly to your in-game mail). This code will only work during the promotion window, so don’t hesi…
- Celebrate Bethesda’s 40th with a Free Reward and Sale - 31 July 2026
https://esosslfiles-a.akamaihd.net/ape/uploads/2026/07/f8264729e2da278758f074bea4013f2d.jpg Bethesda Softworks is turning 40, and we’re celebrating with a new sale AND a code for free Trade Bars! Bethesda Turns 40! Happy Birthday to Bethesda! Congratulations for 40 years of developing and publishing amazing video games, including our beloved Elder Scrolls series. As part of the celebration, we invite all ESO players to redeem a unique, limited-time in-game code: “Bethesda40” To claim this reward, redeem the code above via your ESO account page or via the Redeem Reward Code in-game option (within the Crown Store) before August 12, 2026. Note that there is a limit of one redemption per account, and total redemptions are limited. Once redeemed, you will be awarded a whopping 2,000 Trade Bars, allowing you to pick from a host of rewards in Season One’s Gold Coast Bazaar. That’s enough Trade…
- 'We are not looking to just maintain' Elder Scrolls Online, new ZeniMax boss says, but a bunch of updates have been delayed into 2027 and possibly beyond - 30 July 2026
New ZeniMax Online Studios co-head Nick Giacomini says that despite deep cuts at the studio as part of the most recent round of Xbox layoffs, The Elder Scrolls Online "is here to stay." But those layoffs, which saw more than 200 people let go including Giacomini's predecessor Joseph Burba, mean that previously announced timelines are no longer workable, and things are being moved... Read more.
- A Message from ESO's Game Director - 30 July 2026
https://esosslfiles-a.akamaihd.net/ape/uploads/2026/07/46c6670bc212de7375a467e21c4ae754.jpg Read a community letter from Nick Giacomini about upcoming adjustments, Season updates, and our commitment to the future of ESO. When we announced Seasons in January, we promised you a new era of transparency. Part of that promise is being open with you as our studio evolves. Recently, we've been through a number of organizational changes and departures of teammates who helped shape The Elder Scrolls Online. We are profoundly grateful for everything they've contributed to the game and the community we've built together. At the same time, we've seen a lot of questions about what these changes mean for ESO. So let me be clear: ESO is here to stay, and our team is dedicated to the future of this game. Our focus hasn't changed. It is continuing to grow The Elder Scrolls Online and build upon the worl…
- Tour Tamriel with the Prince of Madness in a New Questline - 29 July 2026
https://esosslfiles-a.akamaihd.net/ape/uploads/2026/07/458a02b1255df84785f7ea0363e663d8.jpg Season One’s Sheogorath Takes a Holiday questline is now live with an accompanying Golden Pursuits campaign to boot. Learn about the new storyline and bonus rewards you can earn as you play! Sheogorath Takes a Holiday Season One’s second new story questline, Sheogorath Takes a Holiday, is now live on all platforms and is free for all ESO players. In this series of six new story quests, you must help Noth the Unhinged and her master Sheogorath as they tour Tamriel, sample the continent’s finest cheeses, and experience mortal life. However, dark forces rally against the Lord of Madness and seek to capitalize on his newfound vulnerability—surely even Daedric Princes deserve a break sometime! To get started, acquire the opening quest, titled “Sheogorath Takes a Holiday” free from the in-game Crown St…
- "The goal is to provide what we can": Elder Scrolls Online Crown Store undergoing changes due to "team bandwidth" in wake of Xbox layoffs - 22 July 2026
Following Microsoft's mass layoffs , The Elder Scrolls Online has ended up in a transitional period while remaining staff work to forge a path forwards. If you want evidence of effects the cuts are already starting to have on the MMO, look no further than its Crown Store. Read more
- The Elder Scrolls Online is already feeling the impact of Xbox's layoffs, ironically hurting the cash shop - 22 July 2026
Earlier this month, Microsoft gutted The Elder Scrolls Online , with 379 staff across ZeniMax gone . And this is the second time it's happened in two years. As Harvey and I put it a few weeks ago, ESO's developers deserved better . The developer, now claiming to be the same size it was 10 years ago (similar to id Software), has just debuted ESO's new seasonal structure but will have to continue carving that path with reduced capabilities... Read more.
- "There are no benefits to being owned by Microsoft": Xbox owners accused of cultivating a "disposable worker mentality" in damning report on layoffs - 15 July 2026
A fresh report has shed light on what played out behind the scenes last week as Microsoft laid off around 1600 people and parted ways with a number of studios. While news of the various affects the cuts have had on specific studios still under the Xbox banner since that pint, the report also paints a damning picture of the effect these layoffs and the ones which still loom have had on the mindset of remaining workers, with unclear goals having contributed to a situation whereby staff feel they're disposable regardless of what they make. Read more
- Elder Scrolls Online studio echoes id Software, claims to now be the same size it was 10 years ago following Xbox layoffs - 12 July 2026
s reported by Massively OP , senior developers at ZeniMax Online Studios said that the company has returned to its circa 2015-2018 headcount, before it staffed up for the development of canceled MMO Blackbird. The estimate is similar to one recently proffered by id Software in a statement on X, "The Everything App.".. Read more.
- The Elder Scrolls Online's developer deserved better than to get sucker-punched by Microsoft twice in two years - 11 July 2026
I'm somewhat prone to pessimism in this column, though that's not without cause. MMOs aren't exactly a dying breed, per se—we've got Guild Wars 3 to look forward to, and most of the old guard, while a little grey in the beard, have respectable playerbases and are thrumming with things to do... Read more.
- 'Surprised there was anyone left to post this': Fans react as The Elder Scrolls Online debuts seasonal content days after hundreds laid off from studio - 10 July 2026
For the first time ever, seasonal content is here for The Elder Scrolls Online. Return of the Thieves Guild, its inaugural season, has launched for the long-running MMO, something you'd expect fans would be all abuzz for—if not for the fact that ZeniMax Online Studios has been gutted as part of the mass layoffs at Xbox this week... Read more.
