ZeniMax Online Studios
ZeniMax Online Studios business and news from across the web.- MMO Week in Review: Guild Wars in your pocketArenaNet announced a mobile port of Guild Wars Reforged with cross-progression, coinciding with the game's 21st anniversary. This week also saw Final Fantasy XIV patch 7.5, Pearl Abyss selling EVE Online studio CCP Games to its management, and Star Wars The Old Republic revealing the planet Ryloth for its 8.0 update.
Former Elder Scrolls Online boss was told in 2001 that 'There's already enough MMOs out there, no one is ever…ZeniMax Online Studios founder Matt Firor discussed the cancellation of Project Blackbird and the current state of the games industry in a recent interview. He drew parallels between today's economic climate and E3 2001, when publishers were skeptical about new MMOs entering the market.
Former Elder Scrolls Online boss describes Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin closing as a turning point at Xbox: 'I…Matt Firor, founder of ZeniMax Online Studios, described the closures of Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin as a significant turning point for Xbox, leading developers to fear further layoffs. Firor, who also experienced the cancellation of his game Project Blackbird, views these events as part of a larger industry-wide trend of boom and bust cycles, a sentiment echoed by industry veteran Brenda Romero.
Elder Scrolls Online vet hates when people call the MMO a "WoW clone" since "you're not going to have fun at all" if you play it like Blizzard's gameFormer The Elder Scrolls Online director Matt Firor expressed frustration with comparisons of ESO to World of Warcraft, stating that approaching the game like a 'WoW clone' leads to a poor experience. Firor emphasized that while both are MMORPGs, ESO's systems are fundamentally different from WoW's, and players should engage with it as an Elder Scrolls title to enjoy its strengths, particularly its story.- Matt Firor laments Project Blackbird’s cancellation as ‘a number on a ledger’ to MicrosoftFormer ZeniMax Online Studios president Matt Firor expressed his disappointment over Microsoft's cancellation of the MMO Project Blackbird, describing the decision as purely financial. He believes the game's cancellation was a loss for the entertainment industry, highlighting the cyclical nature of game development revenues for publicly traded companies.
"A single-player MMO is almost like cheating": Crimson Desert is "awesome," former Elder Scrolls Online director says, even if "I don't know what the hell I'm doing"Former Elder Scrolls Online director Matt Firor praised Crimson Desert as "awesome," noting that its single-player MMO design feels like "cheating." He highlighted the game's lack of hand-holding, comparing its exploration to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and expressed his enjoyment despite not fully understanding all its mechanics after dozens of hours.
'Why didn't anyone think of this before?': Former Elder Scrolls Online boss loves Crimson Desert, but making 'a singleplayer MMO is almost like cheating' to himFormer Elder Scrolls Online director Matt Firor expressed his admiration for Crimson Desert, noting that its singleplayer design feels like 'cheating' compared to traditional MMOs. Firor, who left ZeniMax Online Studios after the cancellation of Blackbird, is now focused on Crimson Desert, which evolved from an MMO prequel to Black Desert Online into a singleplayer experience.- Elder Scrolls Online’s Night Market limited time event is live today through June 17The Elder Scrolls Online has launched its first event zone, the Night Market, which is available until June 17. Players can explore Fargrave, join one of three factions, complete tasks, and tackle a 12-person trial for rewards including the Night's Den home. This event also coincides with the Golden Pursuits campaign, offering additional rewards for player activities.
“We’re a number on a ledger" - ex-Elder Scrolls Online studio head says Microsoft cancelling Project Blackbird was a "missed opportunity"Former ZeniMax Online Studios head Matt Firor described Microsoft's cancellation of the unannounced MMO Project Blackbird as a "missed opportunity" for all parties involved. Firor, who resigned after the project's canning, explained that while he understood the business reasoning behind the decision, it was a "devastating blow" to the team who had invested heavily in building a new engine for the game.- Elder Scrolls Online details the circus of freaks (affectionate) you’ll be working for in the Night MarketThe Elder Scrolls Online is introducing its new seasonal feature, the Night Market, which will allow players to choose between three distinct factions: the Glittering Goad, the Thousand Eyes, and the Ruckus. Each faction offers a different approach to exploring the zone and progressing through quests, with player choices impacting loot acquisition and overall event outcomes. The Night Market event will run from April 28th to June 17th.
