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Jul 31, 2026

TES Online developers have revealed an updated roadmap — some ideas have been postponed to 2027

Michael Torres
By Michael Torres Video Game News and Features Editor
Last updated: Jul 31, 2026
Tes online developers have revealed an updated roadmap some ideas have been postponed to 2027

ZeniMax Online Studios was caught up in the July layoffs at XBOX — about 213 people are gone, and naturally some players of The Elder Scrolls Online reacted with concern. A community message and an updated roadmap (linked by the devs) followed, so: no shutdown announced; the studio says the team remains committed to the game's future.

Media reports also note a leadership shuffle: studio vets Nick Giacomini and Josh Henderson have stepped in at ZOS — part of the broader XBOX restructuring, apparently.

Staff reductions mean schedules shift. In practice, some promised MMORPG pieces won’t hit their original windows without cutting corners, so a few things were nudged into 2027 — e.g., longer dev cycles to keep quality intact.

  • Crimson Veldt Trial — planned additions include mounted combat.
  • Next classes/combat update — the team is considering interim patches to keep players engaged while larger changes proceed.
  • Update 52 — pushed to January 2027; will bring the PvP zone "Jerall Pass" and Skyrim dynamic events like "Ice Storms."

The rest of 2026 is still fairly packed. Update 51 arrives on September 28 and adds a rumor system, a new trial, plus QoL tweaks — transmutation station in Cyrodiil, housing tab sorting, etc.

There are also timed events and limited campaigns:

  • New Sheogorath quests and the "Gold Rush" series are already live.
  • Aug 5–Aug 12: "The Whitstrake Slaughter."
  • Aug 20–Sep 17: "Gold Rush" campaign — "Straight to the Chest" (you can earn up to 20 free crown chests).
  • Sep 30–Oct 14: "Tamriel's Open Seas."
  • Three-way Battlegrounds will be reintroduced as a permanent option.

Season two kicks off Oct 21 and brings more content and activities:

  • Solo dungeons "Moon Hunter Keep" and "Path of Sacrifice." (Group versions will be free on Oct 12.)
  • Nov 9: chapter "Greymoor" and the "Markarth" expansion go free for everyone.
  • Nov 9–Dec 2: a new "Gold Rush" focused on Skyrim and Antiquities.
  • Additional trials for the Tamriel Codex and various improvements.
  • "Ice Atronach" chest rewards will show up at the Gold Coast Bazaar.
  • The "Witches Festival" and "New Life Festival" return.

At ZeniMax Online Studios, the message was blunt and forward-looking: they intend to keep working on "The Scrolls" and to add seasonal content and long-requested changes. "We will continue to create seasonal content that brings joy, implement long-requested features and changes to make Tamriel better and seek new ways to surprise you and make adventures unforgettable," — Nick Giacomini.