For a long time, there has been speculation, and there have been one or two hints. But now it is clear: in 2020, we will travel to Skyrim in the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO). This will be the next major expansion, the next chapter.
What does the new trailer show? The trailer shown during the Game Awards for ESO presents us the final battle against the dark Kaalgrontiid, who is now being defeated. The Season of the Dragon surrounding the Elsweyr addon is thus coming to an end.
No matter how cool this battle is staged, the actual highlight comes at the end: We get a hint of how ESO continues in 2020. Because we see a Nord warrior standing on a snowy ridge. The landscape below looks like Skyrim.
The Dark Heart of Skyrim
Why does this suggest a Skyrim expansion? Of course, this winter landscape could also be found somewhere else in the fantasy world of Tamriel. However, besides the Nord in the scene, there is another very clear hint:
At the end of the video, it reads: “Explore the dark heart of Skyrim.” Thus, Zenimax is basically announcing that we will travel to Skyrim in 2020. This confirms the previous speculations of ESO fans.
What do the players think about it? The fans of ESO are already looking forward to finally returning to Skyrim. Some areas of the region could be visited earlier, including Riften.
There is already lively speculation about where the journey will take us. Some in the community believe that the “dark heart of Skyrim” could be a hint at the Blackreach.
Soldier224 says in the official forum: “I can imagine that Whiterun will be part of the chapter and the region goes a bit westward. Blackreach will be part of the story, and maybe there will also be a raid. If the dark heart is indeed referring to Blackreach.”
Will it go to the Blackreach?
What is the Blackreach? The Blackreach is a massive cave located beneath Pale and Winterhold in the province of Skyrim. Here you can find a complete ecosystem. Additionally, the Blackreach houses an abandoned Dwemer city, known as the “Silent City”, which was long ago the capital of the Dwemer realm.
ESO: Skyrim – Release likely in mid-May 2020
When will there be more details? Zenimax announced a livestream for January 16 at 11 PM. During this livestream, the developers want to reveal more about the next chapter of the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online.
When is the release of ESO: Skyrim? Officially, this is still unknown. But there are hints from the last chapters.
The expansion itself is likely to be released in the second quarter of 2020 – the last two chapters were released on the penultimate Monday in May for PC and two weeks later for PS4 and Xbox One. If this remains the case, Skyrim would come out on May 18, 2020 for PC.
Perhaps the first DLC or the new expansion will be officially announced then. We should then learn more about how the story continues and what exactly awaits us in Skyrim.
