Similar to many games that received PS5 and Xbox Series X enhancements, the upgraded versions will be made available for free for those who already own a copy on current-gen consoles.
What to Expect from Elder Scrolls Online Next-Gen Versions
Elder Scrolls Online: Enhanced Edition will take better advantage of the powerful hardware of the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. It will let console players enjoy a slew of graphical enhancements on their games. This includes, among many others, better textures, reflections, lighting, and sound. The updated next-gen versions of Elder Scrolls Online will also enjoy improved anti-aliasing, ambient occlusion, and SSGI for more life-like graphics. Players will also be able to choose between two different modes on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. The first mode, fidelity, will let you boost the resolution up to 4K for maximum visual performance. Meanwhile, those who prefer a steady 60 frames per second gameplay can choose the performance mode. Either way, both modes will benefit from the speedy SSD storage drives of the next-gen consoles with loading times reduced by as much as 50%.
What’s Next for Elder Scrolls Online?
The next-gen upgrades for Elder Scrolls Online were just the start of the latest set of announcements for the hit MMO. In addition to ESO: Console Enhanced, Zenimax Online, and Bethesda also announced the arrival of the Blackwood Chapter in June. The new standalone story will reportedly take players on a journey where they’ll uncover various sinister plots and schemes all over Tamriel and discover how all of it is connected to the Prince of Destruction. Blackwood will be a part of the overall Gates of Oblivion narrative of Elder Scrolls Online. The storyline kicked off in January 2021 and will likely throughout the rest of 2021. The Companion system was also revealed during the Blackwood Chapter Preview Event. This will give players a chance to choose between two new companions in the game going forward. They’ll then be able to define what sort of playstyle the companions will have depending on their skills and gear. The Blackwood Chapter of Elder Scrolls Online will release first on the PC on June 1, 2021. It will arrive on consoles, along with Elder Scrolls Online: Console Enhanced, on June 8, 2021.
Play Elder Scrolls Online for Free
If you’re interested to know more about Elder Scrolls Online, Zenimax Online and Bethesda are currently hosting a Free Play Event. The Free Play Event will start on March 31 and will last until April 13. During this time, anyone on any console Elder Scrolls Online is available on will be able to download and play the base game for free. This will include access to Vvardenfell, Morrowind’s zone, as well as 32 other unique zones and the four original classes of Elder Scrolls Online. Players during the Free Play Event will also get a chance to experience the Gates of Oblivion storyline. It will come with access to the Blackwood Prologue questline that players can continue later on. Even better, players can join in on the Anniversary Jubilee in-game event and earn double the XP and more rewards. Lastly, Zenimax Online and Bethesda are giving away 500 crowns to spend at the Crown Store to all newly-created ESO accounts.
