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The gaming industry is constantly evolving, and even the most established MMOs must adapt to stay relevant. In a surprising end-of-year announcement,The Elder Scrolls Onlineis preparing for one of its biggest transformations since its launch, bidding farewell to its traditional Chapter-based content model that has been a cornerstone of the game since 2017’sMorrowindexpansion.
As live-service games continue to experiment with different content delivery methods, ZeniMax is taking cues from the seasonal approaches of games likeDiablo 4andDestiny 2. However, withDestiny 2moving to an episodic format andDiablo 4constantly facing criticism for repetitive and “filler” seasonal content,ESO’s transition raises both excitement and concern among its dedicated playerbase.
The shift comes at a crucial time when many MMOs are reevaluating their content strategies, forcing us to ask: Is the era of massive yearly expansions coming to an end?
A new direction forElder Scrolls Online’s content delivery
In a detailedletterto the community, Studio Director Matt Firor outlinedZeniMax‘s vision for the future ofElder Scrolls Online. The most significant change is the move away from the annual Chapter releases that have defined the game’s content schedule since 2017:
Over the course of 2025 we will be moving more towards a seasonal content model and away from launching massive content updates once a year, as we did with Chapters.
This marks a rather dramatic shift for a game that has reliably delivered massive yearly expansions for over half a decade.
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But the change isn’t just about breaking up content into smaller pieces—it’s about creating a more dynamic and responsive game environment. As Firor explains:
We will be talking much more about this in the future, but in 2025 expect to see named Seasons of three or six months duration with a mix of themed story content, events, store items, dungeons and more.
This shift obviously mirrors the industry’s broader trend toward more frequent, smaller updates. While some players might worry about the scope of future content, Firor assures that the team isn’t abandoning new quests or zones entirely. Instead, they’re focusing on creating more targeted, polished experiences that can be delivered when they’re ready, rather than rushing to meet an arbitrary June deadline.
The decision to break free from the annual cycle could prove beneficial, as demonstrated byDiablo 4‘s ability to rapidly iterate on player feedback between seasons. However, the challenge will be maintaining the epic scale thatElder Scrolls Onlineplayers have come to expect.
Learning from the successes and failures of seasonal content
The transition to a seasonal model isn’t just about changing release schedules—it’s about fundamentally rethinking how content is created and consumed. Looking at howDestiny 2andDiablo 4handle their seasonal contentprovides both cautionary tales and valuable lessons.
2025 will be a mix of old and new as we move the dev team towards creating smaller bite-sized pieces of content. We will still have some larger items that we’ve been working on for over a year, which you’ll see launch as well.
This “hybrid” approach during the transition year seems designed to avoid the pitfalls that have plagued other games.Destiny 2′s move to “Episodes” andDiablo 4′s sometimes repetitive seasonal structure(not to mention the game-breaking bugs) serve as important reference points for what works and what doesn’t in the live service space.
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Perhaps most encouraging is ZeniMax’s commitment to experimentation. As Firor notes:
We have been hearing from you, the community, that we need to experiment more, to shake things up and not be so predictable. The game needs new and different types of content, and for long-standing feedback to be addressed.
The success of this transition will ultimately depend on how well the team can balance the need for regular content drops with the depth and quality thatElder Scrolls Onlineplayers expect. The first season, set to be revealed in April 2025, will be a crucial test of this new direction.
What do you think aboutElder Scrolls Online’s move to a seasonal model? Are you excited about more frequent updates, or will you miss the grand scale of yearly Chapters? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Soumyajit Mukherjee
Gaming Writer
Articles Published :966
Soumyajit Mukherjee is a Gaming Writer at FandomWire, known for his deep dives into tactical shooters and co-op games. Since joining in June 2024, he’s focused on breakout multiplayer titles like Helldivers 2 and Marvel Rivals, bringing sharp analysis and veteran instincts to every story. His gaming journey began at a local café with the OG Modern Warfare 2, and from that very first frag, he’s been chasing the rush ever since.A former competitive Rainbow Six Siege team captain, Soumyajit has played and written about everything from CS:GO, Valorant, Overwatch, and Apex Legends to Rocket League, Call of Duty, and Battlefield. He’s proudly PC-first and has been since said LAN days… but with GTA 6 looming on the horizon, a long-overdue PS5 might finally sneak onto his setup.
