- The Elder Scrolls Online Season Zero launches on April 2, 2026
- It will introduce a new event zone with lots of fresh content
- Everything added to the game will be free for all existing players
The first season of The Elder Scrolls OnlineSeason Zero, launches next week, and is bursting with new content that will be “free to anyone who owns the game” with no “gates or barriers,” according to game director Nick Giacomini.
As described in the new 2026 Seasons Direct presentation, Season Zero: Dawn and Dusk, it should begin on April 2, 2026. It will last about 90 days, the length of all future seasons, and introduce lots of free content.
This includes the very first limited time event zone known as The Night Market. Seen in Fargrave (a location from the game’s Deadlands expansion) it will offer a smorgasbord of intense player versus environment (PvE) encounters with a focus on group play. That said, associate design director Mike Finnegan assured fans in the stream that “joining a group is not required” and that it’s “easy to jump in and play” solo if desired.
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In addition to exploring its various districts, completing puzzles and defeating bosses, players will be able to contribute to the progress of three factions: Ruckus, Glittering Goad and Thousand Eyes. Rewards will be given to the most successful factions, so choose wisely.
You’ll even be able to unlock a free house known as the Cavern of Night just by completing the event zone’s opening mission.
Although The Night Market will only be available for seven weeks this time, there are already plans to bring it back in the future or even add it permanently to the game if it proves popular.
Grind no more
Season Zero also marks the launch of the long-awaited Challenge Difficulty. This customizable system allows high-level players to choose from four new difficulty levels with unique modifiers to craft parts of The Elder Scrolls Online experience much more difficult in exchange for great rewards.
All of this comes on the back of some recent changes to the balance of the player experience, designed to make the game much more satisfying.
“We’ve heard your feedback and we agree,” said team manager Kira Ross Schlitt for player experience improvements. “Your time is valuable, so our first step was to reduce unnecessary grinding and friction that can detract from the experience.”
Major tweaks include a massive increase in the decor limit for houses in the game, an overhauled UI for the player’s bag, and a huge reduction in the cost to upgrade both your bag and bank so you no longer have to grind for hours just to store all your stuff.
Stablemaster training, used to improve your riding skills, is now three times faster as well.
Even more content is coming The Elder Scrolls Online this year in season 1 and later. The game is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Xbox One.
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