The Elder Scrolls Online is set to undergo significant changes in 2025 as ZeniMax Online shifts from a yearly expansion release cycle to a seasonal content model, allowing for greater experimentation and variety in gameplay.
According to ZeniMax Online studio director Matt Firor, the new seasonal model will enable the developers to broaden their focus and increase variety in the game. “We want to keep telling great stories, but also mix in new ideas and gameplay systems, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do,” Firor said. The first season, “Seasons of the Worm Cult,” is set to launch in June and will serve as a sequel to the game’s original Molag Bal storyline.
“Seasons of the Worm Cult” will introduce a new zone called Solstice, an island with diverse biomes, including Caribbean-esque beaches and tropical forests. Players will investigate the resurgence of the Worm Cult and encounter familiar characters from the game’s original main quest. The season is expected to last most of the year, but future seasons may be shorter, ranging from three to six months. ESO game director Rich Lambert and executive producer Susan Kath revealed that future seasons could include “remix” seasons that revisit old storylines, with a Dark Brotherhood-themed season being teased.
Instead of purchasing a new chapter, players will be able to buy a $50 content pass that will grant access to all seasonal updates, including new dungeons. The content pass is separate from the existing ESO Plus subscription, although new dungeons will be included with an ESO Plus subscription. During a post-ESO Direct press Q&A, Kath mentioned that the team is exploring ways to further enhance and incentivize ESO Plus.
One of the most significant changes coming to ESO is the introduction of subclasses. Players will be able to select abilities from up to two skill lines from other classes, resulting in over 3,000 unique skill line combinations. To use subclassing, players must maintain at least one skill line from their original class and can actively use abilities from two additional class skill lines at a time. Subclassing will unlock at level 50 and is account-wide across all characters. Some class skill lines will require double the skill points, but Lambert does not anticipate this being a significant issue for dedicated players.
In addition to subclassing, ZeniMax Online is experimenting with a server-wide event in the new Solstice zone. A magical barrier called the Writhing Wall divides the zone in half, and players will need to work together to breach it, unlocking the second half of the zone. This event is similar to the Gates of Ahn’Qiraj from vanilla World of Warcraft, where players contributed to a war effort to unlock new content. Lambert explained that breaching the wall will be a one-time event per server, but there will be ways for players who miss the event to experience most of its content.
ZeniMax Online has also been working on improving the game’s large-scale PvP mode, Cyrodiil. The studio conducted a Cyrodiil Champions test, which simplified abilities and stats to improve performance. Studio director Matt Firor described the test as “beyond-our-wildest-dreams successful.” The next step is to analyze the data from the test and implement additional changes before running further tests.
Furthermore, the developer is focusing on improving the experience for new and returning players. Updates have been made to the game’s tutorial and starter zones. A “Welcome Back” system is set to debut this summer, which will be a quest-based, reward-driven experience designed to cater to returning players. Kath described it as a non-generic approach, tailored to individual players’ needs.
As ESO celebrates its continued evolution, Firor emphasized that the new seasonal content model will allow the team to address aspects of the game that were previously neglected due to the yearly chapter schedule. “We just didn’t have time to do all those little things,” Firor said. “This lets us open the development schedule and do lots of cool little things as well as continue to work on content.”