- Elder Scrolls Online begins testing a new Sheogorath questline, and it involves cheeseZeniMax Online Studios has begun testing a new questline featuring the Daedric Prince Sheogorath in The Elder Scrolls Online on its public test server. The update includes six new story quests focused on Sheogorath's pursuit of cheese, along with new rewards. Additionally, the Whitestake's Mayhem event is being tested as a one-week, ticket-free event.
- Elder Scrolls Online brings another PvP Vengeance test online with ramped-up AoE effectsZeniMax Online Studios is running a new Player versus Player Vengeance test for The Elder Scrolls Online, featuring enhanced Area of Effect (AoE) damage that affects up to six targets instead of the usual three. This change aims to make battles faster and increase the importance of AoE healing. The test is available until Monday, April 27th, for characters between levels 10 to 50 in the Alliance War menu.
Is Fortnite Toxic? An Honest Answer Backed by Data (2026) | TAGData suggests Fortnite's reputation for toxicity is more nuanced than commonly perceived, with lower rates of identity-based harassment compared to other competitive shooters. While age-driven trash talk and skill-gap frustration are prevalent, especially in modes like Ranked, Epic Games has implemented moderation tools and default communication settings to mitigate harm, particularly for younger players.- Elder Scrolls Online reimagines the open-world group dungeon in its upcoming Night MarketThe Elder Scrolls Online is launching its upcoming Night Market event at the end of April, which reimagines the open-world group dungeon concept. Players can explore the zone in Fargrave solo or in groups, interacting with three factions. The event runs from April 29th to June 17th and may return based on player sentiment.
- You can test Elder Scrolls Online’s new overland challenge difficulty system now on the Update 50 PTSZeniMax Online Studios has made Update 50 for The Elder Scrolls Online available on the Public Test Server, allowing players to test the new "challenge difficulty" system for overland content. Other features available for testing include the PvP Veterancy system, updated Werewolf models, and new story content, with more features to be added throughout the PTS cycle.
My Two Week Back in The Elder Scrolls Online in 2026 — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & GuidesThis review details a two-week return to The Elder Scrolls Online on PlayStation 5, focusing on its strengths as a single-player open-world experience rather than a traditional MMO. The author explores Tamriel, levels a new character to the cap, and delves into expansion content, highlighting the game's enduring appeal and ZeniMax Studios' successful balance of solo, group, and PvP content.
ZeniMax issues clarity on how ESO’s Tamriel Tomes will work as it gets closer to Update 50ZeniMax Online Studios has provided clarifications on the Tamriel Tomes reward system in The Elder Scrolls Online's upcoming Update 50. The changes address player feedback regarding Season transition mechanics, including how excess Tome Points will be converted to gold and a one-time refund option for unspent points. Update 50 will also introduce quality-of-life improvements for Weekly Challenges and UI elements.- Elder Scrolls Online is turning 12 years old – here’s how to have your cake and eat it tooThe Elder Scrolls Online is celebrating its 12th anniversary with the Anniversary Jubilee in-game event, running from April 2 to April 15. Players can earn bonus rewards, including a passive 100% XP buff, by participating in various in-game tasks. New rewards this year include Dapper Daredevil outfit style pages and fragments for the Thorn’s Bite Withersteed mount.
- Elder Scrolls Online’s Season Zero Dawn and Dusk is live with Tamriel Tomes and anniversary festivitiesThe Elder Scrolls Online has launched its "Season Zero: Dawn and Dusk," featuring the new Tamriel Tomes rewards system and anniversary festivities. While the Night Market zone and challenge difficulty toggle are set to release later in April and June respectively, players can begin earning rewards immediately through the consolidated Endeavors and Daily Logins system.
Elder Scrolls Online - Previewing Season Zero’s Tome of Dawn and Dusk RewardsThe Elder Scrolls Online is previewing rewards for Season Zero's Tome of Dawn and Dusk. A 2026 Seasons Direct from ZeniMax Online Studios will detail upcoming adventures, stories, challenges, and systems for the MMORPG, with a first look at each Season arriving in 2026.