Zenimax Online Studios has finally revealed the details of its Dark Heart of Skyrim year-long adventure for their MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO). The studio will be dropping three mini Downloadable Content Packs (DLC) throughout the year, as well as one major expansion (which are referred to as Chapters in ESO).
The Dark Heart of Skyrim event was teased in 2019 when Zenimax Online Studios dropped a trailer during The Game Awards 2019 (which you can watch right here).
The ESO Devs held a livestream on Jan. 16 where they finally revealed what "The Dark Heart of Skyrim" is. The first part, Harrowstorm, is expected to be released in March. Greymoor is expected to come out in May (for PC) or June (for Consoles). The third and fourth parts are slated to be released in Q3 and Q4, with no exact date announced just yet.
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Back to the North
The Dark Heart of Skyrim is a yearlong event that focuses on a continuous narrative that spans all of the year's content additions. The first part of the event is the release of the first DLC pack, Harrowstorm. In Icereach, an ancient coven prepares to unleash a deadly ritual onto the rest of Tamriel, and it is up to the player to stop this evil from coming forth. While in the unhallowed grave, players explore what is hidden "beneath the sands of Bangkorai." This DLC introduces two new dungeons for players to explore, with new loot added in. For those who are on the fence on buying the DLC, ESO is also adding an introductory quest for free, allowing players a taste of what's to come next.
Journey to the West
The second part of the Dark Heart of Skyrim event is called Greymoor, which is the next large expansion for Elder Scrolls Online. The so-called Harrowstorms have begun to wreak havoc in Skyrim, and a vicious Vampiric cabal is bent on controlling the region by slaughtering many and offering their souls for a yet unknown plan.
Greymoor adds a lot of new features and areas into the game. While Eastern Skyrim has been accessible for a long time now, Western Skyrim has been unexplorable until Greymoor. The expansion opens up the lands of the Western tundra, allowing players to explore the grizzly regions. Players may be able to travel to 'Skyrim' favorites such as Solitude or Whiterun. Do take note that ESO takes place roughly 700 years before the events in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, so some places might not look like its single-player counterpart.
Of course, the game adds a new main story quest that ties into the Dark Heart of Skyrim plotline. A new system, called Antiquities, allows players to hunt for forgotten artifacts and antiquities, revealing more lore about the world of Tamriel. Players will be rewarded with new gear for doing so. The activity is said to be accessible for all types of players.
The expansion also adds an all-new 12 player trial called "Kyne's Aegis", where players are tasked to protect a village from rampaging Sea Giants. The new mode offers three new bosses to take down, as well as unrelenting new enemies.
The game also revamps the Vampire skill line, but no exact details have been revealed. There will also be client optimization that is supposed to reduce the overall install size of the game. However, this will require a massive redownloading of files.
Editions for Everyone
Greymoor will be available in a variety of ways. For new players who want to experience the world of Tamriel, The Greymoor Standard edition comes with the base game as well as the Morrowind, Summerset, and Elsweyr Chapters. Veteran players can opt for the Digital Upgrade version, which only gives access to Greymoor.
Players may also opt for the Digital Collectors Edition. The Collector's edition upgrade adds in some exclusive items such as a Pet, Memento, Mount, Outfit, and Emote Pack. It comes in both a standard pack that comes with the base game and all previous chapters and a stand-alone upgrade pack.
For die-hard fans, there will also be a limited Physical Collector Edition. It includes all of the goodies in the Digital Collectors Edition upgrade, as well as some physical loot to show off one's love for the MMO. The Physical Collector Edition comes with a Vampire Lord Statue, a Set of Four Collector's Coins (one for each chapter of ESO), a Steel book, a map of Western Skyrim, and a month of ESO Plus.
Those who preorder the game will also get extra bonuses no matter what version they buy.
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