Who developed The Elder Scrolls® Online?

The Elder Scrolls® Online is developed by ZeniMax Online Studios.

Where can I play The Elder Scrolls® Online?

You can play The Elder Scrolls® Online through its official Steam page.

When was The Elder Scrolls® Online published?

The Elder Scrolls® Online was released on Steam on 2017-05-22.

What genre is The Elder Scrolls® Online?

The Elder Scrolls® Online is categorized as Action / Adventure / Massively Multiplayer / RPG.

Steam MMORPG

The Elder Scrolls® Online

Every legend starts somewhere. Explore Tamriel with millions of players in a shared online Elder Scrolls world.

Start Beginner Guide Play Now

May 2017

Released

161K+

Steam Reviews

Action

Genre

80.9%

Positive Reviews

Steam MMORPGSteam App ID306130DeveloperZeniMax Online StudiosPlatformSteam

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See how the game plays before you jump into the guides.

The Elder Scrolls® Online

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Featured The Elder Scrolls® Online Guides

The Elder Scrolls Steam Guide: Essential Tips for NewEmbark on your Tamriel adventure with our Elder Scrolls Steam guide! Learn character creation, skills, crafting, and how to thrive in ESO.The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr on Steam – A 2019 LookDiscover what made The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr a standout update for players on Steam in 2019, featuring dragons, the Necromancer class, and vibrant.The Elder Scrolls Steam Classes: Picking Your PerfectExplore the 7 unique Elder Scrolls Online classes available on Steam. Understand their identities, skill lines, and choose your ideal hero for Tamriel.Maximizing Your Elder Scrolls Steam Crowns & Crown StoreNavigate The Elder Scrolls Online Crown Store on Steam. Learn how to acquire crowns, what items are available, and get tips for smart spending on cosmetics.West Weald on Steam: Your Guide to ESO's New Gold Road ZoneDiscover everything to do in West Weald, the new Gold Road chapter zone in The Elder Scrolls Online on Steam. Find quests, events, gear, and more.The Elder Scrolls Steam Scribing: Custom Skills ExplainedUnlock custom skills in The Elder Scrolls Online. Learn how Scribing works, its impact on build customization, and efficient script farming strategies.

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About The Elder Scrolls® Online

The Elder Scrolls® Online is an action MMORPG set in Tamriel, taking place nearly 1,000 years before The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

The Steam release includes the base game plus Morrowind, Imperial City, Orsinium, Thieves Guild, and Dark Brotherhood adventures.

Players can experience rich Elder Scrolls-style storytelling solo or with friends, plus online PvP, co-op, dungeons, and trials.

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Quick Facts

Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios
Platform: Steam
Genre: Action / Adventure / Massively Multiplayer / RPG

01Gameplay Basics

How ESO Plays

ESO blends Elder Scrolls questing and exploration with shared-world MMO systems, real-time combat, and flexible solo or group play.

01Action-Oriented CombatCombat is real-time with manual aiming, dodging, blocking, and resource management instead of auto-attack combat.
02Shared Fantasy WorldTamriel is built as a persistent online world where you can quest alone, join groups, and enter large-scale activities.
03Story on a Shared CanvasThe game emphasizes narrative quests in the Elder Scrolls style while still supporting multiplayer progression.

02Getting Started

A Practical Beginner Path

New players can begin with story-led progression, then branch into group activities and PvP once core systems feel comfortable.

01Start with Base Story ContentUse the included base game and listed adventures to learn controls, quest flow, and zone structure at your own pace.
02Choose a Class IdentityPick one class and focus on its skill lines early so your combat rotation and build choices stay clear.
03Add Group Content GraduallyAfter early questing, step into 4-player dungeons and later 12-player trials when you are ready for team coordination.

03Long-Term Growth

Progression and Build Development

Character strength comes from leveling, skill points, and gear, with extra depth from horizontal systems and customization options.

01Level, Skills, and GearCore progression combines character levels, allocated skill points, and equipment upgrades to improve performance.
02Morph-Based Ability ChoicesAbility morphing allows customization within class and weapon lines, supporting multiple playstyles over time.
03Horizontal SystemsSystems like Jewelry Crafting, Antiquities, Companions, Tales of Tribute, and Scribing expand goals beyond basic leveling.

04Ways to Play

PvE, PvP, and Group Modes

ESO supports multiple activity types, from solo questing to competitive PvP and organized endgame group encounters.

01Questing and ExplorationTravel across Tamriel regions and complete story and side quests in a broad, adventure-focused world.
02Alliance War and BattlegroundsPvP includes large-scale Alliance War in Cyrodiil and smaller objective-based Battleground matches.
03Dungeons and TrialsGroup PvE centers on 4-player dungeons and 12-player trials for coordinated combat challenges.