It has been over 14 years since we first got to explore the lands of Skyrim, and so at this point, you really should be looking elsewhere to get your fix of all that good lore and gameplay.
For me, that fix has come in the form of The Elder Scrolls Online, the MMORPG from ZeniMax Online Studios that has been going strong for over a decade and which really has made great strides over the last few years.
The real strength of the game is that it lets players enjoy it however they wish. You can experience almost everything on offer totally solo, or you can group up with a bunch of mates to take on the game's foes.
As such, it's a great way to invest your time whilst we wait for the next main release in the single-player series, and it's about to undergo some significant changes that make it a great time to jump in for newcomers.
The Elder Scrolls Online Reveals Seasons and 2026 Roadmap
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As confirmed in a press release from the developer, The Elder Scrolls Online is set to undergo some big changes in 2026, with the arrival of seasons marking the biggest departure from the current formula.
Each season in ESO will last for three months and come with its own distinct theme, with Season Zero: Dawn and Dusk kicking off the show when it launches for all platforms on 2 April.
The developer has been quite specific about what players can expect from each season in terms of content, with each containing one or several key features including a new story, system, zone, event, experimental content, as well as more general PvE and PvP additions.
For Season Zero: Dawn and Dusk specifically, we're getting a new event zone experience called The Night Market in the Oblivion realm of Fargrave that will run for seven weeks in total. You'll be given the opportunity to choose to be part of one of three unique factions, pledging your service in a gauntlet of increasingly difficult PvE runs.
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The Night Market itself will also contain new stories, characters, quests, and a very nice earnable in-game home, all of which should give us a good idea of what to expect in subsequent seasons.
We'll also be getting Season One and Season Two in 2026, with the former bringing new stories and quests related to the Thieves Guild and Sheogorath, and a new system in the Sage's Vault. Season Two will see the return of The Night Market, as well as two solo dungeons in Moon Hunter Keep and March of Sacrifices.
New Free and Paid Rewards in New Battle Pass System
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Outside of all of that good stuff, the MMO is also introducing a battle pass of sorts that, unusually for implementations of this type, is actually quite generous to those in the free track.
This comes in the form of Tamriel Tomes, which you'll be able to work through over the course of a season to earn everything from resources to appearances and currency.
The optional paid track will also give you the chance to earn even more, but given what we saw as an example, free players should get more than enough to go back to their player homes happy.
You can see the fully detailed roadmap for 2026 on the official website for the game, but be warned there's a lot in there to get your head around.
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If you've been hesitant about taking the leap into ESO, this is probably the most prime time to do so in years, so you can get to grips with the new systems as they're implemented.
Topics:Â The Elder Scrolls, Bethesda, Skyrim