The Elder Scrolls Online
ESO Live: July 9 at 6PM EDT—Waking Flame Dungeon Preview
Get your first look this Friday at the two new dungeons arriving with the upcoming Waking Flame DLC on Twitch.tv/Bethesda!
Tune in to ESO Live on Twitch.tv/Bethesda this Friday, July 9 at 6PM EDT/11pm BST, as Community Managers Jess Folsom and Gina Bruno are joined by Encounters Lead Mike Finnigan to preview the latest adventure in the Gates of Oblivion saga: The Elder Scrolls Online: Waking Flame.
Together, they’ll delve into both Waking Flame dungeons, talk about the settings and stories (without spoilers!), showcase the rewards, and preview some of the challenges you and your party will face when this DLC launches later this year.
They’ll also talk about the latest ESO news, discuss The World Plays ESO promotion, and host a giveaway. Be sure to link your accounts for the opportunity to also earn Twitch Drops! This first-look preview show will go live on Twitch.tv/Bethesda this coming Friday, July 9 at 6PM EDT/11PM BST. Don’t forget to stick around after the show to see MMA champion Robert Whittaker and a crack team of ESO developers take on one of Tamriel’s dungeons for a special The World Plays ESO stream.
ESO Live is your official Elder Scrolls Online stream, hosted on Twitch.tv/Bethesda by ESO’s Community Manager Gina Bruno and Senior Community Manager Jess Folsom.
Experience Every Part of Tamriel During the World Plays ESO Promotion
Discover two months of unique livestreams from streamers, developers, and special guests as we showcase and celebrate everything Tamriel has to offer.
The World Plays ESO
The Elder Scrolls Online’s Tamriel is an ever-growing world of adventure, filled with dangerous realms to explore, mysterious quests and stories to uncover, a host of unique activities and challenges to overcome, and over 18 million fellow players—it’s massive, and it’s only getting bigger!
With the recent launch of our fifth Chapter, The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood, and the Console Enhanced version of the game, starting tomorrow, June 22 and continuing all the up to QuakeCon 2021 (starting August 19), we’re challenging a host of special guests, streamers, developers, and you (the fans!) to livestream ESO over two action-packed months, showcasing absolutely everything the game has to offer new and veteran players alike.
Unlimited Adventures
The World Plays ESO’s participants will include our very own Creative Director Rich Lambert, pro wrestler Nicole Savoy, members of the ESO Stream Team, and many more surprise guests along the way—all incredible ESO fans, ready to take on Tamriel. Keep an eye out for a complete list of all the participants tomorrow when the promotion formally kicks off.
Together, they’ll tackle everything from the game’s base-game, DLC zones, and Chapter storylines, and activities such as Dungeons, Trials, PvP (Alliance War and Battlegrounds), crafting, Antiquities, Housing, and more. Phew!
We’re streaming almost everything you can see and do in the game
Check out the schedule below for our first week of The World Plays ESO streams.
Tamriel All Together
Tune in to any of the streams, and you could pick up some fantastic in-game goodies that our participants will be giving away during their shows, including game codes for the latest Blackwood Chapter, collectibles such as the Pink Torchbug pet, and more.
You could win this pet or the Blackwood Chapter by watching!
Of course, we can’t celebrate everything ESO without involving our players and community, so we’re also inviting you to share your own adventures as we showcase the game’s different zones, activities, and challenges on Twitter and Facebook using the #WorldPlaysESO hashtag. Share your stories with us, and we’ll share your trials and triumphs with the rest of the #ESOFam.
18 Million Strong & Growing
Over 18 million adventurers have begun their adventures in ESO, exploring almost every part of Tamriel and worlds beyond. We’re so excited to celebrate everything ESO has to offer with this massive new global celebration, and we can’t wait to see our streamers dive into the ever-growing, ever-surprising world of Tamriel. For information on the latest streams and World Plays ESO news, visit the official website using the button below.
Finally, don’t forget to share your own adventures with us using the #WorldPlaysESO hashtag on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook—we’ll see you in Tamriel!
Beginning Tuesday, June 22, and continuing until QuakeCon 2021 on August 19, The World Plays ESO is a massive celebration of everything you can experience in The Elder Scrolls Online, shared via a non-stop series of livestreams hosted by developers, special guests, and Stream Team members.
Grab the ESO Plus Free Trial for DLC Access, Craft Bag, & More!
The ESO Plus Free Trial Returns
The ESO Plus Free Trial is now live until Monday, June 21, at 10:00AM EDT/03:00PM BST. During the trial period, you can enjoy the following ESO Plus benefits:
In case you missed out on last year’s Chapter, both Greymoor AND Antiquities are now in the in-game Crown Store and available via ESO Plus membership, giving you access to the new zone and system for the Trial period! For more on the benefits of membership, check out our ESO Plus guide.
