The Elder Scrolls Online Introduces Seasonal Content and a Battle Pass System

After a decade, The Elder Scrolls Online is shifting its update strategy from large, permanent expansions to more frequent, smaller seasonal updates. In a recent announcement, players from all corners of Tamriel—whether Altmer, Redguard, or Khajiit—will need to familiarize themselves with terms like “seasons,” “battle pass,” and “premium bonus tier.” However, there’s no need to panic just yet; the game’s core philosophy of “buy it once, never spend money again” remains intact.

Historically, The Elder Scrolls Online introduced one major expansion each year, known as Chapters. These expansions typically brought a new zone and a main story quest, along with new trials, challenges, and dungeons. Following the release of the eighth and final Chapter, “Gold Road,” in June 2024, the developers have been preparing for this transition to a seasonal model.

As outlined in a recent reveal video, the new seasonal system will deliver smaller but more frequent updates, with fresh content rolling out every three months. Similar to Chapters, Seasons will feature new zones, quests, dungeons, rewards, and possibly even new classes—though don’t expect all of that in a single season.

The inaugural ESO Season, titled “Season 0: Dawn and Dusk,” is set to launch on April 2 and will include a variety of content. Following that, Season 1 and Season 2 are expected to drop in early July and October, respectively, introducing a new Thieves Guild questline, an endgame trial, and solo dungeons. Plus, fans can look forward to an appearance from Sheogorath, the beloved Daedric Prince of Madness.

One of the most significant changes with this new seasonal approach is the pricing structure. Previously, new ESO Chapters required a one-time purchase or an active subscription, but the upcoming seasonal content will be free for all players, including those without a membership. Just remember, the free updates won’t apply retroactively; if you want access to older DLC, you’ll still need to pay for it.

Additionally, Seasons will launch simultaneously across all platforms. Unlike Chapters, which were released on PC weeks ahead of Xbox and PlayStation, Seasons will be available to everyone at the same time.

The new battle pass system, known as the Tamriel Tome, will function similarly to those found in other live-service games. By completing weekly and seasonal challenges—like finishing quests and clearing dungeons—you’ll earn Tome Points to spend on seasonal rewards. The choice of rewards, whether it’s a stylish outfit, a new hairstyle, or a cool mount, is up to you, but you’ll need to progress far enough in the Tamriel Tome to unlock your desired items.

Be aware that the Tamriel Tome features both free and premium tiers, meaning some rewards will be behind a paywall. To access additional rewards and continue your battle pass progression after a Season ends, you’ll need to purchase a Premium Tome for $14.99. For even more cosmetics and faster progression, a Premium Bonus Tome is available for $29.99.

In keeping with its tradition of complex monetization, The Elder Scrolls Online will not be eliminating the ESO Plus subscription, which still provides access to previous DLC and various perks like extra gold, increased bank space, and bonus crowns.

If you’re an ESO Plus member, you might have hoped for free Premium Tomes, but don’t get your hopes up; to enjoy both the ESO Plus benefits and the premium battle pass rewards, you’ll need to purchase both. However, if you’ve subscribed to ESO Plus for a total of 12 months, you’ll receive extra Tome Points along with one free Premium Bonus Tome of your choice.

So, the shift to a seasonal model in ESO brings both positives and negatives. While the dual premium battle pass tiers may seem pricey and the continued necessity of the ESO Plus membership might not sit well with everyone, non-members will still have the opportunity to enjoy new content for free.