Greater than a decade after launch, The Elder Scrolls Online will lastly get cross-play, as developer ZeniMax Online Studios has confirmed it is actively engaged on the function. Nonetheless, it would nonetheless “be some time” till the function is prepared.
While cross-play has lengthy been one thing ZeniMax Online has mentioned it needs to do and has explored choices for, that is the primary time the developer has confirmed it is truly taking place, although there’s not but a transparent thought of when, precisely, the function will arrive.
“Cross-play is unquestionably coming, however it should be some time,” ESO government Susan Kath mentioned as a part of a digital Q&A attended by GameSpot forward of the sport’s 2026 preview livestream. “Simply to set the stage on that. We’re engaged on it. It is a fancy drawback for a sport like ESO–it was not ever constructed with this in thoughts. There are a variety of issues we have now to make.”
Although it would nonetheless be a little bit of a wait, Kath mentioned gamers might doubtlessly see some exams associated to the function by the tip of the 12 months.
The information got here as a part of current livestream previewing the 12 months forward for the almost 12-year-old MMORPG, which is shifting to a seasonal content material launch mannequin in 2026 in distinction to the yearly chapter (enlargement) releases which have outlined the sport for many of its life.
Presently, ESO gamers can solely play with different gamers on their respective platforms, with separate servers for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation gamers. ZeniMax Online has beforehand outlined the technical issues which have prevented cross-play up up to now, together with points stemming from the sport being constructed with out cross-play in thoughts, considerations surrounding every server’s separate economies, issues round efficiency, and the truth that PC gamers can play with game-modifying add-ons that console gamers cannot.
Cross-play was simply one of many large bulletins ZeniMax Online shared for its long-running MMO, because it additionally detailed what else gamers can count on within the months and 12 months to return.
After a transitional 2025 that additionally noticed the ZeniMax Online staff hit by Microsoft layoffs and its unannounced MMO mission Blackbird canceled, 2026 is the 12 months ESO is going-all-in on seasons, full with the introduction of a battle move system referred to as Tamriel Tomes. The 12 months can even see the introduction of a number of class reworks, new experimental zones and actions, the introduction of solo dungeons, and the addition of beforehand paid DLC content material just like the Darkish Brotherhood and Thieves Guild into the bottom sport without cost.