ZeniMax Online Studios and Bethesda Softworks have released a preview stream for the upcoming High Isle expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online. The new expansion focuses on Tamriel’s dangerous politics, the secrets of Breton society, and the joys of pub card games.
The newest chapter of the long-running MMORPG will take place on a whole new section of the Tamriel map, High Isle and Amenos, which are neutral Breton settlements in the Three Banners War. Like every other expansion for ESO, players can jump right in to High Isle once they make it through the tutorial, so you don’t need to have a great grasp on the original base campaign. Though it may come in handy to remember a bit about the three alliances vying for control of the Ruby Throne.
The events of High Isle start just before a scheduled set of peace talks designed to end the Three Banners War begins, and immediately runs off the rails thanks to the chaos of The Ascendant Order. Players will get to experience the viewpoints of all three alliances, The Ascendant Order, and the peaceful Society of the Steadfast. And, as with most content in The Elder Scrolls Online, the conclusion certainly won’t be as cut-and-dry as you might expect from the start.
The preview stream focused quite a bit on the cast of characters ESO‘s 20-million players will encounter throughout the upcoming expansion, while also giving us glimpses of the storyline and the brand-new zones of High Isle and Amenos that will be explored throughout the season. High Isle is a nice break from the last several expansions as it focuses not on cosmic-level Daedric threats, but a more grounded human story of political intrigue and the effects of a long-lasting war.
Alongside the main story campaign and lengthy side-quest content, High Isle will also come with two new dungeons, a new 12-person trial, two additional companions, and a collectible card game to be played with friends or NPCs in any of the various taverns you might come across. Tales of Tribute is a collectible, resource-building game with both PvP and PvE content, plus its own rank system, and tons of unlockable rewards like new furnishings and transmute stones. Tales of Tribute, much like The Witcher III: Wild Hunt’s Gwent, will also have storyline tie-ins to keep you playing and building your deck.
While High Isle focuses on a peace conference, the expansion starts the Legacy of the Bretons season, so we can expect to learn a lot more about the people of High Rock throughout the expansion cycle.
The Elder Scrolls Online: High Rock will launch on June 6, 2022 for PC, Mac, and Stadia. The Xbox and Playstation versions will follow shortly after on June 21, 2022.
