Approaching its 10th anniversary, The Elder Scrolls Online has announced its latest major Chapter, Gold Road. This new expansion offers a fresh zone featuring diverse biomes, quests, dungeons, delves, and world bosses for players to conquer.

Situated in the West Weald zone to the west of Cyrodiil, the Gold Road chapter is set amidst the familiar region of Skingrad, known to players of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. Additionally, players completing both the Necrom chapter and Gold Road can access a series of 'capper quests'. However, Gold Road functions as a standalone story and does not require prior completion of Necrom.

The highlight of this expansion is the long-awaited ability to craft spells using the Scribing system. Although not as open-ended as Oblivion's spell crafting, Scribing allows players to customize skills from weapon and world skill lines with up to three modifiers, with plans for further expansion in the future.

Furthermore, a new Styling mechanic enables players to modify the visual effects of their abilities, offering 22 styles at launch, obtainable through regular gameplay.

Looking ahead, Zenimax has outlined the year's planned content, including:

• In Q1 2024, two new dungeons are set to arrive with Update 41: Oathsworn Pit and Bedlam Veil. A preview stream showcasing Update 41 is scheduled for January 26 on Bethesda's Twitch channel, with the update expected to hit the PTS on January 29 and release on PC and consoles in March.
• Q2 2024 will witness the arrival of Update 42 and the Gold Road chapter with its associated content, including the scribing system and a new trial.
• Q3 2024 is poised to introduce significant updates related to ESO's player houses, with details yet to be disclosed.
• Finally, in Q4 2024, a substantial PVP update is anticipated, distinct from Cyrodiil's PVP. Additionally, the delayed release of two new companions is expected in Q4.