Expanding on existing content seems to be the name of the game this year for MMOs. We’ve already had several expansions come out, and the year isn’t over yet. The biggest ones coming up are Knights of the Fallen Empire for Star Wars: The Old Republic and Heart of Thorns for Guild Wars 2, but those are hardly the only expansion this year.

With all of these upcoming expansions, I can’t help but think about what I look for in an MMORPG expansion. And I came up with these eight things.

1. New zone

It should be obvious to anyone that an expansion in an MMO should have a new zone for people to play in, right? However, there have been some MMOs in the past that believe that a new zone isn’t necessary for an update to be considered an expansion. And I think it’s OK to have a new combat model and call it DLC or something like that, but to call it an expansion sets an expectation that will not be met.

I think the biggest example of this is the Star Wars: The Old Republic expansions. I don’t mean the Rise of the Hutt Cartel expansion, I mean the couple that came after that: The Galactic Starfighter and Galactic Strongholds expansion. These updates were labelled expansions, but they clearly didn’t include a new zone or any new PvE content. Both had major mechanical additions to the game, but it wasn’t a new area.

2. New PvP map

MMOs used to be the type of game that would fulfill multiple gaming desires in one game. Of course, many MMOs have stepped away from some aspects of the game and focused on just a couple of major aspects. Some MMOs have a real hard time catering to all the types of players who are interested in MMOs.

But there aren’t just PvEers, crafters, and raiders in MMOs. PvPers play a major role in shaping an MMO, and many MMOs don’t know how to cater to them at all. RIFT might have its balance issues because it has so many different kinds of classes, but I have to give it props because it’s adding content for PvPers in the next update, Planetouched Wilds. And that’s not even labelled as an expansion, though with all the content that Trion’s releasing with it, I’d call it one.

3. New small group content

In order for a game to be an MMO, it can’t just have single-player content. I’m not saying that MMOs shouldn't have or add content that's meant to be played solo, but if that ends up being the focus or the only content addition in a expansion, it’s not a full MMO expansion.

I hate to bring up Star Wars: The Old Republic again, but its next expansion, Knights of the Fallen Empire, is supposed to have a very large single-player story attached to it. And zero other content. No new group content at all. Although the single-player content is said to be a lot of fun, can you call it an MMO expansion if that’s all you have to deliver?

4. New large group content

Along the same lines as the small group content, every expansion should build on the large group content, too. Most theme park style MMO players would call these raids, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be. It could be large group open-world dungeons or world bosses that require a large group of coordinated players to take down.

Although Final Fantasy XIV suffered from a spectacularly awful launch, it blew everyone’s minds when it relaunched as Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Since then it's had one expansion, and people who cover the game on various news sites believe that Heavensward has just about everything that a player could want. I'm not a player of the game, but even I am impressed by the amount of good endgame content for large groups.

5. Crafting improvements

I really feel sorry for crafters in MMOs sometimes. Many MMOs treat crafting as a secondary form of gameplay. Then there are other games that focus so much on crafting that it kind of kills the rest of the game. Although I think that the base of any good economy in an MMO is the crafting system, there are some games where crafting is too deep, like Life Is Feudal.

Elder Scrolls Online actually does a wonderful job of capturing the balance. I know that some would disagree with that general statement, but as far as crafting and expanding on crafting is concerned, ZeniMax has captured that sweet spot where crafters have a nice additional suite of schematics to choose from.

6. New armor and weapons

I think that it goes without saying that an expansion needs to have additional armor and weapons. But I think that rewards in all areas need to expand. The biggest problem with weapons and armor expansion is power creep. You can’t just add bigger numbers to something and make everything better. There has to be another compelling reason to want the armor. Most of the time, interesting aesthetics alone are enough reason. Or in the case of DC Universe Online, nostalgia is a compelling reason for players to want certain types of armor.

7. Additional story

If there is not a drive forward with the storyline, then what purpose does expansion really have? It seems odd, but even a game like Guns of Icarus, which is barely an MMO, contains a story in its upcoming PvE expansion. As it should - it will help the playerbase wrap its collective head around why there needs to be an expansion in the game in the first place.

