Despite its heavily criticized first installment—it was a cult favorite, to be fair—the Elder Scrolls franchise thankfully continued on and became a monster (in the best way possible) in the gaming community. Games like the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006) and the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) have been especially acclaimed by gamers and critics, thanks in part to their unbelievably immersive environments, character creation system, and addictive gameplay. Many critics have written that even the most casual gamers would have a difficult time not getting sucked into RPG-meets-action-adventure presentation of the Elder Scrolls, particularly the last few installments.
And for the next entry in the legendary series, Bethesda is looking to another realm: the web. That's right, the Elder Scrolls story is heading to the world of MMORPGs after nearly two decades with some help from ZeniMax, which has been working on it since 2007. While it's important to note that the fighting portions of the series might not be the most intriguing part—though people who have played previews of this new game say otherwise—that's never stopped other games of this ilk from being successful. With an MMORPG, it's primarily about the story and how you and other players can fit into it. Which route will you take when you create a character? How will you then go on to customize that character, from the way it looks to the skills you want to acquire and develop to how you interact with everyone you meet. That goes for both other human players and the NPCs, the latter of which are renown in the Elder Scrolls universe.
The narrative of the Elder Scrolls Online takes place 1,000 years prior to that of the previous installment (Skyrim). Players will be able to choose from one of three different factions within Tamriel: the Aldmeri Dominion, Ebonheart Pact, and the Daggerfall Convenant. Speaking of the continent, it will become more wide open as expansion packs are released. You'll be traversing the land primarily to take part in the war for the throne of Tamriel.
It'll be interesting to see what other options make their way into the online experience. Perhaps they'll incorporate some form of gambling in a way to flesh out the story of the gambler characters who can be found in Cragslane Cavern. It wouldn't be surprising if some form of cards, betting, or the like made its way into the game, what with the rising popularity of actual online gambling. At Arcade.Betfair.com, for example, more and more players have gotten wrapped up in challenges related to video games and comics, including the Thor and X-Men series. We're just saying, some kind of medieval/renaissance-era casino or gambling den could go a long way for the Elder Scrolls universe, especially online.
The Elder Scrolls Online is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2014. It'll be available on Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 4, and the Xbox One. There will be a $15 monthly subscription fee across all platforms.
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