Elder Scrolls Online is currently preparing for its first season in 2026 and is not only revamping its payment model but also expanding its versions.
What is changing with ESO versions? With the release of Update 49, it was already known that the long-paid DLCs “Orsinium”, “Imperial City”, “Thieves Guild”, and “Dark Brotherhood” are now included in the base game of Elder Scrolls Online.
Those who spend around 20 euros on the MMORPG on Steam or have it sleeping in their collection in the standard version will now gain access to the following content:
- ESO base game
- Choose your side in the War of the Three Banners and push back the invading Daedric forces in a war-torn setting during Tamriel’s Second Era.
- 24 unique areas
- Discover how vast Tamriel is: from the mushroom forests of Morrowind to the deserts of Hammerfell.
- Morrowind
- Dive into the cultic homeland of the Dark Elves and offer your help to the legendary warrior-poet god Vivec.
- Warden as a class
- Utilize the power of nature’s wrath as a Warden and command mighty beasts.
- Imperial City
- Explore the heart of Cyrodiil in this expansive PvP/PvE area, which is now overrun by Daedra.
- Orsinium
- Travel through the Wrothgar mountains and enter the Orc capital Orsinium, where ancient dangers await you.
- Thieves Guild
- Fight the Iron Wheel’s troops and help the Thieves Guild regain its former glory.
- Dark Brotherhood
- Become the newest member of the infamous Dark Brotherhood and carve a bloody path through Tamriel.
Players who enjoy ESO through Xbox Game Pass Essential or PlayStation Plus Extra (or Premium) have access to all the contents of this new standard version.
Important: All future playable content for ESO (such as new quests, zones, features, dungeons, etc.) will be free for every owner of the ESO main game starting from the launch of “Season Zero”.
Content for thousands of hours at full price
And what about the Deluxe version? This version of ESO, costing nearly 60 euros, includes not only all the content of the standard version but also the following:
- the chapters Summerset, Elsweyr, Greymoor, Blackwood, High Isle, Necrom, and Gold Road
- the Seasons of the Worm cult from 2025
- the features Jewelry crafting, Necromancer class, Antiquities, Companions, Legacy tales, and Arcanist class
- the mount “Skullcrusher Coast Durzog”, the companion “Stone Eagle”, and a Ray of Meridia’s Light (cosmetic bonus effect)
You can alternatively obtain access to the chapters and the content of the season from 2025 through the optional ESO Plus subscription. You can check what the subscription currently offers in detail on the official overview page by Zenimax.
When does the new season start? “Season Zero: Morning Light and Evening Light” officially starts on April 2, 2026, and runs until July 8, 2026. With the start of the season, the new Battle Pass named “Tamriel Scrolls” also begins. This will reward you for everything you do in Tamriel, with free and paid reward paths.
Another new reward system called Gold Coast Bazaar, on the other hand, is set to go live on March 25, 2026, just under a week before the season. It is a new in-game shop where you pay with earned or Battle Pass earned trading bars.
As part of the season, the developers are also undertaking another experiment: from April 29 to June 17, the first event area opens with the Night Market. There you can expect challenging PvE challenges that you should preferably approach as part of a strong group. What else is planned for 2026 can be found here: The Elder Scrolls Online revamps its payment model again in 2026 and introduces unusual experiments