8. A change in meta

Lastly, there should be a change in the meta of the game. There needs to be new abilities or maybe stat changes that will alter the way, even if it’s slight, players play each class. Some games in the past have added brand new classes - the addition of the gunner class in Tera helped it climb straight to the top of the Steam charts. Even RIFT is adding a new class to its expansion content.

Those are my top eight. There clearly could be more things that every expansion needs, what are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments.

The Infernal City: An Elder Scrolls Novel

Rating: 4/5 (10 Customer Reviews)

Price: $12.99

Buy It: Chapters/Indigo

Greg Keyes wrote a novel set in the wondrous land of Tamriel that all Bethesda gamers know and love. Perfect for people that want to really enthrall themselves with the gaming world, the events of this book occur roughly 40 years after the end of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Further reading is always a thrilling experience to a curious fan, especially in the world of The Elder Scrolls due to the immensity of its lore.

This would be a great gift for any hardcore Elder Scrolls fans, as well as fans of fantasy novels in general. 

Fallout Beer (UK Only)

Rating: No Ratings Yet

Price: £29.99

Buy It: Amazon UK

Yes, you read the title of this slide correctly. Bethesda has teamed up with Carlsberg UK to make a unique hype item for their upcoming Fallout 4. You read the parenthesis bit correctly as well. It's only available in the United Kingdom. The beer can be found on Amazon UK, but it cannot be shipped overseas, unfortunately for us North Americans. 

Nevertheless, what are the holidays without a little liquid courage? A twelve pack of Fallout Beer can be purchased for £29.99 and enjoyed both in-game and in real life. 

P.S. If you find a way to purchase Fallout Beer in the Americas, let me know in the comment section!

Fallout Anthology (PC Only)

Rating: 5/5 (13 Customer Reviews)

Price: $69.99

Buy It: Amazon

A great game idea for nostalgic fans is the Fallout Anthology. For a single price of $69.99 your loved one can replay all of their long lost memories right back to the original Fallout title. This collection includes:

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• Fallout
  
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• Fallout 2
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• Fallout Tactics
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• Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition
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• Fallout New Vegas Ultimate Edition
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Unfortunately, the Fallout Anthology is only available for PC because the original games were only PC compatible. If you're buying for a PC player, this could be a great gift. Five games all housed within a collectible MiniNuke casing, it doesn't get better.

Just make sure you wrap this guy in a box. It may look strangely like a football if you don't.

The Elder Scrolls Online Ouroboros Faction Hoodie

Rating: No Rating Yet

Price: $19.99

Buy It: The Bethesda Store

In the hundreds of pages of wearable merchandise on the Bethesda Store, it's hard to find something that hits home with a lot of gamers. Sure, you can have the logo of a game on your shirt but does that really mean anything? With these hoodies, you can change all of that by allowing your loved one to express their faction pride. All you need to do is figure out which faction they fight for.

In The Elder Scrolls: Online players choose between three factions: The Aldmeri Dominion, The Ebonheart Pact, and The Daggerfall Covenant (as seen above). A hoodie for each faction is available on The Bethesda Store, sporting significant symbols and styles.

Fallout Collectors Edition Monopoly Board Game

Rating: No Ratings Yet

Price: $40.00

Buy It: The Bethesda Store

Nothing gets famous without a Monopoly game being made for it. Bethesda's Fallout series is no exception. 

Fallout Monopoly features iconic locations from all four series titles, shacks and vaults rather than houses and hotels, and six collectible player tokens: Vault Boy, 10mm Pistol, Power Armor Helmet, Nuka-Cola Bottle, Vault 111, and a MiniNuke.

At a surprisingly low price for a collectible Monopoly game, this might just be the gift you need to get your gamer to play with someone other than Dogmeat. 

Fallout 4: Pip-Boy Edition

Rating: No Reviews Yet (Game hasn't been released)

Price: From $327.00

Buy It: Amazon 

Being a huge Fallout fan myself, if I got this collectors edition of the game as a gift from, say, my significant other, I'd be proposing. Oh yes, it's marriage-proposal-material due its extreme collectible nature. This item is sold-out on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca only offers it through third party sellers. At this point it is nearly impossible to get hands on one of these beauties. Of course, the standard Fallout 4 video game makes a great gift as well!

