11 years in, Elder Scrolls Online isn’t going anywhere, but its studio head says it’s “time to shake things up” so that the MMO can stay “fresh and modern for years”

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Following eleven years and the completion of eight comprehensive expansion chapters, Matt Frior from Zenimax Online Studio shares that Elder Scrolls Online will bring about changes in its current setup.

Today’s issue of the ESO Direct newsletter offers a sneak peek at numerous significant changes heading for the popular MMO this year. To kick things off, developer Fior shared their broader vision for the studio’s future plans.

According to Frior, after a prolonged period of success, it’s now time to introduce some changes in ESO, modify our approach towards content delivery, prioritize experimenting with new concepts, and maintain the game as contemporary and vibrant well into the coming years.

We appreciate your suggestions for adding more diversity and freshness to our content. We’re on the same page – we aim to continue delivering fantastic stories while introducing novel concepts and gameplay mechanics. And that’s exactly what we plan to do! However, we’ll be doing this in a new rhythm, one that gives us, the developers, ample time to explore various aspects and increase the overall diversity.

Instead of releasing one significant update every year, our strategy now involves providing a variety of fresh content and gaming mechanisms more frequently. This approach aims to improve the core game, cater to both new and returning players, and most importantly, allows us to experiment with diverse and innovative content.

Zenimax Online may still have some surprises in store, but Frior and his team have revealed some intriguing details. Previously, it was mentioned that Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) would no longer follow its annual chapter release pattern as part of the year-long adventures. Now, we have a better understanding of what will take its place in terms of update frequency.

The initial season of ESO is centered around the Worm Cult, marking the return of the original main antagonist Molag Bal, who hasn’t been seen since the primary storyline of the base game. Known as Seasons of the Worm Cult – Part 1, this first installment is scheduled for release in June, with Part 2 expected in Q4 2025. Reminiscent characters from the initial quest of the base game, such as Skordo the Knife, Razum-Dar, and Gabrielle Benele, will also make a comeback. In a recent media Q&A attended by GamesRadar+, game director Rich Lambert stated that this season is a direct continuation of the storyline from the base game.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that instead of one massive chapter, The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) is transitioning to a seasonal structure for its new content. This means we’ll get our hands on themed storylines, dungeons, and in-game events at a consistent pace throughout each season! The grand adventure starts on the enchanting island of Solstice, nestled along Tamriel’s southern coast.

This captivating new zone presents two visually stunning contrasting landscapes. The Western side is reminiscent of a lush Caribbean-inspired tropical paradise. Sunport, the main city on the island, showcases breathtaking architecture that reflects the unique culture of the Tideborn – a newly discovered tribe of Argonians.

Without a doubt, it’s not just peaceful beach days as the followers of the Worm cult have invaded, ruining everyone’s tranquility. They’ve set up camp on the island and are constructing a massive wall, made from what seems like “essence of souls,” separating Eastern Solstice from Western Solstice. I’ll share more details about that a bit further along.

For the first time since its release in 2014, Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) players will be granted the opportunity to diversify their character builds by incorporating skills from other classes starting in June with the commencement of Seasons of the Worm Cult. This will become accessible to all players whose characters have reached level 50, offering a staggering 3,000 potential combinations of skill lines compared to the current seven classes available.

Additionally, a fresh system has been introduced to streamline all the features within ESO, catering specifically to players who have returned after feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of activities in the game. This resonates with me, as I often become engrossed in the game’s major updates, only to lose interest until the next one arrives.

By the way, let me remind you about the soul juice barrier I previously mentioned? Today’s stream also features an exciting new “world-altering in-game activity” titled Writhing Wall, commencing in Q3 2025. This event sees players battling a massive ethereal wall smack dab in the middle of Solstice. Essentially, this is Elder Scrolls Online’s inaugural server-wide world event where all players on the same server must collaborate in stages to breach the wall and eliminate the Worm cult once and for all.

During the post-show discussion, I inquired about the consequences if the wall remains unbreached, and Lambert clarified that there is a chance for failure: “The aim is for the server to open it, so if the server doesn’t cooperate to open it, then they won’t be granted access to this new location.

In the coming autumn, ESO’s first battle pass will include the Fallen Banners dungeon pack, which is playable right now. During the third quarter, you can anticipate the release of parts 1 and 2 of the Worm Cult expansion, the Writhing Wall event, and another dungeon pack called Feast of Shadows.

And finally, in terms of the ESO team’s broader development approach, Frior summarizes:

Through experimentation and adaptability, our development team intends to continually enhance Elder Scrolls Online. We’ll introduce new content and make necessary adjustments along the way. Our goal is to maintain an engaging, enjoyable, and lasting experience, a commitment we’ve upheld for over ten years.

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2025-04-10 22:40