The developers from Bethesda have shared a new blog posts to outline the contents of the upcoming free base-game ESO Update 44. It includes changes to Battlegrounds, new Companions, QoL enhancements, and more. The Update arrives October 28 for PC/Mac and November 13 for Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
The contents of the update are free for all existing ESO players, except for the new Companions. They can be unlocked for free with ESO Plus membership or purchased from the Crown Store. Don’t miss out on all the in-game goodies available in ESO through the month of September.
In Update 44, Battlegrounds is shifting to two-sided matches, instead of the traditional three-sided. This new two-sided format also includes seven brand-new maps to battle your fellow players within. The traditional 4v4v4 game mode will no longer be available for queues, however, it may return in the future events.
At launch, there will be two main Battlegrounds match types:
- 4v4—a competitive mode between two teams of four;
- 8v8—a standard mode featuring powerups and two teams of eight;
When it comes to the new Companions, there are two characters to look forward to: Tanlorin and Zerith-var. Tanlorin is a scrappy High Elf who mixes Soul Magic with Dragonknight abilities, while the stoic Khajiit Zerith-var utilizes the power of Necromancy.
Both of them have their own introductory quests, and each provide a special passive perk when adventuring alongside them:
- Tanlorin grants “Tanlorin’s Finesse,” which provides an increase to the time it takes to pick a lock, an increased chance to force a lock, and a reduced chance to break a lockpick.
- Zerith-var grants “Zerith’s Guidance,” which highlights valuable bags of loot found throughout Tamriel.
Other Update 44 Additions Include:
- First brand-new Grimoire since Update 42: Banner Bearer. Banner Bearer is from the Support Skill Line and allows you to throw a banner on your back, leading the charge with an AoE buff to your group’s abilities that match your chosen Focus.
- Greater support for nine Grimoires by granting them access to 14 additional Focus Scripts, providing more damage options and utility.
- Update to the in-game Tutorial. Update 44 reinstates the first chapter of ESO’s main questline “Soul Shriven in Coldharbour” as the game’s primary tutorial.
- Imperial City Itemization Improvements.
- A brand-new activity and rewards system coming with Update 44, Golden Pursuits are dynamic, one-off campaigns (accessed from the Group & Activity Finder) that allow you to earn additional rewards during special limited-time windows.
- New Skill Styles.
