With The Elder Scrolls Online (PC, PS4, Xbox One) Murkmire, the developers at Zenimax once again showcase their attention to detail. They showed our author Lucas the new zone.
Impressions report with the devs: Together with Zenimax employees Ed Stark and Jeremy Sera, we explored the new DLC of The Elder Scrolls Online. During the tour, the two shared more about Murkmire and what players can expect there. Additionally, I ventured into the swamp of the Murkmire on my own and spent several hours there.
First images from Murkmire were seen four years ago at Quake Con. Was the long wait worth it?
Murkmire is packed with lore
Argonian culture shock: The Argonians are quite a strange folk. Even the game director of ESO, Matt Firror, finds the lizards odd.
Right at your arrival point in Murkmire, you will encounter a toad flute. This is an instrument that produces sounds with the help of swamp toads. Singing and dancing accompany this. To the visitors of the Murkmire, this music seems foreign and peculiar.
But that is just an example of what awaits you in Murkmire in terms of Argonian culture. Anyone who overcomes the initial culture shock can pick up many interesting insights about Argonian ways of life in the newest expansion.
- In Murkmire, there are different tribes, each representing a different aspect of Argonian life.
- Besides the Argonian tribes, you can also venture into the ancient Xanmeer ruins. Xanmeer are pyramid-like structures built by the ancestors of modern Argonians.
- Moreover, Murkmire sheds light on the Argonian relationship with the Hist trees. A particular quest even allows you to peek into the bonding rituals of the lizard folk.
This is how Argonians have sex: Before release, the site V247 sparked my interest with a quest description. In Murkmire, there should be a quest where players could delve deeper into the reproductive rituals of the Argonians. Especially for lore enthusiasts or players who have long wondered how Argonians reproduce, this quest would provide answers.
After a brief search, I stumbled upon an NPC near Hellhal village who asked me to check on things in the village. There, I met the tree sheepherder who told me about a problem with Argonian eggs.
Love brings peace: While the other tribes in Murkmire only reproduce amongst themselves, members of Hellhal village are more open and use the pairing ritual as a political tool. Relationships between the tribes are arranged to ensure peace, as all Argonians become brood siblings through this.
The quest openly discusses the relationship of Argonians with the Hist:
- Argonians reproduce in symbiosis with their Hist tree. When Argonians die, their souls return to the Hist tree, which in turn ensures reincarnation. Without the Hist tree, Argonian babies are just soulless husks.
- To give Argonians a chance of survival, the Hist tree only chooses the strongest. All other babies return to the roots of the Hist tree.
Throughout the quest, you speak with the egg keepers. These are the Argonians who supervise the bonding rituals. They are also not shy about sharing some anecdotes from their work. In the egg keeper’s house, you will also find a substantial stack of erotic literature.
The Murkmire provides challenges for players
These dangers lurk in the swamp: In Murkmire, for the first time, the fauna is hostile towards you. Various plant species can attack you and in conjunction with the swamp’s fauna, can quickly become a problem. Fortunately, you can disable the plants for a short time by sneaking up on them.
In addition to new plant types, you will also encounter new enemies. Hackwings hunt you in groups and can become a real problem in conjunction with the fauna. Moreover, you will encounter a type of flies that call for help and attack you in swarms.
The new zone is divided into three areas. From the small arrival point Lilmoth, you go deeper and deeper into the swamp. The trees grow taller and denser. The forest becomes more threatening.
The entire level design of the new zone is very beautiful. Along with the new music tracks and the atmospheric wind chimes that hang in the homes of the Argonians, it creates a beautiful soundscape that invites you to pause and enjoy the moment.
When wandering through the new zone, you notice how much effort the developers at Zenimax put into Murkmire. There are no truly empty spaces, and the zone is coherently constructed.
Murkmire is available for free
This is how you get the DLC for free: If you do not want to buy Murkmire, you can simply wait until November and pick up the DLC as a login reward. If you log in for 24 days in November, you will receive Murkmire as a free login reward. This applies to PC/Mac and also to consoles. According to Zenimax, they decided to offer the DLC as a login reward to give players the choice of whether they would like to pay 2000 crowns or not.
When can I play Murkmire? Murkmire is already available for PC/Mac. For the consoles PS4 and Xbox One, the DLC will be released on November 6.
How much does Murkmire cost? You can purchase Murkmire for 2000 crowns in the Crown Store of The Elder Scrolls Online.
Why did players have to wait so long for Murkmire? The concept for Murkmire was created even before the transition of The Elder Scrolls Online to One Tamriel and when the MMO still required a monthly subscription. Since then, players can expect small DLCs several times a year and a major chapter once a year. The last chapter was Summerset.
Who is Murkmire suitable for?
More of the same: Anyone expecting Murkmire to reinvent the wheel for The Elder Scrolls Online will be disappointed. The aggressive fauna is a nice gimmick and makes it feel livelier, but ultimately Murkmire offers more of the same. The latest DLCs also focused on providing players with new stories rather than great innovations.
However, with this approach, The Elder Scrolls Online is doing quite well. The MMO is successful and players look forward to new stories in Tamriel. And Murkmire offers plenty of them.
