Morrowind expansion coming to The Elder Scrolls Online

The Elder Scrolls Online is getting a massive new update. Called The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind, developer ZeniMax Online Studios says it features more than 30 hours of gameplay and the addition of the largest geographic zone since its launch in 2014.

Thanks to a sweeping gameplay revision issued earlier this year, new players can start the game and move directly into the Morrowind expansion, which takes place largely on the island of Vvardenfell, without having to complete any legacy content. The update launches simultaneously for Windows PC and Mac, as well as PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, on June 6.

The Morrowind expansion update will cost $39.99. The Standard Edition, which includes the base game as well as the update, will cost $59.99. In it, players will help to heal the god Vivec, assist him in regaining his strength and save the world of Tamriel from destruction.

“Vvardenfell... utilizes the same geographic footprint as The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind,” Zenimax wrote in a press release issued today, “including all key points of interest from the classic game. Players will embark on a dangerous journey... 700 years before the events of The Elder Scrolls 3, from the docks of Seyda Neen, to the volcanic Ashlands, to dense, mushroom-filled forests, and through the glory of Vivec City, still under construction in this time period.”

No word yet on what lucky voice actors being tapped to play the role of the Ordinators.

Earlier this month, industrious dataminers found what appeared to be an expanded map of Vvardenfell inside ESO. You can see a snapshot of what they found in our article.

ZeniMax says that the expansion will introduce a new player class, called The Warden, which goes into combat supported by a giant War Bear. It’s the first new class to be added to the game since its launch. Morrowind will also include a new player-versus-player mode called Battlegrounds, featuring three-way battles between teams of four in “arena-like” environments.

ZeniMax Online Studios

Stills from the trailer for The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind.

The One Tamriel update, which launched late last year, has completely changed how ESO works. It removes all level restrictions from the game, and allows players to tour the game world at their leisure. It also removes the alliance restrictions that frustrated so many, preventing them from playing together with their friends. It is now plays, more than ever the developers say, like a traditional single-player Elder Scrolls title.

In addition to the standalone expansion and the Standard Edition that includes the base game, ZeniMax is offering several premium editions. The Digital Collector’s Edition runs for $79.99 ($59.99 for the Collector’s Upgrade) and includes a unique War Bear as well as exclusive Dwemer horse armor and a Dwemer-themed pet. The physical Collector’s Edition includes a Dwemer Colossus Statue, a full-color companion book and a map of Morrowind among other items. There are also perks for pre-ordering, including a temporary 50 percent boost to experience gained.