The Pip-Boy Edition contains a stylized Vault-Tec Perk poster, Power Armor collectible packaging, and the big cheese: an exclusive, wearable and operable Pip-Boy armband replica. The Pip-Boy accommodates most smart phones with custom foam inserts so dedicated fans can put on the armband, connect to the Pip-Boy companion app, and adjust their in-game inventory, perks, and more, right from their hand. 

The Elder Scrolls Custom Jewelry

Rating: No Ratings Yet

Price: $75.00

Buy It: The Bethesda Store

These stunning amulets were handcrafted so no two are the same. The hardest part about this gift is finding out which of the gods is your loved one's favorite. Is it Akatosh, Arkay, Kynareth, Talos, or Mara? If so, you're in luck. Pop over to the Bethesda Store and grab yours! 

RockLove has outdone themselves in the creation of this beautiful jewelry. The Amulet of Talos (as seen above) for example, is hand antiqued and distressed solid brass with a genuine leather cord. Just think, the Amulet of Talos seems to be the simplest necklace. Others feature extreme detail and shiny gemstones. 

Funko Pop! Vinyl Figurines

Rating: 5/5 (2 Customer Reviews)

Price: $11.99

Buy it: Amazon

Funko is seriously taking the world by storm with their ever growing line-up of Pop! Vinyl collectibles. You can get a Pop! of practically anything pop-culture. From The Hunger Games to Sharknado, one of these vinyl figures can be found for anyone on your list, but you're looking for that Bethesda inclined person in particular. 

With the upcoming release of Fallout 4, Pop! Games has added a new line of Fallout 4 show pieces to the ever flourishing Bethesda collection.

You can now buy Vault Boy, Brotherhood of Steel, and Super Mutant Pop!s for Fallout fans; or Nord, Dovahkiin, and Daedrick Warrior Funkos for Elder Scrolls fans. Keep in mind that these few examples barely scratch the surface that is Funko Pop! collectibles.

Are you sick of hearing about Fallout 4 from your friend/relative/significant other? What about The Elder Scrolls Online? Do they still sink hundreds of hours every month into questing through Tamriel? You may be dealing with a Bethesda Softworks enthusiast. 

The Bethesda Store can be pretty overwhelming, but offers the greatest possible gifts someone like you could be looking for. You just need to know where to find all of the best goodies. Also, keep in mind that although Bethesda itself sells some pretty cool things, it isn't the only source of great gifts.

Everything you need to know about buying Bethesda gear for your loved ones is here. This gift guide has got you covered.

When Star Wars: The Old Republic released, many people -- especially long-time MMORPGers -- complained that the game was far too much like a single-player game. Many of these same people were those who had played World of Warcraft for nearly ten years. At the same time, many other MMOs had embraced the single-player nature of the leveling process. But even though it was overshadowed by the amazing single-player-like leveling process in vanilla SWTOR, the multiplayer aspects of the game were plentiful if difficult to find sometimes.

Since the launch of SWTOR, other MMORPGs have also embraced the single-player content of the genre. The Secret World probably embraced it the most successfully. The stories in TSW have been touted as some of the best in the MMO industry. The intricate puzzles and amazing voice acting allowed that game to overcome a combat system that many people have complained about.

I am an MMO player almost exclusively. I love me a good story-driven single-player game like Batman: Arkham Knight, but I live in an online world. I’m also a huge proponent of the multiplayer aspects of MMORPGs, but many of the things players do solo in an MMO actually help a game feel more dynamic and alive. That is why today I’m making a case for single-player aspects of MMORPGs. Here are three important aspects of recent MMOs that are also soloable.

1. Heroic story

Since the launch of SWTOR, MMOs have begun to advertise that they have an epic story. To be honest, most who advertize that really do not have an epic story, and SWTOR is hardly the first MMO to make your character the hero of the story and really make your actions feel important. I recall friends who jumped into the original Guild Wars explaining that this is the way that MMOs should feel. And although it was a little bit more ambiguous than SWTOR, it was clear that your character played a major part in the story of GW and its subsequent expansions.

