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The Elder Scrolls Online is going to look a whole lot different soon, with the 2026 roadmap finally coming to fruition – smaller updates, the new seasonal model, and all – and between an unexplored region of Skyrim coming and Sea of Thieves vibes underway, I can't wait.
It's no secret that The Elder Scrolls Online is about to look a whole lot different – but it's not just because of animation changes to werewolves or a revamped Glenumbra.
We've already had a taste of what's to come with the recent Update 49, a massive patch that saw the (now admittedly a bit broken in PvP) Dragonknight class reworked, as tweaks for all roles are underway, much to my not-subclassing delight.
There's The Glittering Goad, The Ruckus, and The Thousand Eyes – each with their own respective cosmetics, titles, dyes, banners, and monster sets to score… so we'll need to pick wisely.
The way ZeniMax presents it, it also sounds like a sort of PvEvP situation in a way, as every faction will be competing (but not in a direct, Cyrodiil manner). I'm personally drawn to The Glittering Goad and its alluring horned dremora leader.
The Night Market is only the tip of the iceberg, though. We can look forward to Challenge Difficulty – an optional (ZeniMax stresses this bit) overland difficulty system as well come June 8, with four tiers to choose from and increased rewards to gain through them.
Season Zero boasts a plethora of changes geared toward PvP fans, too, like the new Veterancy PvP progression system. Lone players haven't been forgotten, either.
Solo Dungeons – a system that has me especially intrigued as a fan of the Trust feature in Final Fantasy 14 – are set to arrive and reimagine existing dungeons for folks preferring to take them on alone. No more queues and fake tanks? Sounds like a win to me.
For anyone who does enjoy group-based content, especially more hardcore experiences, there's the first base game trial in 12 years (yes, over a decade) to anticipate.
The Crimson Veldt, as ZeniMax is calling its new 12-player trial, is set in Hircine's Hunting Grounds – but it's shaking up the usual lush forest we'd expect with canyons and savannas.
Then, there's also the High Seas of Tamriel Event coming… because pirates never fall out of fashion. From undersea exploration and swashbuckling to naval combat reminiscent of Sea of Thieves, it's a throwback to The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard (except, erm, good).
Finally, ZeniMax hints toward a brand-new zone. "We still want to do new zones, we still want to do content," after all – the team simply wants "to get away from" just "sticking to the same formula" it's used for over a decade now.
And, that brand-new zone… is located in what might just be the setting of Bethesda's most legendary game to date: Skyrim. "There's definitely something very iconic about the area we're going to that you'll notice."
What is that? ZeniMax doesn't say. Is it Whiterun? "We're not going to answer." There's no telling just where in Skyrim we'll be going come this mysterious new zone, but I'll be keeping my own fingers crossed for Winterhold. Until we find out, however, there's plenty of content to enjoy in Season Zero, One, and beyond.
The annual Anniversary Jubilee is right around the corner on April 2, with the Night Market following close behind.
If you're excited for future Bethesda Game Studios gems, here's everything we know as of now about The Elder Scrolls 6 – whenever it may come.
