The developers of The Elder Scrolls Online, Zenimax Online Studios, are apparently planning a new multiplayer online game. This is likely being developed for PC, PS4, and Xbox One and will be based on a new game brand. All of this is indicated by a job advertisement.
How do we know about the new MMO? It’s not as if Zenimax Online announced they are building a new MMO, but they are looking for via job advertisement (via jobs.zenimax.com) a developer who will likely establish the foundation for a new MMO.
The individual is supposed to develop the core engine for the new project. This means that the project is still in its early stages.
What does the job advertisement reveal about the new game: The information is still sparse and all comes from the job advertisement:
- the new game is apparently going to be based on a “new exciting IP”. So it is not a brand that anyone already knows. They are not suddenly planning a “Fallout Online” or “The Elder Scrolls Online 2”.
- and it seems that the game is planned for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, as they are looking for a developer with experience in these areas. Although this could also mean that they already have “Next-Gen” in mind.
- as a “bonus”, they are looking for someone who has MMO experience. This likely indicates that the new game is a multiplayer online game.
Otherwise, the new technician primarily needs expertise in their field with engines like the Unreal Engine or the Crytek engine and its variant Lumberyard. This is also used for New World and Star Citizen.
Who are Zenimax Online Studios? This is a subsidiary studio of Zenimax Media under the leadership of Matt Firor (Dark Age of Camelot, ESO).
The studio was established by Zenimax Media in 2007 to develop MMOs. The only MMO they have developed so far is The Elder Scrolls Online. It was released in 2014 for PC and then in 2015 for PS4 and Xbox One.
The more well-known gaming arm of Zenimax Media is Bethesda. They have franchises like The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, Rage, Wolfenstein, and more.
What are Bethesda and Zenimax Online Studios bringing next? Zenimax Online Studios themselves have no new projects in development that are known, except for the ongoing development of The Elder Scrolls Online. The DLC Murkmire is supposed to be released soon.
Zenimax is the “sister company” of Bethesda, and they have several games in the works:
- Fallout 76 is supposed to be released in November; it will be an online survival RPG
- Starfield is supposed to be an SF-RPG
- The Elder Scrolls VI will be a fantasy RPG
- The Elder Scrolls Blades is also a fantasy RPG, but for mobile
The exciting question: The interesting question is certainly whether Zenimax is developing the “new” MMO parallel to The Elder Scrolls Online and will hire new people for it or whether they will reallocate resources from The Elder Scrolls Online to the new game.
The new project in question is likely still years away.
