Over the past few months, ZeniMax has been taunting and teasing us with glimpses of its upcoming MMO The Elder Scrolls Online. The gameplay trailer from E3 showed us the world of Tamriel built within a whole new engine, including sprawling vistas and snatches of combat. Other videos demonstrated gathering and exploration or gave an introduction to the team’s design philosophy.

While these videos have been great at explaining the game, there were always lingering doubts. It might be great, but would it fit in as part of the franchise? Would it continue the legacy left by the previous five games? Would it actually feel Elder Scrolls?

Those doubts were whisked away at Quakecon last weekend, with creative director Paul Sage leading a twenty minute gameplay demonstration. During that time we saw some of the fully voiced quests, first and third-person combat, weapon switching and a short dungeon run.

Within any RPG, there are roleplayers. A special breed, who take their characters beyond mere stats and spells, and into a construct of their own imaginations. They immerse themselves within the history and lore of a game, building a living and evolving culture that’s shared between them in-game. And MMOs, with their vast open spaces, sprawling cities and huge populations, are their playground.

Catering to the roleplayer is a challenge for any MMO. Unlike combat or questing, there are no hard and fast rules about what to include. But roleplaying communities are a helpful bunch, providing a whole barrel full of questions for an Elder Scrolls Online ‘Ask Us Anything.’

As an adventurer, one of the highlights of any Elder Scrolls game is delving into dungeons. Whether it’s a spider-infested cave system or a forgotten tomb ridden with skeletons, we’re there to bring the fight.

Recently, ZeniMax shared a peek inside the dungeons of Elder Scrolls Online. Veteran MMO players will be pleased to know that the trinity of Tank, Healer and DPS are still being used, with the team sharing even more details about what each role will need to do.

This Week Zenimax Online Studios took some time to give MMO veterans and Elder Scrolls fans alike a bit of an inside look at some of the dungeon systems in their highly anticipated MMORPG, The Elder Scrolls Online.

If you’ve been following the E3 press conferences, you may have been caught off-guard by the news that Elder Scrolls Online will be heading to next generation consoles. ZeniMax also shared details on the release window, with the upcoming MMO slated to launch in Spring 2014. To coincide with the announcement, we’ve also been treated to a new gameplay video to feast over.

Last week, ZeniMax’s Paul Sage showed off what exploring and gathering would be like in The Elder Scrolls Online. Just like in the single-player Elder Scrolls games, you can ransack crates, barrels, and other containers in search of various bits and bobs.

Followers of The Elder Scrolls Online have been hungry for new information and today ZeniMax Online served up a fresh dish. In a brand new video, creative director Paul Sage gives an overview of exploring the world of Tamriel to gather materials or discover lore.

In another edition of Ask Us Anything Elder Scrolls Online gets a lot of questions about the games lore and how it intertwines with other Elder Scrolls games. 

For any lore nerds out there it is quite a little treasure trove. For instance what is the lifespan of a member of the elven race who is unnaffected by life prolonging magic? 200 to 300 years, of course.

It goes without saying that slavery is bad. Does that hold true across Tamriel? Why yes, yes it does. Of course barbarians still have slaves but the civilised realms have outlawed slavery and all its forms. The exception being Morrowind, where the Dunmer still keep slaves. Under the Ebonheart Pact they were forced to free their poor Argonian slaves, which means the majority of the Dark Elve's slaves are now Khajiit.

Speaking of Dunmer, some high ranking Dark Elves may be making future appearences in ESO. Particularly Sotha Sil and his pupil Vivec. For those who do not know those two, Sotha Sil is arguably the strongest Dunmer wizard in Elder Scrolls lore and a man with a whole bunch of titles. Vivec is his companion and pupil. During the time ESO is set, the two are taking care of pressing matters that have never really been talked about. Lore nerds rejoice!

Speaking of elves, if anyone misses the Ayleid ruins from Elder Scrolls: Oblivion you should be excited to know that they will be appearing once again in Elder Scrolls Online. The only areas that were not settled by the ancient elves were Skyrim, Morrowind and Summerset.

What do you get when you allow three-factions (complete with siege weapons) to compete over keeps, towers, and castles in a map nine times as large as the other zones? That sounds like the Alliance War in The Elder Scrolls Online, of course! ZeniMax head, Matt Firor is seeking to utilize his Dark Age of Camelot pedigree to bring the most action-packed large-scale combat that the MMO industry has ever seen. The Alliance War pits players of three factions against each other as they scramble to dominate Cyrodiil and wrest control of the Imperial City.

Today Zenimax Online Studios gives The Elder Scrolls Online fans a glimpse at the darkness that seeks to threaten Tamriel and its people.

Prepare to Enter Coldharbour, the Oblivion plane belonging to the the notorious Molag Bal; Daedric Prince of domination and enslaver of mortals.

For those who are unaware, Molag Bal is one of the sixteen Daedric Princes who each rule his own plane of Oblivion. Molag Bal in this case, seems to be the main antagonist of The Elder Scrolls Online upon its initial launch.

You encounter Molag Bal fairly early in game and, as one might expect, this encounter is a deadly one; ending with Molag Bal stealing your soul.

If you intend on getting it back, you best prepare yourself for the monstrosities that lie in wait, as you delve into Coldharbour.