The MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online is getting a new chapter with High Isle (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) set to release in Summer 2022, bringing areas from the homeland of the Bretons. Unlike previous years, we will discover completely new areas instead of encountering old content from the single-player games.
Update: The article was last updated on June 7 with new information about the expansion following its release.
What does ESO offer in 2022? Throughout 2022, ESO will receive 3 new DLCs and the major expansion High Isle, which is set to launch in June. The focus of the year will be on the Breton people.
The High Isle expansion brings:
- A new area in the Systres Archipelago with High Isle and Amenos, where you can expect new volcanic vents as world events
- A new story primarily revolving around intrigue. The length is expected to be around 30 hours
- The new collectible card game “Tales of Glory”
- The new trial Dread Sail Reef for 12 players
- Two new companions that expand the system from Blackwood
- Improvements to the game systems throughout the year
You can get a first impression of the new expansion in this gameplay trailer:
Release date of High Isle and the new DLCs 2022
The release of the new expansion is planned for June 6 on PC/Mac and June 21 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
The first DLC of 2022 was released on March 14 for PC/Mac and on March 29 for PlayStation and Xbox. This update focuses on two new dungeons. You can find all important information about Ascending Tide here.
In the third quarter of the year, another dungeon DLC is expected to be released. At the end of the year, a story DLC will come that will conclude the entire story of “Legacy of the Bretons.”
Exact details about the two DLCs are not yet available, though the final DLC typically always brings a new area.
No, to play ESO you need at least one chapter, either Tamriel Unlimited (the base game) or the expansions Morrowind, Summerset, Elsweyr, Greymoor, Blackwood, or now High Isle.
Additionally, there is the optional subscription ESO+, which allows you to unlock smaller DLCs and some in-game bonuses.
High Isle brings new map and a card game
What is High Isle about? The entire year of 2022 is dedicated to the Bretons and is therefore called “Legacy of the Bretons.” In the expansion, you will explore a part of Nim that has never been seen in any previous Elder Scrolls game. No return to Skyrim, Oblivion, or other old chapters.
The High Isle is a tropical atoll surrounded by impressive white cliffs and features several medieval castles as well as dense primeval forests. The new map is divided into the two regions of High Isle and Amenos and will offer quite a bit of visual variety.
Some parts are said to feel a bit like a vacation paradise, such as on the beach directly opposite the Summer Isles. It will also offer extensive areas, such as the sunflower field. Overall, a lot should look very realistic.
Additionally, you can expect a completely new world event with the volcanic vents. These will initially be small lava flows but can lead to a type of eruption.
What happens in the story? The story in the area revolves around a shady knight order that threatens the peace and security of High Isle. The leader of the order is an aspiring prince. He uses a mysterious power to seize an ancient legacy.
Overall, there will be much about political scheming and alliances. The two great houses Duforts and Manarts are competing with each other. The Druids also play an important role in Breton culture.
At the start, you will receive a message from Lady Arabella asking for your help in battling the order. There is already information about this character in hidden books, but she has not yet appeared in the game itself.
The entire story of High Isle will be told over the three DLCs and the expansion. The grand climax will happen again in the 4th quarter with the final update.
A first prologue is already available in the game.
Which characters are returning? In the livestream, the developers revealed which old characters will return in the story. These include: Jarkan, Captain Za’ji, and Caska.
The new card game “Tales of Glory”
The expansion will introduce a new gaming system. The Tales of Glory is a tavern game where you can compete against both NPCs and other players.
The focus is on various cards and decks that you can collect and create yourself. These cards are to represent famous events or personalities from the ESO universe.
Rewards include new achievements, collectibles, and even a leaderboard for the card game.
More about the card game has been summarized here: ESO gets the new card game “Tales of Glory” with High Isle – Here’s how it works.
The new companions
With Blackwood, the companion system was introduced. These are NPCs that you can unlock, train, and equip according to your wishes. They take a place in your group and can assist you in the open world, as well as in dungeons and trials. However, they are disabled in PvP.
With High Isle, two new companions will be released: Isobel and Spark. Both will have their own quest line, unique personalities, and a set of skills.
- Spark is a Khajiit who tends to get into trouble.
- Isobel is somewhat the opposite of Spark. She is not as chaotic, comes from a good house, but is not a typical noble.
Overall, the background story and general voice lines are expected to be more refined than with the old companions. You can find out how to unlock the companions here.
New rewards, antiquities, and more
Together with the expansion, there will be numerous new rewards, new antiquities, and new collectibles that you can earn.
Additionally, at the end of the livestream, an elf was shown as a new assistant, a new two-player mount, and an underwater house. In the future, titles and achievements will also apply account-wide.
New sets and new Mythic Items have not been specifically announced, but they have been an important part of new expansions in recent years. It is highly likely that High Isle will also hold innovations in this area.
Does High Isle bring a new class?
With the expansion High Isle, there will be no new class. There is also no rework like with the vampires in Greymoor planned. New classes are, however, a sought-after feature in the community. The last class was the Necromancer in 2019.
More details about the content and features of the expansion will be added in the coming days and weeks in this article.
Purchase and pre-order High Isle
You can pre-order High Isle in the ESO Store, on Steam, in the Microsoft Store, and in the PS Store. The following versions can be purchased:
- The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: High Isle – €69.99
- The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: High Isle CE – €89.99
- The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle Upgrade – €39.99
- The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle Upgrade CE – €54.99
All versions include the new expansion, with both collections also containing all 5 previous expansions.
These rewards are available for pre-order: Those who pre-order the new expansion will receive the following bonuses:
- Frostbark Wapiti as a mount
- Frostbark Fawn as a companion
- Outfit of the Abekae Freebooter as a costume
- Puppy of the Knights of Flames as a companion
- 1× Box of the Dark Knights
- 3× High Isle treasure maps
- 2× Scrolls of Learning
The Frostbark Wapiti mount is only available if you pre-order by April 4.
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