On June 5, Necrom, the latest expansion for the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, will be released. But what’s inside, and is it worth coming back? We at MeinMMO summarize all the important details for you.
What does Necrom offer? The new expansion brings the usual new features, including:
- About 30 hours of new story content, which will also be fully voiced. Together with the Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora, you will pursue a mysterious threat and uncover a conspiracy.
- Two new areas – the Telvanni Peninsula on the east coast of Morrowind and Apocrypha, a region in the realm of the forgotten.
- A new raid for 12 players.
- Two new companions, as is usual since Blackwood. The Rothwardonian Arcanist Azandar al-Cybiades and the Argonian Keeper Gerissen-wie-die-Nacht.
- 10 new item sets, new antiquities, new collectibles, and new achievements and titles.
- A new card set for the card game “Glory Stories”.
However, the big highlight is the new class Arcanist, which will be playable right at the release of the expansion. It comes with three skill lines designed for damage, support, or tanking. At an initial play event, it already made a really good impression: I tested the new Arcanist class in ESO and say: You will love it.
What does Necrom cost? Anyone who already owns a version of ESO only has to pay 39.99 euros for the expansion. For 59.99 euros, you get Necrom along with access to the base game and all previously released expansions. Optionally, you can invest 20 euros more to purchase a deluxe version with additional skins, pets, mounts, and other small bonuses.
When does it start exactly? The release for PC takes place on Monday, June 5, 2023. There is no exact time, but the servers came online at some point between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM during the last expansions.
Console fans will have to be a little more patient. Necrom will be released on PlayStation and Xbox only on June 20.
Here you can watch the latest gameplay trailer:
Checklist – Should I play ESO Necrom?
For a quick overview, we have included a short checklist for you. We have prepared 10 statements, and if you answer at least 7 of them with “yes,” you can confidently start with Necrom. More detailed information can be found further down in the text.
- I am a big fan of ESO and play every new expansion anyway.
- I prefer to play PvE content and have no problem playing an MMORPG alone.
- A focus on the story and voiced dialogues are important to me.
- I love ESO, but I need some fresh air for the gameplay, such as a new class.
- An action combat system is really fun for me.
- I want to be the hero in the game who defeats evil.
- I generally feel at home in MMOs.
- I enjoy collecting new gear sets and cosmetics, even if they don’t necessarily make me stronger.
- I’m looking for a (new) MMORPG with easy entry.
- I am a big fan of Morrowind or other games in the “Elder Scrolls” series.
Is a complete new start worth it? ESO has the peculiarity that you can start directly into the latest expansion with a brand new character. For this, the character is dynamically scaled to the maximum level and equipped with good gear.
New expansions are always a good starting point for newcomers because you can start adventures together with veterans, the new areas are always well populated, and you can have a great MMO feeling, even if you can easily complete many of the story-related content alone.
Necrom also has the advantage that with the Arcanist, a brand new class is introduced. It could, based on initial assessments, become a bit too strong, which is particularly beneficial for newcomers.
How much playtime is in the expansion? Those who just want to “rush through” the new story will need about 10 to 20 hours for it. However, if you also complete side quests, achievements, and want to visit the raid, you will easily reach 200+ hours.
With the new class Arcanist, there will be even more playtime because you will have to level this class first, equip it, and potentially revisit other old game content.
Necrom brings hope, but it won’t revolutionize ESO
How is the expansion received? Necrom excites fans with some unique features. These include not only the class, which plays fresh due to its combo system, but also the setting in Morrowind. For many, it’s a kind of homecoming because the area was already included in the third part of the single-player campaign.
The new area Apocrypha with its dark atmosphere and twisted, eerie layout is also praised. Part of the zone is a labyrinth of floating books.
Overall, Necrom seems to be a very solid expansion with small highlights. After rather weak years with Blackwood and High Isles, ESO needs a success experience again.
However, some testers warn that many new features still rely on a modular system and do not distinguish themselves too much from old content. Companions, raids, the basic structure of the areas, and the rewards have appeared in a similar form in other expansions.
A highlight in 2023 will, however, be the patch in the 4th quarter, which is expected to bring a completely new game system. You can find more about this and generally the content for this year here: ESO: Everything about the new expansion Necrom, the Arcanist class, and the 2023 content.