Note: The monthly crown stipend and ESO Plus deals are available only to paid members (not free trial members).
Eager to get started? Here’s what you need to do:
No credit card info is required to preview ESO Plus during the free trial.
Enjoy the Benefits of Membership
With boosts to things like XP and gold gains, access to the beloved Craft Bag, and the chance to experience the first part of the Gates of Oblivion adventure for free, now is the time to preview ESO Plus for yourself. Are you planning to enjoy the benefits of membership during this latest free trial? Let us know via @Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
The ESO Plus Free Trial begins today and will run until Monday, June 21, at 10:00AM EDT/03:00PM BST.
Watch the ESO Community Team Explore Blackwood with Alienware
Join the ESO Community Team as they take part in the next Alienware Community Meetup and explore Blackwood!
Tune in to Twitch.tv/Alienware this Friday, June 11 at 4PM EDT/9PM BST as Jess Folsom and Gina Bruno from the ESO Community Team join forces with Alienware Community Manager Amy Schlueter for a fun-filled Community Meetup! Together, they’ll dive into the new Blackwood zone and take the fight to Mehrunes Dagon by completing Oblivion Portals and the zone’s two Public Dungeons.
During the show, they’ll give out codes for both The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood Chapter and the fan-favorite Pink Torchbugs pet, and thanks to Alienware, there’ll also be a giveaway for a brand-new Alienware AW510H headset, too!
Win this amazing Alienware headset!
There’ll be Twitch Drops enabled during the show, so be sure to link your accounts. Don’t forget, this Alienware Community Meetup will go live on Twitch.tv/Alienware this Friday at 4PM EDT/9PM BST—we’ll see you there!
Can’t make the show? Alienware will host two additional Meetups on June 15 and June 18 at 4PM EDT/9PM BST on their Twitch channel for additional chances to win.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood & Update 30 Now Live on PC/Mac
Experience a world on the brink of destruction in The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood, a new Chapter in the Elder Scrolls Online saga.
We are happy to announce that The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood and Update 30 are both now live on PC/Mac and Stadia. This new Chapter and update will launch on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on June 8, with Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 also available via backwards compatibility.
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Blackwood Chapter
The Daedric Prince of Destruction, Mehrunes Dagon, has dire plans for the people of Tamriel, and they begin in the lush marshlands of Blackwood. This new adventure features a complex tale of ambition and revolution that is part of the larger Gates of Oblivion year-long saga that began with the Flames of Ambition DLC in February and continues throughout all of 2021.
In the Blackwood Chapter, you can experience:
Blackwood Zone
In this new Chapter, you can explore the region of Blackwood, nestled among the swamps of the Black Marsh, the warm sands of Elsweyr, and the rolling hills of Cyrodiil. With a local population made up of Imperials, Argonians, and Khajiit, Blackwood is a unique melting pot of different cultures and peoples. Beyond the high walls of the cities of Leyawiin and Gideon, you’ll experience an untamed wilderness filled with ancient sites of long-forgotten empires, dangerous and diverse local creatures, and the rising Daedric threat from realms beyond.
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A New Storyline
In the Blackwood Chapter, you must uncover the truth behind the emerging Daedric threat and its connection to the Longhouse Emperors. In this tale of Imperial and Daedric ambitions, what you discover in your adventures in Blackwood will have dire consequences for the people of Tamriel and set up the story for the rest of the year-long Gates of Oblivion saga.
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Companions System
With the new Companions system, you’ll never have to explore Tamriel alone again. Recruit, equip, and fight with one of two new Companions available with this Chapter and take them to almost every corner of Tamriel. As you battle beside your new Companions, they’ll level up and gain new unique skills. In addition, you can increase (or lower) your rapport with your Companions by engaging with them and performing certain actions, allowing you to unlock unique quests and other rewards.
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Oblivion Portals
New world events unique to the Chapter, portals to the Deadlands have begun to appear within the wilds of Blackwood. From these doorways to Oblivion, you and your allies can invade Mehrunes Dagon’s realm and confront the Daedric hordes that now prepare for war.
Rockgrove Trial
Gather your allies for a new 12-player Trial and defend Rockgrove against the invading Daedric cultists. Contend with the empowered devotees of Mehrunes Dagon and battle your way through the city and into the Deadlands itself. New gear, Achievements, and collectibles await those willing to stand against the forces of the Prince of Destruction!
You can discover and read more about Blackwood on our official site.
Purchase Details & Requirements
The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood is available in four editions, including:
If you are a brand-new player, the ESO Collection: Blackwood includes the base game, Blackwood Chapter, and all previous Chapters. If you already own ESO and its previous Chapters, the ESO: Blackwood Upgrade grants you access to the new Chapter. Note that to run Blackwood on PC/Mac, your machine needs to meet the game's requirements here: PC, Mac.
