The Elder Scrolls Online
News, coverage and analysis tracking The Elder Scrolls Online across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Elder Scrolls Online’s developers acknowledge ‘challenging’ road ahead after the brutal 2026 layoffs
Developers at ZeniMax have acknowledged the significant impact of the spring layoffs, which resulted in 213 employees being let go from The Elder Scrolls Online. Game Director Nick Giacomini stated that the team is still struggling with the losses and has had to push back planned 2026 updates to 2027 due to reduced resources, though he remains optimistic about the future.
Featuring a host of our favorite games from this year and 2 of our favorite gaming devices, you can now place your votes for the best in gaming in the Golden Joystick Awards 2026
The nominations for the 44th annual Golden Joystick Awards 2026 have been announced, with games like Resident Evil Requiem, Big Walk, and 007 First Light receiving multiple nods across 21 categories. Voting is open until October 23, and the winners will be revealed on November 11. This year's nominations are noted for their diversity, featuring both indie hits and AAA blockbusters.
The Elder Scrolls Online is partly why Skyrim never got a Fallout: New Vegas-style spin-off, says Bethesda veteran
Former Skyrim co-lead designer Kurt Kuhlmann suggests that The Elder Scrolls Online's ongoing success occupied the fanbase, preventing a Fallout: New Vegas-style spin-off for Skyrim. Kuhlmann also noted that series creator Todd Howard was protective of the franchise, potentially avoiding a situation similar to the perceived rivalry between Bethesda and Obsidian over Fallout games.
ESO devs tell us exactly how its Rumors update revives Morrowind's detective work
The Elder Scrolls Online is introducing a new 'Rumors' system that revives Morrowind's approach to exploration by removing objective markers and providing players with actual clues to follow. This narrative scavenger hunt feature, designed by Zenimax Online developers like Jason Barnes and Michael Zenke, will initially launch with 15 mysteries of varying difficulty, encouraging players to piece together information and navigate the world organically.
Elder Scrolls Online brings the Nowhere Vault, Rumor quests, and gameplay improvements in Update 51
The Elder Scrolls Online has launched Update 51, introducing the puzzle-based Nowhere Vault delve and the Rumors system for discovering new quests. The update also brings significant player experience improvements, including customizable HUD elements for PC players, class and alchemy changes, and the return of three-sided battlegrounds.
MMO Week in Review: Destiny 2’s revival, Aion 2’s stress test
This week's MMO news covers Destiny 2's revival with unvaulted content, Aion 2's stress test, and Ultima Online's 29th anniversary. Dune Awakening launched on consoles, Elder Scrolls Online discussed experimental features, and Microsoft continued layoffs. World of Warcraft Forever is impressing players, while other news includes The Division 2, Marathon, Warframe, and various other MMO updates and discussions.
The MOP Up: Spirit Crossing celebrates the Feast of Bears
Spirit Crossing has launched Update 15.4, featuring the Feast of Bears seasonal event, revamped crafting stations, improved tournament rewards, and new flairs. The cozy social MMO is still targeting an early access release in November. The article also rounds up other smaller MMO news, including updates and early access launches for Delverium, Last Epoch, Neverwinter, and more.
Former Elder Scrolls designer Kurt Kuhlmann on Fallout: New Vegas diehards: 'I don't know that Todd wanted to…
Former Elder Scrolls designer Kurt Kuhlmann discusses the perception that Obsidian Entertainment makes better Fallout games than Bethesda, noting Todd Howard's protectiveness over the series. He suggests The Elder Scrolls Online helped alleviate pressure by providing a current Elder Scrolls experience for fans.
The Elder Scrolls Online's devs are pushing through hard times after layoffs and delays: 'We didn't want…
The Elder Scrolls Online's development team at Zenimax Online is navigating significant challenges following substantial layoffs and project delays. Despite a 60% reduction in staff over the past year, developers express commitment to the game and its community, pushing updates to 2027 to ensure quality over rushed releases. The team is also experimenting with new content types like 'rumours' to foster player discovery.
