The Elder Scrolls Online has revealed the gameplay for its new system, "Rumors": the first batch will include 15 puzzles, requiring players to find and connect clues throughout the world without objective markers on the interface. This system is part of the final batch of free content for the game's first season.
This design draws inspiration from the exploration style of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Released in 2002, Morrowind required players to navigate more independently; by The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion in 2006, markers pointing to objectives had become a common guidance method in the series. "Rumors" aims to encourage players to pay attention again to the environment and details along the way.
Jason Barnes, Associate Design Director for The Elder Scrolls Online, described "Rumors" as a narrative treasure hunt: players gather information from various places and then judge how it connects. Clues may be hidden in corners easily overlooked during normal travel, and discovering one clue requires using it to find other information.
The first batch of 15 "Rumors" is divided into three difficulty levels: "Whispers," "Schemes," and "Conspiracies." Barnes stated that the basic level can be solved with careful observation; as the difficulty increases, players will need to discern more information that may mislead them. The highest difficulty includes multiple stages and requires time to sort through clues.
These clues do not need to be collected in a fixed order, nor do they necessarily form a linear solution path. Barnes said that players might find two pieces of information contradicting each other, requiring further investigation to determine which content is reliable.
Setting Lead Michael Zenke stated that "Rumors" provides a narrative format between readable text and fully voiced quests: some content is worth expanding upon but doesn't need to be made into a full quest line. Barnes also mentioned that the team plans to continue using this system in future content.
According to the announced schedule, "Rumors" will be available to game owners as a free update on September 28. On the same day, a new area with puzzle content called "Vaults of the Unseen" will be added; on September 30, the "High Seas of Tamriel" event will begin, bringing the first naval combat to The Elder Scrolls Online.