Summary
While it’s known for some of the most recognizable singleplayer RPGs,The Elder Scrollsseries boasts an ongoing MMO which has become one of its main pillars over the last decade.The Elder Scrolls Onlinelaunched exactly 10 years ago on May 15, 2025, following the landmark success ofSkyrim, but it had been in development at ZeniMax Online Studios for years prior. Set near a millennium before the events of the mainline titles, it chronicles a period of Tamriel’s Second Era and allows players to explore more of Nirn than anyTESrelease since Arena. Although it has fallen into some of the tropes of MMOs,The Elder Scrolls Online’s representations of several provinces remain the most fleshed-out the franchise has ever seen.
Beginning withthe establishment of Tamriel inTES: Arenaback in 1994, the world ofThe Elder Scrollshas always been one of the most ambitious visions within the fantasy RPG genre. As Bethesda has become able to create more detailed iterations ofTES’ provinces over time, the identity of each mainline title has been shaped around the aesthetic and culture of its setting.Skyrimhas become heavily associated with the series in recent years, butOblivionandMorrowindhad their own distinct eras of prevalence that foreshadow whatTES6will eventually bring. Subverting this formula,ESOhas earned its own reputation as a release that isn’t bound to just one province, but allows players the freedom to discover the majority of Tamriel at their own pace. Exactly 10 years afterESO’s debut, that is something worth celebrating.
The Elder Scrolls Online’s MMO Status Has Allowed for Its Massive Scale
Content Updates Built Up ESO’s Tamriel
When it first launched,ESOmostly took place in the limited territories of the game’s three warring factions. This left out vast swathes of the Tamriel that fans had become familiar with in previous entries, but also notably included areas like parts of the largely unseen Valenwood and High Rock alongside new zones of Morrowind. When accounting for the combined size of each major expansion’s contribution, however,ESO’s map now exceeds 400kmof instanced zones ranging in size. Incorporating these content additions on top of the existing journeys of players might resemble post-game content releases, but there aren’t restrictions on anything that has been purchased.
Balancing the Trade-Offs of Player Freedom in an MMO
In following the formula that has madeTESso successful, there is not a set structure to how the player is meant to approach the quests ofESO. There are some clear markers of progression within the main story and aspects of the world, but level-scaling and the ability to fast travel around make it clear that the world can be tackled in any order if the player can handle the challenge. Some players have expressed that the MMO take on Tamriel can often feel less hand-crafted, but creative director Rich Lambert spoke on the importance of maintaining a sense of open world cohesion in an interview withTrueAchievements:
“And so one of the pillars for us, when we’re telling the stories, is, ‘well, they could have done this story over here in Galen and High Isle, but not done the main story or maybe they’ve done the main story.’ All of those stories still have to make sense, tie together, and all of the characters and NPCs that are a part of those stories need to react appropriately.”
Unprecedented Takes on Locations like Summerset Isles, Elsweyr and Black Marsh
Beginning with Orsinium,ESO’s most exciting updates have been those which introduce areas that haven’t been seen by players sinceArena. Given how muchthe lore ofThe Elder Scrollshas developed since those early days and the timeline difference of the MMO’s events, it makes sense that these essentially feel like the first attempts to properly adapt the unique identities of these provinces.
While Murkmire’s Black Marsh features a relatively predictable mix of swampy and indigenous cultural imagery, Summerset Isle and thecombined sections ofESO’s Elsweyrcontain some of the game’s most memorable and well-received content beyond their novelty.
Areas like the Clockwork City and Planes of Oblivion Represent Tamriel’s Deeper Lore
Apart from just filling out the vast instances of the surface world, places outside the nature of Mundus have also received impressive representations over the course ofESO’s expansions. Whether shrinking down to enter the miniature realm of the Clockwork City to experience mechanical creations beyond those of the Dwemer, or venturing intothe planes of Apocrypha, The Deadlands, or Coldharbour,The Elder Scrolls Onlineincludes hours of gameplay in these zones outside its already sprawling main map.
Future Elder Scrolls Experiences Are Unlikely to Feature ESO’s Scale
The Elder Scrolls Online’s Map and Success Would Takes Years to Replicate
Despite its age, the unique niche thatESOoccupies makes it difficult to imagine that the game will be slowing down anytime soon. With showings likeThe Elder Scrolls Online’s Gold Road expansionset to bring in more land and beloved features like spell crafting, it’s possible that ZeniMax could continue to support the title up until the release ofTES' next mainline game. Even so, it’s going to be extremely difficult to top the size ofESOin the case of another MMO or not, leaving it to feature what could be remembered as the fullest representation of Tamriel ever for years to come.
Laying the Groundwork for New Adventures
While it’s true thatTES6is almost certain to be set entirely within one primary region, the advancements ofESO’s world are something that Bethesda shouldn’t ignore. It features explorable versions of Hammerfell and High Rock, provinces rumored to serve as the combinedsetting of the nextElder Scrolls.
Since it’s unlikely to take an instanced approach, the transition between these zones could displaywhatESOcan teachTES6about utilizing diverse sets of environments. While it’s undeniable thatSkyrim’s success changedTESand RPGs, the long-term result ofThe Elder Scrolls Online’s continued support is one of the most fully realized fantasy worlds in gaming.
The Elder Scrolls Online
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience an ever-expanding story across all of Tamriel in The Elder Scrolls Online, an award-winning fantasy RPG. Explore a rich, living world with friends or embark upon a solo adventure.Ultimate freedom—Create your ultimate RPG character, play solo or adventure with friends, and determine your fate in an ever-expanding world. With no level restrictions, go anywhere at any time in a truly open world.Choose your adventure—Begin your adventure where you like: emerge from Coldharbour in the Base Game, battle Dragons in the Elsweyr Chapter, or get ready to face the Prince of Destruction, Mehrunes Dagon, in Blackwood. All content is accessible for new players, and you can switch adventures whenever you like.
