The Elder Scrolls Online Switching to Seasonal Update Model

ZeniMax Online Studios announced that it is changing is update model for MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online. The game will provide new content in the form of Seasons, which will each have a distinct theme running for three months. All gameplay content in each Season — including any new zones, dungeons, storylines, systems, classes, or skill lines — will be free for all owners of the base game, with each Season including its own battle pass-style experience offering free rewards and optional paid upgrade paths.

The first Season, titled “Season Zero: Dawn and Dusk”, will release for PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on April 2, 2026, and run until July 8, 2026. It introduces the Night Market, a new Event Zone in the Oblivion realm of Fargrave, that will be available for that period. Here, players choose one of three unique factions and serve them in a PvE encounter gauntlet. It will include new stories, new characters, new quests, and a new earnable in-game home. Although they are only active for a limited time, Event Zones such as the Night Market are intended to return in future Seasons.

In addition, Season Zero will include quality-of-life changes such as the ability to respec Skills and Attributes directly from the UI at no cost, faster training for Riding skills, and increased furnishing limits for most player houses. It will also include refreshes of the Dragonknight class and Two-Handed Weapon skill line, plus a rework of Werewolf visuals and a new Challenge Difficulty option.

ZeniMax Online Studios also revealed some of the contents of two further Seasons following Season Zero. Season One will include a new Thieves Guild questline, the return of Sheogorath, dynamic World Events, and a new end-game Trial, while Season Two will include the return of the Night Market, two new solo dungeons, a new large-scale World Events.