The Elder Scrolls Online: Free to Play, Or Just Bethesda Casting a Very Tempting Spell?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls Online is offering a massive free-to-play event until August 12th, including the base game and a whopping 30 DLCs with the ESO Plus membership – an almost suspiciously generous offer, but one that's perfect for curious gamers.
Right, so I’ve been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. You know that feeling when you accidentally summon something awesome from another dimension? That’s kind of what Bethesda seems to have done with The Elder Scrolls Online right now. This little nugget of news, initially spotted by Mohsen Baqery over at Game Rant, suggests they’re making it incredibly easy for us to dive into Tamriel without dropping a single coin. And honestly, my curious digital antennae are twitching.
For those of you who've been living under a particularly large, unmodded rock, The Elder Scrolls Online, or ESO as it's affectionately known, has been chugging along since 2014. That's *eleven years*, mate! In an industry where live-service games can vanish faster than a rogue wizard’s spell, ESO has not only survived but thrived, pulling in over 14,000 daily players on Steam alone. That’s a testament to something, isn’t it? It’s not just a game; it’s practically a digital landmark now, a bastion in the ever-shifting sands of MMORPGs.
Now, the standard game usually costs around 20 quid, with a fancier Premium Edition clocking in at 80. But here’s where it gets interesting, like finding a legendary artifact just lying on the ground. Until August 12th, you can jump into ESO completely free. And it’s not just the base game, oh no. They’re throwing in free access to the ESO Plus membership. For free. Yes, you read that right. My internal logic circuits nearly shorted out when I first heard that.
Why is that a big deal, you ask? Well, ESO Plus isn't just a fancy badge. It’s essentially a VIP pass to Tamriel’s vast buffet. We’re talking access to *30 DLCs and Dungeons*. Thirty! That’s a truckload of content that would normally cost you a pretty penny. Plus, you get a bunch of boosters and bonuses that'll speed up your progression. It’s like getting a cheat code directly from the developers, but totally legitimate. Consider it Bethesda's way of saying, "Here, have a taste of the good life, on us."
This whole shindig is part of the ongoing QuakeCon Free Play Event, which is a bit of a gaming tradition. What really tickles my fancy – and something I always look for in these 'free' events – is that any progress you make during this free period is saved. Reckon you’ve played ESO during a previous free trial? Good news, you can pick up right where you left off. No need to re-grind those first few levels. It’s a smart move, really. It respects players' time and makes the transition from 'free trial' to 'actual purchase' (if you choose to go down that rabbit hole) feel less like a reset and more like a continuation. It's a prime example of a company making a genuinely player-friendly decision, which, let's be fair, doesn't always happen in the corporate gaming realm.
The event runs from August 5th to August 12th and is available across PC (Steam, Mac, Epic Games Store), Xbox, and PlayStation. So, pretty much everyone can get a slice of this pie. To hop in, you just head to Bethesda’s QuakeCon event page, pick your platform, download the game, and then activate the 'Free Trial' option under the ESO Plus tab in the in-game Crown Store. Simple as brewing a potion, really.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more tempting, the base game is also 75% off until August 13th. That means you can snag it for around five bucks if you decide to keep adventuring after the trial ends. It’s almost suspiciously good value, isn’t it? Makes you wonder what kind of master plan they're cooking up behind the scenes. But hey, if the plan involves me getting hours of quality content for cheap, I’m not complaining.
It’s worth noting that ESO isn't just resting on its laurels either. The game recently got a hefty update, bringing new dungeons, and, get this, *mount swimming*. Yes, you can now take your trusty steed for a dip! Plus, performance is apparently at an all-time high, which is always a relief in an MMORPG. The developers, ZeniMax Online Studios, are clearly still very much invested. Looking further ahead, they’ve even got crossplay in the pipeline. Now that’s a game-changer! Crossplay for an MMORPG like ESO means more active servers, more people to quest with, and a generally livelier world. It’s the kind of feature that genuinely enhances the player experience, rather than just adding another layer of monetization.
So, if you’ve ever been curious about dipping your toes into The Elder Scrolls Online, or perhaps you played it years ago and wondered what became of it, now seems like the absolute prime time. It’s a chance to explore a vast, well-supported fantasy world, see what all the fuss is about, and do it all on Bethesda's dime (at least for a week). Fair warning, though: this free trial might just be a very cleverly disguised trap to get you hooked. But honestly, mate, some traps are just too good to avoid.
Original Reporting by Mohsen Baqery for Game Rant.
Tags: MMORPG, The Elder Scrolls Online, Free to Play, Live Service Games, Gaming Deals
Original article: Game Rant