ZeniMax has just revealed that Elsweyr, homeland of the Khajiit, is indeed Elder Scrolls Online’s next chapter. The devs kicked off their stream with a teaser and the cinematic (the second part of which will be held back for E3, the first part of which is below).
Players will be aiding the Khajiit across the three-biome (desert, savanna, jungle) province as they deal with both dragons and the invading Imperial army. Plus, the Necromancer class is on the way, and as any Elder Scrolls fan knows, necromancy is actually against the law across the Empire, so Necromancers will have to be careful practicing their skills inside towns lest they run afoul of the game’s elaborate justice system. Turns out people aren’t that happy about your messing with corpses!
Chapter-goers should also expect the Sunspire 12-man raid (focused entirely on dragons), multiple dungeons, a big update for PvP and Cyrodiil that turns the map into its own campaign, and of course the traditional 30-hour main questline plus side quests.
Fans of dragons infesting Skyrim will feel right at home in this year’s updates, as the game will introduce Kaalgrontiid and other winged menaces as part of a interconnected story that is as previously teased intended to bind together all of the planned DLC and the chapter for the pending year. (However, as Rich Lambert notes, dragons aren’t gonna be so easily shouted down in this version of the game.) Overall, ZeniMax says Elsweyr has more content than Morrowind and Summerset, though the “size and scope” is more akin to Summerset (which won MOP’s own award for best MMO expansion in 2018).
We already know the game’s next DLC too: It’s called Wrathstone, and it’ll be here in February to kick off the Season of the Dragon. In addition to Wrathstone and Elsweyr, we’ll see two other DLC in 2019: a dungeon pack in Q3 and a story DLC in Q4 (more like Mirkmire – expect more at E3). Wrathstone will be on the PTS next week; expect a new zone guide feature to help people figure out what they can do next and improvements to the guild trader.
Release for Elsweyr itself is set for June 4th on PC and console, though as usual you’ll get in early on PC if you preorder; that headstart begins on May 20th. Worth noting is that ESO’s chapters are set up such that you can play through them as a total newbie and without purchasing the other two chapters or any of the DLC.
Preorders are live now and include the usual assortment of goodies depending on which tier you choose. The digital standard edition for a total newcomer, mind you, runs $59.99, though the upgrade is only 40 bucks if you already own the base game.
Pre-purchase The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr to get the Rahd-M’athra Horse Mount, Noble Clan Chief Costume, Dragon Imp Pet, and more! https://t.co/GpspOfrI3J pic.twitter.com/wd8CmQvIfp
— The Elder Scrolls Online (@TESOnline) January 15, 2019
“The new Elsweyr zone adds yet another massive landmass to the ESO world for fans to explore. The home of the Khajiit is laden with moon sugar farms, fertile grasslands, scorching deserts, and palatial cities as well as a host of new monsters and enemies. Elder Scrolls veterans may recall exploring the province of Elsweyr in The Elder Scrolls: Arena as well as its outer edges in The Elder Scrolls Online’s regions of Reaper’s March and Khenarthi’s Roost. Also coming in ESO: Elsweyr, the game’s first new class since 2017’s Morrowind Chapter — the highly anticipated Necromancer. With this dark, mysterious Class, players will command the dead and cast powerful elemental spells to overcome foes and bolster defenses. With the Necromancer, death itself is a weapon.”
The original post is as follows:
Today’s the day, folks! ZeniMax is about to reveal its Elder Scrolls Online 2019 plans and next chapter on its official stream today. Whether you’ve been spoilered on what it all entails or have been content with merely hype and speculation up until now, you’re getting the official word today. (But seriously, they’ve been laying the spoilers on super thick! They deleted it, but it was this.) We’ll be updating this post as announcements are made – join us in the comments as we watch!
