After 10 years of setting-hopping, The Elder Scrolls Online is coming home for a new chapter of its base game story, returning player QoL updates, and a writhing wall of ‘soul-juice concrete’

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Earlier this week, I attended an exclusive sneak peek at The Elder Scrolls Online‘s 10th anniversary Direct presentation, and it seems they’re going all out for the celebration! Over the past decade, The Elder Scrolls Online has given players a globe-trotting experience across Tamriel—exploring Morrowind, Elsweyr, Blackwood, Telvanni, and many other locations.

After a ten-year run, ZeniMax is eager to bring some changes to that structure. Instead of the MMO primarily following an annual chapter system, it will transition to a more seasonal approach in the future. The initial shift, titled “Seasons of the Worm Cult,” revisits the game’s original storyline.

According to game director Rich Lambert, this new installment continues the narrative from the original game, having been developed over a span of ten years.

The story unfolds on an unexplored tropical island named Solstice, where rejected Argonians and Altmer have formed an unusual alliance, combining their distinct cultures in a complex, politically charged environment. Once again, the Order of the Black Worm resurfaces under the leadership of a character known as Wormblood – a name that seems prophetic and perhaps unjust from their perspective, but one must make the best of what they’ve been given, I suppose.

In addition to the promised features intended to re-engage veteran players, this entire transformation seems to serve as a fresh start for Elder Scrolls Online’s long-standing narrative. This change also presents a welcoming entrance for newcomers. Familiar characters such as Razum-dar, Skordo the Knife, and Vanus Galerion are reappearing to assist players in acclimating to the game world once again.

Regarding ZeniMax, they are actively developing a warm “return of the player” feature, although specifics are still unclear. They also plan to enhance tutorial zones with visual upgrades. It seems their goal is to re-engage players who have taken a break, explicitly mentioning that they will concentrate on addressing long-standing feedback from the player base.

It appears ZeniMax is placing importance on exploration and testing, suggesting that seasons could vary in length, from short to extended ones. Additionally, there are discussions about introducing “reimagined” or “remixed” seasons similar to World of Warcraft’s Mists of Pandaria Remix.

In addition to other exciting elements, such as the collaborative operation known as “The Ossian Cage” with 12 players, Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) players will also have the chance to join forces to bring down The Writhing Wall, a massive obstacle dividing Solstice in half. This task involves constructing fortifications, creating siege weapons, and enhancing defenses to achieve success.

Additionally, progress will be monitored individually for each server, meaning it’s plausible that one server may finish the storyline ahead of another. The upcoming season finale, scheduled for release “during the fourth quarter,” will grant players access to explore Eastern Solstice.

Unfortunately, this game follows a seasonal structure, which means you’ll need to purchase new content passes separately, not included in your ESO premium subscription. However, keep in mind that previous expansions were also standalone purchases, and if the cost stays reasonable, it might not be too much of an inconvenience given the amount of content available.

During a casual post-broadcast discussion, Lambert comforted the players, stating that they wouldn’t miss out on many opportunities: “Occasionally, we’ll reintroduce items. We will also make sure that extremely rare items are generally accessible so you won’t feel pressured to play every day throughout the season just to obtain them.

Transitioning from the conventional MMO structure to a more seasonal model isn’t as simple as it sounds; there will be some growing pains along the way. For instance, introducing new elements such as subclasses into your game years after its release can breathe fresh life into it. However, it’s important to note that The Elder Scrolls Online doesn’t necessarily require this, given its impressive financial success for Bethesda, earning over $2 billion in its lifetime.

You can expect the initial chapter for “Seasons of the Worm Cult” to debut once “The Elder Scrolls Online” direct showcase starts streaming live. Most of the content is planned for release in June, and it looks like the public test server could go live as early as next week, according to Lambert’s suggestions.

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2025-04-10 22:48