In addition to the Chapter itself, the Collector’s Editions also include a selection of unique in-game items, including a pet, mount, outfit style, and more.
Collector’s Edition Items
For everything on Blackwood’s editions, Collector’s Edition items, and more, check out this article.
Getting Started in Blackwood
Once you have access to the Blackwood Chapter, you can travel to the new zone and begin your adventure in the following ways:
By Wayshrine
If you’d like to explore Blackwood with an existing character, you can teleport to the new zone directly via the Leyawiin Outskirts Wayshrine. To do so, simply open your map, select the Blackwood zone, and then select the Leyawiin Outskirts Wayshine icon (it should be the only one active in the zone).
Via the Blackwood Main Quest
You can acquire the Blackwood main quest by navigating to your Collections UI, selecting Stories, and then Chapters. From there, you can select Blackwood and pick up the first quest, titled “A Deadly Secret,” to begin. The quest will point you toward where you need to go to make your way to the zone.
Via the Tutorial
You can also travel to Blackwood by creating a new character and completing the new tutorial. At the end of the tutorial experience, you can select Blackwood as your destination zone and get started.
Of course, you can explore Blackwood with an existing or brand-new character, regardless of their level (there’s no level requirements for any PvE zone). Adventure awaits!
Update 30
Releasing in tandem with the Blackwood Chapter, Update 30 is a free base-game patch for all ESO players that includes a host of new features, quality-of-life improvements, and fixes—no additional purchase needed!
Endeavors System
With the new Endeavors system, going live later this month, you can complete daily and weekly tasks to earn a new type of currency, called Seals of Endeavor, used to acquire Crown Crate items. Previously, the only way to own these rare items was by either opening Crown Crates or by spending gems, but with this new system, you can acquire them simply by playing the game. The daily and weekly Endeavors includes all kinds of regular ESO activities such as combat, exploration, questing, crafting, etc., and rewards variable amounts of Seals each day.
View current Endeavors in your Activity Finder
This new system arrives with Update 30, but it won’t be active until later in June. Keep an eye out for more information on Endeavors later this month and read more about the new system in this announcement article.
New Tutorial System
Update 30 introduces a brand-new default Tutorial for all ESO players and all versions of the game. Within the mysterious Isle of Balfiera, you must help the mage Norianwe navigate ancient Direnni ruins and investigate the emergence of mysterious portals. Upon completion of the tutorial quest, you can choose where you wish to begin your adventures in Tamriel via a portal room granting access to the starting locations of any of the Chapters you own or any of the starting locations for the three base-game Alliances.
Choose your starting location in the new tutorial experience
Be warned, once you’ve selected your starting location and entered the portal, you can’t go back! For more on the new Tutorial, see this preview article.
Ability Bar Timers
A new addition to your Combat Settings menu, Ability Bar Timers allow you to see a timer over an ability’s icon that indicates the remaining duration of its effect. You can enable this timer for both your front and back bars, helping you stay on top of things during ESO’s fast-paced combat. These options are set to “off” by default, but you can enable them for both Keyboard and Gamepad within your Settings.
These are, of course, just some of the most notable features coming with Update 30, but you can discover a host of other additions and improvements with this patch, including new Monster Masks, bankable Outfit Style pages, and Master Writ quest assistance. Read all about this and more in our official patch notes.
Oblivion Threatens Tamriel
In The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood, the Prince of Destruction has plans for the people of Tamriel, and the minions of Mehrunes Dagon work tirelessly to enact his dread schemes. Explore this wild and dangerous region, investigate the rising Daedric threat, and take on Oblivion itself as you contend with mortal ambitions and otherworldly monsters alike.
To help you face these new challenges, from now until June 10 on PC/Mac and from June 8 until June 22 on consoles, you’ll be able respec your Champion Points at no cost! Are you excited to continue or begin your Gates of Oblivion adventure with the Blackwood Chapter? Let us know via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
Blackwood Begins with the Stream Team Team Stream
Watch your favorite streamers explore Blackwood during the PC/Mac launch week and you could win some amazing goodies, including the Chapter itself!
Starting Tuesday, June 1, with the Blackwood Chapter launch for PC/Mac, we’re hosting members of the ESO Stream Team on twitch.tv/Bethesda as they continue their Gates of Oblivion adventures. During this period, the Stream Team members will be diving deep into The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood, including the new quests, zones, Companion system, Oblivion Portals, Rockgrove Trial, and more.
Watch the streams and you’ll also have the chance to pick up Twitch Drops (link your accounts!) and win some great prizes, including Crown Packs, copies of the Blackwood Chapter, and more via giveaways. Note that to earn Drops, you’ll need to watch the streamers on their respective home channels.
