ZeniMax Online Studios has released the full ESO 2026 Reveal on YouTube a few hours ago, highlighting all the major changes coming to The Elder Scrolls Online, and how they will evolve over the next few years. The presentation confirms what a lot of players already expected after earlier teasers, but also adds some genuinely surprising changes.
At the core of it all is a new seasonal content model, combined with long-requested quality-of-life updates and a stronger focus on community feedback.
ESO Moves From Chapters To Seasonal Updates
Starting this year, in 2026, ESO will move away from the traditional Chapter plus DLC model and instead roll out content through quarterly Seasons. Each Season can include new stories, zones, systems, or features, but there is no fixed structure anymore.
The biggest change here is accessibility. All new gameplay content and features will be free for anyone who owns ESO or plays through Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus. Paid elements will reportedly focus on optional cosmetics or extras, not core content.
According to the developers, the old Chapter model slowed down development and made it harder to react to player feedback. Seasons should allow more flexibility, experimentation, and faster improvements.
Big Quality Of Life Changes Start In March
The reveal also confirmed a long list of quality-of-life updates, many of which start with Update 49 in March:
- Free respecs for skills and attributes directly in the UI
- Outfit slots becoming account-wide
- Faster mount training with +3 stats at once
- 30-day guild trader listings returning
- New mounts purchasable with gold
- Increased furnishing limits for many houses
Multiple older DLCs, including Thieves Guild, Dark Brotherhood, and Orsinium, will also become part of the base game.
Tamriel Tomes And The Gold Coast Bazaar
The Elder Scrolls Online is also introducing Tamriel Tomes, a new seasonal progression system similar to a battle pass. Every player gets access to a free track with cosmetics, crates, furnishings, and Seals of Endeavor. Optional premium upgrades add more rewards and flexibility, including post-season completion.
Next to all this comes the Gold Coast Bazaar, a new in-game store that uses earnable Trade Bars. It will feature returning event rewards, Twitch drops, and new cosmetics, with no real-money purchases involved.
Event Zones, Combat Updates, And PvP Plans
Season Zero will start with The Night Market, a limited-time PvE event zone set in Fargrave, designed to be more challenging and cooperative. The zone launches on April 29 and includes unique rewards, including a customizable house with a built-in bank.
Longer-term plans include class and combat refreshes, starting with Dragonknight updates in March, a Two-Handed skill line overhaul, and a Werewolf visual revamp later this year. PvP also gets attention in 2026, with a new progression system, returning three-sided Battlegrounds, and fixes for long-standing Cyrodiil issues.
Watch The Full ESO 2026 Reveal
If this sounds like a lot already, the stream covered even more. The full reveal goes deeper into Seasons, upcoming experiments, and what the roadmap looks like going forward. You can watch it here.
For more updates on ESO and other games, head to our main news hub here.