GW wasn’t the only one. Old-school MMO players remember Age of Conan and its beginning zone, Tortage. You were the one hero of Hyboria and so were the thousands of other people who played the game.

It seems counterintuitive to make the player the single hero in a game that was designed to house thousands of players at once. AoC was criticized by the MMO community at the time, but ultimately the single-player, a heroic story gives the player a sense of ownership. Of course, there are other ways to grant ownership to players other than a heroic story, but it is a viable way to present the game’s lore at the same time.

2. Crafting

I know not everyone crafts in the combat simulators that we call MMORPGs, but I believe that a good crafting system and economy are the cornerstones of any MMORPG. The whole crafting "game" can be done by yourself, and although other people are involved, many crafters really only treat them like glorified NPCs.

Of course, people will argue that crafting in MMOs are usually a multiplayer construct, requiring many people to work together in order to make the system even function, let alone be effective. And I agree. However, crafting can be and usually is a solo endeavor. I had a reader, who is now a part of my guild, introduce himself as someone who just plays the auction house. His game consists of amassing large sums of credits and items just so that he can say that he has them. In fact, he doesn’t really even play any other aspect of the game. For him crafting and economy is the game, and for the longest time he never really spoke to another player. To me, that’s solo gameplay.

3. Solo dungeons

Two MMOs recently launched an aspect that seems to be gaining new steam. It’s not exclusive two these two games -- the original Guild Wars had a version of solo dungeons -- but it appears to be making a positive impact on these respective games. Elder Scrolls Online includes an instance in the Orsinium DLC called the Maelstrom Arena, and SWTOR now has solo Flashpoints in its expansion Knights of the Fallen Empire.

The solo flashpoints for SWTOR are simply flashpoints that the player can run through for the purpose of story. There are good rewards for doing them. They are repeatable, but the main purpose is to simply see the content. It seems like it shouldn’t work. But the community is eating it up, and more people are seeing content they’ve never experienced before.

The Maelstrom Arena is a challenge arena for the solo player. It pits the player against wave after wave of enemies, each level a greater challenge. However, it’s more than just a dungeon for players to experience the content. There are leaderboards for those who like to pit themselves against other players. Not many MMOs do something that caters to the Bartle’s Killer type that isn’t some sort of direct PvP system. Kudos to Elder Scrolls Online.

I am not usually a solo player in MMOs, but the more I see these additions being added, the more I think they are important to the overall MMO experience. If you disagree, I’d like to read your thought-filled comments below. If you agree, I’d like to read your thoughts on the subject, too. If there are other big solo aspects of MMOs that I missed, tell me what they are and maybe they will make a future article.

We're on deal 8 for Sony's 12 deals of Christmas! So far Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Mad Max, Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, WWE 2K16, Pro Evolution Soccer 2016, Need for Speed, and Assassin's Creed Syndicate have been on sale with some great discounts.

Today, The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited is on sale for over 50% off! If you're in the UK, that's 24.99 euros in comparison to the original 69.99.

As is custom with the sale, this deal will only last two days: the game's discount will end on December 16 at 11:59 GMT.

Don't forget that Sony's 12 Deals of Christmas includes a variety of games for under 15 euros. The games range from Assassin's Creed to Ultra Street Fighter IV, and the deals last until December 24. So be sure to check those out as well. The full list of games on sale can be found on PlayStation's official blog.

If you don't have your PS4, PS3, or PS Vita readily available, you can purchase any of these games through the PlayStation store.

Are you interested in buying The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited? What about the games for under 15 euros? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

There are few things that irk players more than not knowing what might happen next in MMO games, and ZeniMax seems fairly aware of that. To that end, they released a calendar (of sorts) for The Elder Scrolls Online, detailing what kind of updates you can expect to see in the game in 2016. 

Social updates inbound

Among the changes coming to the game are improvements to how you can interact with other players. The Looking For Group system will be overhauled with the release of the Thieves Guild update (in other words, within the next 3 months). This should fix "some longstanding problems" to let players form groups more efficiently, and make it easier to manage guilds. On top of that, console players can finally use text chat, although voice chat is still intended to be the primary form of communication. 

