Elder Scrolls Online Adds Subclasses After 11 Years of Fan Demand

The Elder Scrolls Online has finally introduced a highly anticipated feature that fans have been requesting for over a decade—subclasses. This exciting addition allows players to mix and match skill lines without the need to reroll characters, offering more flexibility and customization than ever before. Read on to discover how this new system works and what other updates are coming to the game.

Elder Scrolls Online Direct Updates

Over 3,000 Possible Skill Line Combinations

As part of The Elder Scrolls Online's 10th Anniversary celebration, ZeniMax Online Studios revealed major updates during ESO Direct 2025 on April 10. Among the announcements, the most notable was the introduction of subclassing—a feature long requested by the community.

For years, players had to create new characters from scratch to access newly added skill trees. Now, with subclasses arriving soon, players can combine abilities from multiple classes without starting over.

To unlock subclassing, players must reach level 50. Once achieved, they retain one skill line from their base class and can swap out two additional skill lines from any of the six other available classes. This opens up over 3,000 unique combinations, giving players unprecedented freedom to tailor their playstyle.

ESO Game Director Rich Lambert expressed confidence in the update, stating that the development team conducted extensive testing. While there may be an increase in Power Levels, he confirmed that the current balance is where they want it to be.

Seasons of the Worm Cult

ZeniMax Online Studios is shifting its focus toward seasonal content, allowing for more creative experimentation and faster responses to player feedback. Studio Director Matt Firor explained, “We want to keep telling great stories, but also mix in new ideas and gameplay systems, and that's exactly what we're going to do—but we'll do this in a different cadence.”

The next chapter, Seasons of the Worm Cult, is a decade-in-the-making continuation of the original Molag Bal storyline. This season introduces the Isle of Solstice, where players will investigate the mysterious return of the Worm Cult.

Producer Susan Kath noted that while Seasons of the Worm Cult will span much of the year, future seasons are expected to last between three to six months. The team also plans to revisit past storylines through "remix" seasons, teasing a Dark Brotherhood-themed season ahead.

2025 Content Pass and Premium Edition

On April 11, 2025, The Elder Scrolls Online announced via Twitter (X) the release of the 2025 Content Pass and Premium Edition. These editions grant access to all previous and upcoming releases throughout the year.

All versions include:

• Fallen Banners dungeon pack – Now available
• Seasons of the Worm Cult Part 1 – June 2 for PC/Mac; June 18 for Xbox and PlayStation
• The Writhing Wall in-game event – Q3/Q4 2025
• Feast of Shadows dungeon pack – Q3 2025
• Seasons of the Worm Cult Part 2 – Q4 2025

Each edition also includes exclusive collectibles:

• Skulltooth Coastal Durzog mount
• Golden Eagle pet
• Remnant of Meridia's Light memento

Unique rewards such as a special mount, pet, and memento will become available when Seasons of the Cult Part 1 launches in June.

Early Purchase Rewards

For a limited time, players who purchase early will receive bonus items, including the Mages Guild Recall customized action bar ability—available only until May 7.

Additional time-limited rewards include:

• 10-Year Lion Guard Steed mount
• 10-Year Anniversary Mudcrab pet
• Shell-Tide Beach emote pack

These rewards will be accessible until June 2 for PC and June 18 for Xbox and PlayStation consoles.

Premium Edition Perks

The Premium Edition offers even more value by granting access to all previously released Chapters and Classes:

• All previous ESO Chapters from Morrowind through Gold Road
• All previously released Classes, including Warden, Necromancer, and Arcanist

With its year-long 10th-anniversary celebration, The Elder Scrolls Online continues to expand its deep lore and enhance the player experience. By revisiting iconic storylines and introducing flexible features like subclassing, ESO aims to deliver both nostalgic moments and fresh adventures. The game is currently available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC platforms.