Bethesda Softworks announced back in July that it would release The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Edition on September 9. The re-release of the fantasy MMORPG includes the base game as well as four DLC expansion packs.
The move is Bethesda’s latest in its campaign to bring new players to the massively multiplayer online role-playing (MMORPGs) video game developed by ZeniMax Online Studios. This new version will include all the updates.
Launching sales for The Elder Scrolls Online (TESO) were great, but reviews were not as good. Originally released in 2014 for Microsoft Windows (PC) and OS X, the title received a mixed reception.
The game was mainly criticized for its numerous bugs, phasing mechanic that separated players from groups, Veteran Progression System, and subscription model. While ZeniMax fixed many of the bugs with major updates, people still complained about major issues.
TESO updates and mechanics
In March 2015, the game dropped subscriptions, with players not needing an active one to play. The change was made to follow a business model similar to other MMORPGs like The Secret World and Guild Wars 2. These use a subscription-optional, buy-to-play approach.
ZeniMax also announced the game got renamed The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited and it would arrive on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in June 2015. The revamp was met with mostly positive reviews, praising the new changes.
The new update will change important mechanics. The entire game world will become accessible to every player regardless of their level. The company wants to draw more players to its 7 million users by removing content barriers.
Bethesda will also release Skyrim: Special Edition on PC and consoles in October, and a digital card game called The Elder Scrolls: Legends by the end of the year.
Gold Edition content, release date and price
The re-package bundle of TESO comes with the base game, four DLC packs, further updates, Palomino horse mount, 500 crowns to spend at the Crown Store, and other in-game extras.
The DLC expansions are Imperial City, Orsinium, Thieves Guild, and Dark Brotherhood. Shadows of the Hist, the Argonian-themed DLC pack released last month which comes with new dungeons Cradle of Shadows and Ruins of Mazzatun, is not included, though.
Imperial City adds new collectibles and a new PvP dungeon, and Thieves Guild allows players to join the pick-pocketing group. Meanwhile, Dark Brotherhood introduces the group of highly-trained assassins, and Orisinium provides more than 20 hours of story content.
The Gold Edition will have a $60 price tag and will be coming out on PC, PS4 and Xbox One on September 9. Pre-orders are available now. It’s unclear if those who already own the game and don’t want to buy the Gold version will get an upgrade or discount to get the new features.
Source: Game Rant