After the success of Bathesda‘s epic shout-em-up Skyrim, and the excitement around the first DLC landing soon, it’s natural for a Dovahkiin’s mind to begin to wonder what might be next for The Elder Scrolls universe?
Well it seems that despite the franchise being a stringently single player experience to date, rumours of an up-coming Elder Scrolls MMO have been surprisingly well founded.
Bethesda have confirmed ZeniMax Online Studios are developing The Elder Scrolls Online. The new MMO will allow players to quest across the entire continent of Tamriel 1000 years before the events of The Elderh Scrolls V, which includes the provinces of Cyrodiil (where The Elder Scrolls IV was set) and Skyrim (setting of The Elder Scrolls V).
Speaking to The Guardian MMO experience developer Matt Firor (Mythic MMORPG, Dark Age of Camelot) said: -
“We have been working hard to create an online world in which players will be able to experience the epic Elder Scrolls universe with their friends, something fans have long said they wanted,” said Firor. “It will be extremely rewarding finally to unveil what we have been developing the last several years. The entire team is committed to creating the best MMO ever made – and one that is worthy of The Elder Scrolls franchise.”
Short reveal teaser trailer
The faintest hint of the Skyrim sound track certainly invokes as sense of possibility for Elder Scrolls Online, however an MMO is a strange beast, and you need much more than a strong franchise to make that work *cough* Star Treck Online *cough*.
Press Release
BETHESDA SOFTWORKS ANNOUNCES
THE ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE
ZeniMax Online Studios Takes Award-Winning Elder Scrolls Franchise Online In Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game
May 3, 2012 (Rockville, MD) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced The Elder Scrolls® Online, an MMO in development at ZeniMax Online Studios. The Elder Scrolls Online will be the first Elder Scrolls game to allow gamers to explore the legendary Elder Scrolls world with others.
The Elder Scrolls Online is being developed for PC and Mac under the leadership of industry veteran Matt Firor, who has spent the last two decades working in online game development. Details about the game are revealed in an exclusive cover story in Game Informer®’s June issue, which ships to subscribers and newsstands this month.
“We have been working hard to create an online world in which players will be able to experience the epic Elder Scrolls universe with their friends, something fans have long said they wanted,” said Matt Firor, game director of The Elder Scrolls Online. “It will be extremely rewarding finally to unveil what we have been developing the last several years. The entire team is committed to creating the best MMO ever made – and one that is worthy of The Elder Scrolls franchise.”
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim®most recent title set in the award-winning Elder Scrolls universe. Skyrim,developed by Bethesda Game Studios, was released in November 2011 and enjoyed worldwide critical and commercial success. Skyrim earned hundreds of ‘Game of the Year’ awards, including top honors at the 2012 Game Developers Choice Awards, the 15th Annual 2012 Interactive Achievement Awards held at the 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit, and at the 2011 Video Game Awards. Internationally, Skyrimshipped over 10 million units within the first month of its release, was the second highest grossing title in the industry last year, and is the fastest selling title in Steam’s history.
The Elder Scrolls Online will be featured on magazine covers across Europe and in online stories in the coming months which will provide gamers with more information about this exciting title.
Here’s hoping it’s awesome. Star Trek online was rather poop
May 6, 2012 at 19:43 OneMetal Team Member
Indeed it was, I remain hugely skeptical until further notice.
May 7, 2012 at 20:44 OneMetal Team Member