Elder Scrolls Online is offering a limited-time free trial of its ESO Plus membership starting today. The free trial will grant players access to a variety of in-game perks and many of the game’s DLC including Stonethorn, the latest chapter of the game’s long-running "Dark Heart of Skyrim" narrative. ESO Plus is a paid benefits program for Elder Scrolls Online, an MMORPG set in the world of Tamriel - the same world where Bethesda’s mainline games like Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are set. Despite sharing the same world, the online multiplayer offshoot is a very different experience than its single-player counterparts.
While fans wait for the much-anticipated Elder Scrolls VI, Elder Scrolls Online has continued to release new content for the franchise. This year was kicked off by the Harrowstorm DLC, an update which brought with it its own unique rewards and is also included in the ESO Plus free trial. Harrowstorm was only the first of several DLC to be introduced this year, all of which contain distinct items, quests, and individual stories that weave into the game’s larger narrative.
The Elder Scrolls Online team posted the news earlier today that the ESO Plus membership would be free until Monday. The post makes it clear that the limited-time offer comes with no strings attached and those who sign up for the additional service’s trial will not be asked to provide credit card information. The free trial will offer players a chance to experience DLC like Dark Brotherhood, Harrowstorm, and Stonethorn. Players in the trial will also get the red-carpet treatment by receiving a bag with unlimited storage for crafting materials and the ability to dye costumes. Additionally, ESO Plus membership will boost finding gold and getting experience points by 10 percent. However, players jumping in for this week’s free trial will not receive free crowns like paid members. The offer will last from today until October 19, which gives players a short amount of time to experience everything in the trial.
The timing for this free trial might coincide with several things that ESO has coming in the near future. Bethesda recently announced the online game would be getting a Markarth expansion in November. Markarth was a notable city in Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim with a long history that sat on top of a maze of ancient ruins, which might be in a very different state in ESO. There is even more to be excited about, as ESO is coming to next-generation consoles, even if there is some question about how future releases from ZeniMax will be handled on PlayStation after Microsoft acquired the studio.
Though the offer only stands until Monday, it seems like a good deal for fans of the Elder Scrolls Online and Bethesda. Players get an all-access pass to the game’s DLC and a short character boost. Bethesda, on the other hand, will probably net a few more paid members for the service after players get a taste of it. This might also be a good time for players that have been meaning to check out the MMORPG, especially with what the game has on the horizon.
Elder Scrolls Online is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Source: Elder Scrolls Online