After a decade of monumental expansions, The Elder Scrolls Online is pivoting its development strategy. The long-standing tradition of massive, annual Chapters is being retired in favor of a more agile, seasonal delivery model. As outlined in a recent official announcement, adventurers across Tamriel—from the High Elves of Summerset to the Khajiit of Elsweyr—will soon navigate a landscape defined by “seasons,” “battle passes,” and “premium reward tiers.” While these terms might unsettle some long-term players, the fundamental “buy-to-play” accessibility that defines ESO remains largely intact.
Historically, the game’s narrative and geographical growth were driven by a single major Chapter release each year. These expansions typically introduced expansive new zones, central storylines, and various group activities like trials and dungeons. However, following the June 2024 launch of “Gold Road”—the eighth and final traditional Chapter—the development team has been orchestrating a transition toward more frequent content drops.
According to a 2026 roadmap reveal shared by Bethesda, this new seasonal cadence ensures that players receive fresh content every three months. While these updates are smaller in individual scale than the old Chapters, they promise a steady stream of new zones, quests, and rewards. Players might even see new classes introduced through this system, though the developers clarified that every seasonal update will not necessarily include every type of content.
The inaugural cycle, “Season 0: Dawn and Dusk,” is scheduled to debut on April 2. This debut season features several significant additions:
- The Night Market: A mysterious new district located within the Daedric realm of Fargrave, featuring unique characters and fresh questlines.
- The Tamriel Tome: ESO’s take on the battle pass system. The first iteration is titled the “Tome of Dawn and Dusk.”
- Gold Coast Bazaar: A brand-new interface for claiming in-game rewards.
- Quality-of-Life Enhancements: A suite of highly requested features, including account-wide outfit slots, expedited mount training, expanded furnishing capacities, and the ability to reset skills and attributes at any time without a gold cost. Additionally, select mounts will now be available for purchase directly with in-game gold.
Looking further ahead, Seasons 1 and 2—expected in July and October respectively—are slated to introduce a new Thieves Guild narrative, a challenging endgame trial, and solo-focused dungeons. Fans of the Daedric Prince of Madness will also have cause for celebration, as Sheogorath is confirmed to make a return.
Perhaps the most radical shift in this transition is the pricing structure. Previously, new zones were locked behind a Chapter purchase or an active ESO Plus subscription. Under the new model, seasonal content updates are free for all players, regardless of their subscription status. It is important to note, however, that this change is not retroactive; legacy DLC and previous Chapters still require a financial investment to unlock.
Furthermore, the development team is achieving platform parity. While Chapters were historically released on PC weeks before their console counterparts, seasonal updates will now launch simultaneously across PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, ensuring the entire community experiences new content together.
The “Tamriel Tome” battle pass functions similarly to systems found in other popular live-service titles. By engaging in weekly and seasonal activities—such as completing specific quests or conquering dungeons—players earn “Tome Points.” These points can be exchanged for a variety of cosmetic rewards, including mounts, hairstyles, and outfits. While players have the freedom to choose which rewards to unlock first, access to certain items is gated by overall Tome progression.
The system features both a free track and a premium tier. To access the exclusive rewards or continue progressing after a season concludes, players can purchase a Premium Tome for $14.99. For those seeking immediate cosmetic boosts and accelerated progression, a Premium Bonus Tome is available for $29.99.
ZeniMax is maintaining its ESO Plus subscription service alongside this new model. The subscription continues to provide its established benefits, such as the Craft Bag, increased bank space, monthly Crowns, and access to legacy DLC. However, ESO Plus does not automatically include the Premium Tome. Subscribers will need to purchase the battle pass separately, though a loyalty perk has been introduced: players who maintain an active subscription for 12 months will receive one free Premium Bonus Tome of their choice and bonus Tome Points.
The move to a seasonal model represents a double-edged sword for the community. While the introduction of multiple paid battle pass tiers on top of an existing subscription may frustrate some, the transition to free quarterly content updates provides a more inclusive experience for the broader player base.
Source: Polygon
