Summary

  • ZeniMax Online is switching to a new seasonal system for ESO content updates.
  • Named seasons will bring narrative threads, items, and dungeons every 3-6 months.
  • The new approach aims for more varied content and frequent updates.

Eschewing its established annual chapter DLC release format, ZeniMax Online has announced a new seasonal system for delivering fresh content to The Elder Scrolls Online players. Since 2017, The Elder Scrolls Online has received a major new DLC each year, alongside other stand-alone releases and updates to dungeons, zones, and more.

Released in 2014, the game initially received mixed reviews. The studio responded with a significant update, satisfying many of the concerns voiced by critics and improving the standing and sales of the game. With The Elder Scrolls Online recently celebrating its tenth anniversary, it seems that ZeniMax felt it was time to once again shake up the formula for how it expands the world of Tamriel.

Announced in ZeniMax Online studio director Matt Firor's end-of-year letter to players, the new content model will see named seasons lasting three or six months. The semi-annual releases will encapsulate a combination of new Elder Scrolls Online content, including narrative threads, events, items, and dungeons. As Firor states, the new approach will "let [ZeniMax] focus on a greater variety of content spread over the year." Updates, fixes, and new systems will also be able to roll out more dynamically, as the development team is reorganized around a modular, release-when-ready framework. Additionally, according to a Twitter post from the Elder Scrolls Online team, the new content model will generate enduring quests, stories, and areas, unlike the temporary content models used by other seasonally updated games.

New Model Will Introduce The Elder Scrolls Online Content More Frequently

In general, the developer claims to be looking to disrupt the traditional cycle and make room for experimentation, while also freeing up resources to address a laundry list of tweaks and improvements to performance, balance, and player guidance. Players can also expect to see new content occupying existing landmasses, as new territories are rolled out in smaller chunks than in the annual model. Other items on the look-ahead docket are another Elder Scrolls Online texture and art improvement, a UI upgrade for PC players, and new improvements to the map, UI, and tutorial systems.

This pivot from ZeniMax seems like a reasonable response to the shifting ways in which players access content and the turnover rate of new players in any MMORPG setting. As ZeniMax Online Studios gears up to produce a new IP, having a fresh batch of experiences available every few months may help it achieve long-term retention across various player demographics for the long-standing Elder Scrolls Online.

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9 /10

The Elder Scrolls Online
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MMORPG
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 71 /100 Critics Rec: 39%
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Released
April 4, 2014
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
Developer(s)
ZeniMax Online Studios
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Engine
proprietary engine, heroengine
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Franchise
The Elder Scrolls
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Number of Players
1-4 (Co-Op)
Genre(s)
MMORPG
How Long To Beat
160+ Hours
PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium
OpenCritic Rating
Fair