The transition of MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online to a seasonal update model is not related to recent layoffs ZeniMax Online Studios has officially announced a significant change in the support format for the popular MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online. Starting in 2026, the project will abandon the usual scheme of releasing major annual expansions, switching to a system of seasonal updates every three months.
In an interview with Rock, Paper, Shotgun, ESO executive producer Susan Cat emphasized that this decision was not a consequence of recent layoffs at Xbox and Microsoft. According to her, preparations for the implementation of the seasonal model began well in advance — approximately 12–14 months before the public announcement. Cate emphasized that the transition to the new format is a conscious strategic restructuring of the project's development course, rather than a forced measure caused by personnel changes. At the same time, the studio did indeed face layoffs, which led to the cancellation of Blackbird, ZeniMax Online's first new game in more than a decade. However, this event had an unexpected positive effect: all the freed-up resources were redirected to support ESO. As Susan Cat explained, in a number of areas this even led to an increase in the number of specialists involved in MMO development, as the team no longer had to divide its efforts between two projects.
The first test of the new model will be Season Zero: Dawn and Dusk, which starts on April 2 and runs until July 8. During this season, players will have access to an updated zone format and will be able to evaluate the groundwork for future seasonal updates.