Announced at the tail-end of March, The Elder Scrolls Online was initially slated to hit both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X on June 8, coinciding with the upcoming release of the MMO's Blackwood DLC. However, it appears there's been a change of plans over at ZeniMax Online Studios, with the company announcing today that the next-gen ports have been pushed back by a week.
A statement on The Elder Scrolls Online's official Twitter account confirmed the news earlier today, revealing that the new versions will now launch on June 15. The reasoning behind the decision is allegedly due to Blackwood and the next-gen Console Enhanced editions launching in such a short time frame, with ZeniMax Online claiming that it wants to ensure both additions to the popular MMO receive the studio's "undivided attention." Both Blackwood and Update 30 will still release on June 1 for PC and Stadia and June 8 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
The reasoning behind the delay makes a lot of sense considering Blackwood is shaping up to be a huge expansion to The Elder Scrolls Online. It will add a new area in Blackwood, a fresh story following Daedric worship, and a return to the gates of Oblivion. Players will even face off against The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion's central antagonist Mehrunes Dagon, as the Prince of Destruction returns for the expansion's main questline. Other additions will be AI companions and new loot, including gear sets and collectables.
The next-generation update will be a big addition to the game too, bringing a wealth of visual updates to the game. It will add performance and fidelity modes, with the former offering 60 FPS gameplay, 1440p resolution, and plenty of other technical enhancements. Meanwhile, the latter will reduce the FPS to 30 but up the resolution to 4K. It will allow players to look at the world of Tamriel in a completely different light, with an array of upgrades that take advantage of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X's power.
These won't be the only two big additions to The Elder Scrolls Online slated for this year, with the game also getting two more DLCs during Q3 and Q4 of this year. One will be a dungeon pack and the other a story zone. Both will continue the game's current Gates of Oblivion storyline which started during The Flames Of Ambition DLC earlier this year, although it seems Blackwood will stand as the centerpiece of the lineup.
The Elder Scrolls Online is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions launching on June 15.
Source: Elder Scrolls Online Studios