The Elder Scrolls Online is no stranger to change, but 2025 marks its most dramatic evolution yet. As ZeniMax Online Studios (ZOS) pushes past the game’s ten-year milestone, the team is ready to break from tradition in a big way. Gone are the once-a-year chapter releases that defined ESO’s rhythm for years—say farewell to the Gold Road, Necrom, and Summerset format. Instead, 2025 introduces seasonal content, a more flexible, year-round delivery model that aims to bring richer, more varied updates throughout the calendar year. With that change comes a bold new rallying cry for the ESO community: “You Belong”
I had the chance to check out the 2025 Elder Scrolls Direct early and even sat in on a post-show Q&A with Matt Firor, Rich Lambert, and Susan Kath. Here’s everything you need to know about the future of Tamriel—and why it’s shaping up to be one of ESO’s most meaningful years yet.
A new structure for a New Era
The shift to seasonal content doesn’t just change how stories are told—it changes how players engage. Rather than one big narrative drop in June and smaller filler updates throughout the rest of the year, the seasonal format will roll out content steadily over time. The first year-long arc, Season of the Worm Cult, will unfold in four parts:
Fallen Banners (Q1 – already released): Two new dungeons + revamped starter zones and improved tutorials
Season of the Worm Cult – Part 1 (Q2 – June): A brand-new zone and story
The Writhing Wall Event (Q3): A server-wide event that directly impacts the unfolding story and Feast of Shadows (Q3): A new dungeon pack
Season of the Worm Cult – Part 2 (Q4): The story’s conclusion and further zone expansion
These updates will be delivered via a new Content Pass, which works similarly to how chapters used to. It’s important to note that ESO+ remains unchanged—you’ll still get all the usual perks and access to older content, but the new seasonal content will require the Content Pass.
You belong – inviting new and returning players
ZOS made it clear that their mission this year is to make ESO feel more inviting and less overwhelming, especially for returning or brand-new players. With so many systems, zones, and storylines packed into the game, it’s easy to get lost—but 2025 aims to change that.
The “You Belong” tagline isn’t just a marketing slogan—it’s a design philosophy. Starter zones from the original 2014 release have been visually updated to better match ESO’s modern standard, and tutorials have been streamlined to help new players get up to speed. A full UI overhaul and additional improvements are in the works, aimed at making it easier to discover everything Tamriel has to offer, whether you’re questing, crafting, or crushing Daedra.
Season of the Worm Cult – Returning to ESO’s Roots
Unlike previous storylines that spun off into their own regional arcs, Season of the Worm Cult is a direct sequel to the original main questline. The Worm Cult has returned—and they’re not wasting time. Players will travel to Solstice, a sun-drenched island beneath Murkmire with Caribbean vibes, rich Argonian influence, and a complicated history. The region is being overrun by necromancers trying once again to pull Nirn into Coldharbour using the Planemeld and the dark anchors. It’s a literal return of old threats, now backed by new forces—and new monsters.
Among the highlights:
Sunport, the main hub city, shows off an architectural clash between Argonian tradition and Altmer grandeur.
New enemies include Argonian Behemoths (giant feathered bear-lizard hybrids), Stone Argonians (Mayan-style guardian automatons), and a demonic, satyr-like Daedric giant.
Familiar faces return: Razum-dar, Gabrielle Benele, and Skordo the Knife all play roles in the story, with their original voice actors back in action.
The story will be split between the two seasonal parts, and the Q3 Writhing Wall event will serve as an interactive, server-wide effort to break through a magical barrier that divides the island—literally unlocking the path to Part 2. Some servers may progress faster than others, giving this event a unique twist. And yes, when asked about the return of a certain King of Worms, ZOS could neither confirm nor deny it. Make of that what you will.
A new trial – A Daedric Detour
While Solstice is the star of the show, the new 12-player trial sends players back to the hellish depths of Coldharbour. Set inside a massive Daedric vault, this trial tasks players with stopping Molag Bal’s forces from seizing a relic that feeds on pain and suffering. Visually dark and mechanically intense, this one’s a must for raid groups chasing serious loot—and it launches alongside Part 1 in June.
Subclassing is finally here
Possibly the most exciting announcement came at the end of the presentation: subclassing is finally coming to ESO. Starting at level 50, players will be able to mix and match skill lines from other classes, allowing for over 3000 new build combinations. Want a Necromancer with a bit of Templar flare? A Dragonknight who borrows Nightblade tricks? Now you can.
ZOS was quick to mention this won’t break the game—your base class still matters, and cross-class skills will cost more to unlock. But it’s a huge step forward for player customization and theorycrafting. Naturally, there are concerns about how this will affect the meta, but the devs reassured us they’ll monitor everything closely and tweak as needed—just like they did with Scribing and other past systems.
PVP – finding the fight again
PvP fans haven’t been forgotten. While the glory days of Cyrodiil feel like a distant memory, ZOS is actively testing ways to bring back the spark. The Cyrodiil Champions event from earlier this year was the first of many experiments, and the data gathered is already being used to identify lag issues and improve performance. The team is committed to making PvP feel exciting again, and future tests are on the way.
Looking ahead
Between a fresh storytelling approach, massive customization improvements, returning characters, and a renewed focus on accessibility, Elder Scrolls Online in 2025 is doing something bold—it’s changing, and fast. Whether you’re a new adventurer, a returning hero, or someone who never left, there’s a clear message from ZOS this year: You Belong.
And if that message lands the way it’s meant to, 2025 might just be the start of ESO’s next golden age.