Giveaways will include the Pink Torchbug!
You can see when your favorite streamers will be hosted on twitch.tv/Bethesda via full schedule below. Note that all times are US Eastern (EDT).
The Blackwood Stream Team Team Stream will begin Tuesday, June 1 at 10AM EDT, and run until Sunday, June 6 at 11:59PM EDT. We’ll see you there!
ESO Live: May 21 @ 3PM EDT/8PM BST—Making Blackwood’s Music
Tune in to ESO Live as we’re joined by Audio Director Brad Derrick to talk about the Blackwood Chapter’s music and sound design.
Join us this Friday, May 21 at 3PM EDT/8PM BST on Twitch.tv/Bethesda as we talk about the music and sounds of the new Blackwood Chapter with Audio Director Brad Derrick. Together, we’ll discuss how Brad and his team go about planning, composing, recording, and producing everything you hear when exploring the new zone and adventure coming with the Blackwood Chapter.
In addition to the usual news, we’ll also highlight some recent fan art from the ESO community and will have Twitch Drops enabled during the show, so don’t forget to link your accounts. This special show will go live on Twitch.tv/Bethesda this coming Friday, May 21 at 3PM EDT/8PM BST—keep an ear open for it!
ESO Live is your official Elder Scrolls Online stream, hosted on twitch.tv/Bethesda by ESO’s Community Manager Gina Bruno and Senior Community Manager Jess Folsom.
Don’t Miss Out! Pre-Purchase Blackwood Now to Snatch Up These Rewards
Pre-purchase The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood by its launch to receive unique in-game rewards.
If you haven’t already had the chance to pre-purchase the upcoming Blackwood Chapter, and you still want to get your hands on some fantastic in-game rewards, you have until the game’s launch on June 1 for PC/Mac and June 8 on Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
Unsure which version of Blackwood is right for you? Check out this article or complete this quiz to discover more about the different Blackwood Editions.
Pre-purchase Rewards
When you pre-purchase Blackwood, you’ll receive immediate access to the Nagahide Welwa Ravager mount, and these additional in-game items at launch:
Nagahide Welwa Ravager mount
Deadlands Wamasu pet & Dremora Kynreeve Outfit style
Even better, if you choose the Collector’s Edition, you’ll receive additional in-game items at launch, including an additional in-game pet, mount, outfit style, and more. There’s no better way to kick off your adventures in the wilds of Blackwood. Don’t forget, the above pre-purchase items are available now and only until the Blackwood Chapter launches, so don’t miss out on your chance to claim these rewards!
The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood arrives on PC/Mac and Stadia on June 1, and on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 on June 8. Pre-purchase Blackwood now to receive unique bonus rewards and gain immediate access to the Nagahide Welwa Ravager mount. Don't miss out!
Enjoy Bonus XP, Gold, and More During the Return of the Explorer’s Celebration
You can enjoy double XP, bonus resource node drops, and double gold earned in any zone in Tamriel during the Explorer’s Celebration—now live!
Explore & Quest
Now live and running until Thursday, May 20 at 10AM EDT/3PM BST, the limited-time Explorer’s Celebration brings additional rewards for the following in-game activities:
These bonuses are available to all players in any zone in Tamriel. If you’re leveling up a character for the upcoming Blackwood Chapter, be sure to make the most out of this mini-event!
Note that the Explorer’s Celebration doesn’t grant Event Tickets and doesn’t have its own unique quests, Achievements, or collectibles associated with it. Additionally, the Impresario isn’t available during this limited period.
The Explorer’s Celebration is now live and will run until Thursday, May 20 at 10AM EDT/3PM BST.
ESO Live: April 16 @ 4PM EDT/9PM BST—Companions Dev Discussion
Join us on ESO Live for a special developer discussion of the Blackwood Chapter’s upcoming Companion System.
Tune in this Friday, April 16 at 4PM EDT/9PM BST on Twitch.tv/Bethesda as we dive deep into the upcoming Companion System with special guests from the ESO development team. Together with Lead Systems Designer Phil Draven and Senior Content Designer Janet Priblo, we’ll showcase the two unique Companions available with the Blackwood Chapter and talk about how the team designed and built this exciting new system. If you’re interested in an inside look at how the team brought Companions to Tamriel, don’t miss this show!
As always, we’ll have Twitch Drops enabled throughout the show (link your accounts!) and discuss all the latest ESO news. This show will go live Friday, April 16 at 4PM EDT/9PM BST—we’ll see you there!
ESO Live is your official Elder Scrolls Online stream, hosted on twitch.tv/Bethesda by ESO’s Community Manager Gina Bruno and Senior Community Manager Jess Folsom.