Bethesda has announced The Elder Scrolls Online, an MMOG set in the same universe as Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim (pictured).
The game stars on the cover of the June issue of US magazine Game Informer. Developed by Zenimax Online Studios, The Elder Scrolls Online is set a thousand years before the events of Skyrim, when Daedric prince Molag Bal attempts to pull the entirety of Tamriel into his demonic realm.
Game director Matt Firor said: "It will be extremely rewarding to finally unveil what we have been developing the last several years. The entire team is committed to creating the best MMOG ever made - and one that is worthy of The Elder Scrolls franchise."
It's in good hands: Firor has been working on online games for over 20 years, from a design role on 1991 Mythic RPG Tempest to his recent roles on BioWare's Dark Age Of Camelot series.
Bethesda's announcement is welcome confirmation of the existence of a game which has been rumoured for years. In 2007, Bethesda parent company ZeniMax Media raised $300 million in investment which was to be used for, among other things, "financing of massively multiplayer online games."
The publisher has been hiring for staff with MMOG experience for some time, and in March multiple sources claimed that The Elder Scrolls Online would be formally unveiled in May, and so it has proven.
Comments
6So...can we assume it's just like Morrowind...but with multiple players?
Cool, another means for Bethesda to recycle the same tired mechanics, flaws and all, and still mysteriously eek out great review scores.
That seems overly critical of something that isn't out yet.
That seems overly critical of something that isn't out yet.
I agree with the previous comment.
Unless the whole mechanic is overhauled and much needed brevity added to proceedings, then this will be just a tired old horse being bought out of the paddock for one more go.
Won't stop it from being a huge hit though....
"Unless the whole mechanic is overhauled and much needed brevity added to proceedings, then this will be just a tired old horse being bought out of the paddock for one more go."
Might be the same old horse, but at least it will be kitted out in some dashing new armour.
Well I for one never played earlier Elder Scrolls games, so am not finding Skyrim tired or old.
Wouldn't it be nice if you could import your Skyrim character into the new MMO?