The Elder Scrolls Online team has outlined plans for Season 1, which brings back the Thieves Guild for the first time in 11 years alongside a new quest system and dungeon.
Game director Nick Giacomini and associate design director Jason Barnes spoke at Summer Game Fest 2026 about the move from chapters to seasons. The previous model required 18 to 24 months of full-team effort, limiting work on core systems.
Season 1 focuses on the Thieves Guild with new quests and story beats that continue from the 2015 content. A new Rumors system lets players discover quest leads through world exploration rather than direct NPC instructions, leading to multiple endings.
The update also adds the Sage’s Vault, described as a puzzle dungeon with interconnected challenge rooms. Completing it rewards a griffin mount.
Giacomini emphasized the importance of player trust. He said trust is not earned with one act and can be easily lost, noting the seasonal model allows the team to address player feedback more flexibly.