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ESO Season One: Return of the Thieves Guild Is Now Live

Bethesda's first numbered Season for The Elder Scrolls Online rolls out free content across platforms through October, on a staggered schedule.

Distilled Jul 11, 2026·1 min read·source confidence91%
The Elder Scrolls® Online

The Elder Scrolls Online's Season One: Return of the Thieves Guild launched July 8 and runs until October 21 across PC/Mac, Xbox, and PlayStation. All gameplay features introduced by the Season are free to existing ESO players with no additional purchases required.

What's live now (as of July 8)

  • Thieves Guild Storyline — a returning faction questline set in Glenumbra
  • Favors system — a new progression mechanic tied to the Season
  • Dynamic Encounters system — a new open-world challenge layer
  • Season One Tamriel Tome — available in both free and paid (premium) tiers
  • Gold Coast Bazaar update — the reward store has been refreshed

Arriving later

  • Sheogorath Storyline — July 29
  • Nowhere Vault — September 21, alongside Update 51
  • Crimson Veldt (12-player trial) — September 21
  • Rumors system and player experience improvements — September 21
  • High Seas of Tamriel in-game event — September 30 through October 14

The Season will also include the return of the Whitestrake's Mayhem PvP event and multiple Golden Pursuits campaigns, with details to follow.

The staggered rollout means the Season's most substantial additions — a new trial, a new system layer, and a player experience overhaul — don't arrive until Update 51 in late September, giving players roughly six weeks before the full content slate is on the table.

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