Skyrim loremaster says The Elder Scrolls never got a Fallout: New Vegas-style game because Bethesda is "very protective" over its golden goose
Former Skyrim developer Kurt Kuhlmann suggests Bethesda's protective stance over The Elder Scrolls franchise prevented the creation of a Fallout: New Vegas-style spin-off. He believes Bethesda, particularly Todd Howard, wanted to avoid comparisons that favored external studios like Obsidian Entertainment, unlike what happened with Fallout: New Vegas. While The Elder Scrolls Online provided an ongoing experience, Kuhlmann implies a missed opportunity for a different kind of Elder Scrolls game.
Bethesda is Too Protective of The Elder Scrolls to Allow New Vegas-Style Spinoffs, Says Skyrim Co-Lead
Former Skyrim co-lead Kurt Kuhlmann stated that Bethesda is highly protective of The Elder Scrolls franchise, preventing the creation of New Vegas-style spinoffs. This contrasts with the Fallout series, where Obsidian Entertainment developed Fallout: New Vegas. While Todd Howard is protective, The Elder Scrolls Online has helped alleviate pressure, and anticipation for The Elder Scrolls 6 remains high, with Xbox CEO Asha Sharma praising an early build.
Achievement hunters: Can you identify the games these milestones are from?
This article presents a quiz challenging readers to identify video games based on their achievement descriptions. It includes 17 questions covering a variety of titles and encourages players to share their favorite or most dreaded achievements.
Interview: Elder Scrolls Online on Update 51’s experimental features and shaking up the MMO’s formula
ZeniMax Online Studios developers Nick Giacomini, Jason Barnes, and Michael Zenke discuss the experimental features in The Elder Scrolls Online's upcoming Update 51, including the Nowhere Vault, the Rumors system, and the High Seas of Tamriel event. They emphasize a desire to innovate and evolve the MMORPG formula to keep players engaged.
Elder Scrolls Online briefs players on September 30’s High Seas of Tamriel event
The Elder Scrolls Online has provided details for its upcoming High Seas of Tamriel event, scheduled from September 30th to October 14th. The event will feature two main parts: a ship battle against Sea Elf pirates and underwater exploration with boss fights. Players can earn unique rewards, including an outfit style, Impresario wares, and collectible cosmetic items.
Perfect Ten: The MMOs that paved the path for console MMOs
This article explores the history of MMORPGs on consoles, highlighting ten pioneering titles that paved the way for modern online console gaming. It details games like Phantasy Star Online, Final Fantasy XI, EverQuest Online Adventures, and Destiny, discussing their impact and evolution.
Xbox's consolidation plans might mean you get a new Halo sooner, but history shows production line development makes for boring games
Xbox's strategy of consolidating studios and pushing for more frequent releases, exemplified by the Activision Blizzard acquisition and changes to the Halo team, risks creating a future of formulaic and uninspired games. The author argues that while such consolidation might seem efficient, history shows that annual releases and a focus on existing franchises often stifle creativity and lead to a homogenization of game design, potentially resulting in a less exciting gaming landscape.
Xbox’s next wave of layoffs and game studio consolidation is reportedly happening this week
Microsoft's Xbox division is reportedly preparing for another wave of layoffs and studio consolidation this week, affecting hundreds of game developers. This follows previous cuts that impacted ZeniMax Online Studios, the developer of The Elder Scrolls Online. The potential consolidation also includes Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, and Activision Blizzard.
Second wave of Xbox cuts reported to be happening this week, with "several" studios apparently facing consolidation
Microsoft's Xbox division is reportedly planning a second wave of layoffs this week, potentially affecting hundreds of employees and consolidating several studios. This follows a major restructuring in July and is part of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's plan to return the gaming division to profitability by focusing on major franchises. The news has reportedly lowered morale among staff.
I Guess I’ll Delete Every PS5 Game I Own To Make Room For FF7 Revelation
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is expected to have a massive file size, potentially around 200GB, according to game director Naoki Hamaguchi. This large download size raises concerns about storage space on platforms like the PlayStation 5, leading players to consider deleting existing games. Despite the digital-only nature of the download, Square Enix is committed to delivering some form of physical product.
Elder Scrolls Online’s rumors system offers ‘an old-school questing and narrative scavenger hunt experience’
The Elder Scrolls Online is introducing a new 'rumor system' on September 28th, designed to offer a less guided, 'old-school questing and narrative scavenger hunt experience.' This system categorizes quests into Whispers, Plots, and Conspiracies, with increasing difficulty and requiring players to connect clues without extensive UI guidance.
