UESPWiki:News/ESO Markarth Preview

Elder Scrolls Online: Markarth and Update 28 Details Revealed — September 20, 2020

The Elder Scrolls Online team held a stream to discuss Elder Scrolls Online: Markarth, and with it the conclusion to the Dark Heart of Skyrim storyline. As suspected, Markarth and The Reach will serve as the primary setting for the expansion, alongside another previously unexplored segment of Blackreach. The DLC will feature you forming a tenuous alliance with the Reachmen clans of the area, such as those led by the Despot of Markarth, against the Gray Host and the plans of Rada al-Saran. The developers also teased that a major secret about Verandis Ravenwatch would be revealed.

Another major feature of the DLC was the new Arena, Vateshran Hollows. The Arena will feature three areas:

• The Wounding - Molag Bal
• Hunter's Grotto - Hircine
• Brimstone Den - Mehrunes Dagon

Unlike previous arenas, you will be traveling through an area with sections restricted by gatekeepers you must destroy, instead of waiting for enemies to spawn. You can enter the areas in any order you desire, and once you clear all three you will unlock the currently unannounced final boss.

The DLC will also feature seventeen new item sets, with that total including the new Arena sets. There will also be twenty new Antiquities, as well as two new Mythic Items. Alongside this, a new Item Set Collection feature was revealed, allowing players to save and recreate collected item sets.

New and upcoming events were also discussed. Of particular note is the upcoming Lost Treasures of Skyrim event, focusing on the Antiquity system, and features community-wide awards for participation. A promotion called Tamriel Together was also announced, although it has only been mentioned that it will involve a sweepstakes, a guild contest, and more unannounced features. The schedule for the remaining events for the year includes:

• Lost Treasures of Skyrim (September 23-October 5)
• Witches Festival (October 22-November 3)
• Undaunted Celebration (November 25-December 12)
• New Life Festival (December 21-January 2, 2021)

The expansion will be available on November 2nd for the PC, Mac, and Stadia platforms. Console players will be able to finish the Dark Heart of Skyrim on November 10th. The DLC will be immediately available to any ESO Plus subscribers, or will be available for purchase through the Crown Store. The DLC can be experienced early on the PTS on September 21st.

The official announcement can be seen here. A large post detailing the combat changes in Update 28 can be read on the official forums. Additionally, the Lost Treasures of Skyrim announcement can be seen here.