MARCH NEWS SPONSORED BY:

If you too have neglected visiting the Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) for a while, then the impending new chapter, Summerset, may be the enticement needed to dive back into the Elder Scroll's rich world.

The expansion, which arrives on the 5th of June for PC, PS4 and Xbox One, will offer players the opportunity to explore the titular Isle of Summerset. Why is that a big deal? Because the opportunity to explore the home of the High Elves is a foray that was last made possible in The Elder Scrolls: Arena, 24 years ago.

As if that wasn’t enough for anyone who has a thing for Elves, Summerset will also offer a new main story to pursue, a new skill line based on the Psijic Order,  and the introduction of Jewelry Crafting.

The story, in a nutshell, is that Queen Ayrenn has decreed that Summerset Isle is now open to foreigners, but a Daedric threat looms over the breathtaking home of the High Elves. Players will be charged with “unravelling a shadowy conspiracy that threatens all of Tamriel”.

What we are interested to see is how far Summerfall will blur the boundaries between its fiction and the very pertinent ugly nationalism/xenophobic attitude towards foreigners that developed nations are confronting in the world at large. Even if it doesn’t give us another example of art imitating life, there should still be plenty to sink one’s teeth into. For starters, Summerfall itself, according to Bethesda, is set to be larger than even last year’s massive Vvardenfell region from ESO: Morrowind.

Then there is the chance to play around with new, time bending magic by joining the Psijic Order. On the multiplayer front, new group PvE challenges will also be on offer.

The good news is that the new content will cater to newbies and veterans alike. The former will be able to start a character and jump right into ESO: Summerset without having to complete previous ESO content, while the latter will be able to take their existing characters into the new zone. There is no word as yet on standalone pricing, but in the meantime, feast your eyes on the trailers below.