Character leveling

With the Dark Brotherhood update (within 6 months), you can expect to see slight changes to how your character levels up after level 50. ZeniMax reiterated their intentions to replace veteran ranks with the Champion system, which lets you collect Champion Points (up to 501, with plans to raise the cap in the future) as you get XP.

Quality of Life changes

Scrolling combat text, character nameplates, and options for console players to display their character names (rather than their PSN ID/Xbox Live gamertags) are in the works, though there is no specified release window for such additions. Furthermore, ZeniMax is planning to let you change how your character looks and their name, as well as player housing, though it is stated that these are "longer term plans".

PvP and spellcrafting

PvP will remain relatively untouched, as it was decided that adding in a PvP component into the Justice System has the potential to "introduce imbalances and other issues that greatly outweigh any potential gameplay benefits". In other words, you won't be able to run around the world screaming "Stop right there, criminal scum!" while actually enforcing the law, because ZeniMax wants to keep "PvP in PvP areas".

Unfortunately, spellcrafting will not come to the game in 2016, but it is stated that "we really like the design and what it contributes to the game, though, so we will do what we can in the future to make it happen and do it right".

Real Life

Expect to see developers and community team members from The Elder Scrolls Online at events like PAX East, PAX Prime, and Gamescom. While no specific schedule has been outlined, ZeniMax stated that they will keep you informed on the details to such events.

One of the best parts of Skyrim was joining the Thieves' Guild and following through with its quest line. Now it seems you can do something similar on Elder Scrolls Online, with some brand new DLC set to release on March. 

The Thieves' Guild expansion offers a new passive skill line, new justice gameplay, and more story content -- along with other features available for free-to-players who have an active ESO Plus membership. For others, it will cost 2000 crowns and can be bought from the ESO crown store.

The DLC promises to update the base game with a lot of quality-of-life changes, including but not limited to: combat and gameplay balance improvements, a new client for PC and Mac users, improved facial animations (Mac) and more. This will be available free of charge to anyone who owns the base game. 

The Thieves' Guild expansion itself offers new story quests, a new 12 player trials (ESO's version of raids), new gear, new world bosses, and more. 

PC and Mac users can experience the Thieves' Guild on the Public Test Server (PTS), which will be available next week. The DLC itself will be released on the March 7 for the PC and Mac, March 22 for the Xbox One, and March 23 for the PlayStation 4. 

Elder Scrolls Online received a bad reputation in the past. But the game has, admittedly, come a long way from what it was back then. Perhaps this DLC will entice more new players, while revitalizing the game for veterans as well.

While we may not be able to serve directly under Nocturnal again (maybe?), a chance to get more insight to the story behind one of the most iconic aspects of Skyrim certainly is welcome. 

Starcraft's Kerrigan Ploystone Statue

We close out the list with another Blizzard-themed statue, this one of the lovely Kerrigan. At 25 inches tall, this would normally cost $380, but since it's sold out on the Sideshow website, the only place to find it is Amazon for $850. 

Blizzard's merchandise is always high quality, but this is on another level. Kerrigan has never looked so good. This reminds me of the Diablo statue from my last list, but for some reason I prefer this collectible.

Either way, both pieces would be awesome to own, just not for $850.

World of Warcraft's Grommash Hellscream Statue

This one is pretty awesome. The details in the face make it seem like he's literally about to rip someone's head off (though I guess he might have already done that). 

It costs $350 and can be purchased at the Blizzard store.

We're not quite done with Blizzard yet. Go to the next slide and check out the last statue!

Bioshock's Big Daddy Rosie - Exclusive Edition Statue

This is a brand new statue and comes in two editions. The special edition comes with LED lights in the head that change different colors. Any guesses for how much it might cost? If you guessed $650, you'd be right.

Honestly, I'm not the biggest Bioshock fan, but my favorite parts always included the Big Daddy's. Seeing them in statue form is just as satisfying, and the Little Sister hiding behind him only adds to the atmosphere of the piece.

Gaming Heads has this statue available for preorder right now and are expected to be shipped sometime near the end of the year.

Arkham Knight's Harley Quinn Polystone Statue

This is my personal favorite on the entire list. If I had to pick one statue to own, it'd be this one. The downside is that the statue costs $930. Yea, you read that right, $930. That is one of the most outrageous prices I've seen so far, but the quality is top notch so I can't argue for a cheaper price.

This collectible is special in that it comes with some extra pieces. Different faces and arms are included, allowing you to create a more interesting pose. I'm not usually a fan of add-on pieces, but I think I could get past that with this one.

You can preorder this statue on Sideshow Collectibles.                                                                                                                                 

The Old Republic's Darth Malgus Statue

I love Star Wars, so when I saw a Darth Malgus statue with a glowing lightsaber I knew I had to have it. But I don't, so I'll settle for including it on my list. 

This thing is huge, standing 20 inches tall. The cape is adjustable, so you can take it off his head if you want to see his face better, but I like the hood. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find this statue anywhere, as it is currently unavailable. It's a beautiful piece, though.

Elder Scrolls Nightingale Statue

The Elder Scrolls actually has quite a few different statues to choose from. A Nord, High Elf, and Daedric Armor are a few of them, but the best of the bunch is the Nightingale collectible.

The Nightingale statue is 16 inches tall and will run you $300. I felt that it was the most detailed and interesting looking of the bunch, so I had to go with it. The detail in the chest piece is was what really pulled me in though. What do you guys think? Do you think one of the other statues is better?

You can preorder this guy on the Gaming Heads website or Bethesda's and can expect it to ship around April.

Resident Evil Axeman Statue

This statue was pointed out to me by readers of my last list' and as soon as I saw it I knew I had to include it. Created by Hollywood Collectibles Group, this piece is no longer available on their store. You can get it from Amazon, however...for $795. It stands 15 inches tall and is hand painted in intricate detail.

I like this one because the attention to the little details make a big difference. The blood and rust on his axe give the piece a bit of personality, and the blood on the sack covering his face is extremely well done. 

Dragon Age's Morrigan Statue

This is a beautiful piece. The details in the corset alone are breathtaking. Standing at about 20 inches tall, this collectible costs $330, although there is an exclusive edition for $360. The special edition comes with flames on Morrigan's right arm that light up. Personally, I don't like the way that one looks and prefer the standard edition (plus it's cheaper). 

You can preorder the Morrigan statue from Gaming Heads and can expect it in June. 

Bloodborne's Hunter Puddle of Blood Statue

This piece is 16 inches tall and will run you $315. The Bloodborne statue is pretty cool, though I wish the pose was a little more dynamic instead of him just kind of standing there. That said, the detail is gorgeous and if you look closely you can see blood on his legs. That 'blood' drips down and runs into the cracks in the brick below. The attention to that small little detail would make this a great piece to own. 

While not on sale yet, you can put a deposit on it at the PlayStation Store. Sony is aiming for a late-March release.

League of Legends Ziggs Statue

We start with one that isn't too bad price wise; as this one comes in at $150. It is 13 inches tall, and is really quite impressive. Riot also had a Twisted Fate statue, so I had to really debate which one I wanted to include on the list. Ziggs ended up with the win since his statue is just a bit more exciting overall.

I will say that his smile creeps me out a little. Imagine this guy staring at you in the middle of the night. You can grab this piece at the Riot store.

When last we met, we took a look at some pretty amazing statues. God of War, Zelda, Mass Effect; all of those statues were quite impressive, but there are way more where those came from. 

For that reason, I found myself once again looking at various collectibles, and want to share another 10 awesome gaming-themed statues. Oh, and like last time, these will most likely be way too expensive for anyone to buy, though I'd still like to get my hands on at least one of them.

Word on the street is you're looking for work. We've heard about you, yeah -- you got guts. Got spine. Got a good head on your shoulders and you ain't afraid to get your hands dirty. Good. We've been searching for types like you.

I represent a certain collection of persons, an Alliance of Pragmatic Individuals...though most people, if they've heard of us at all, call us the Thieves Guild. Now, entrance ain't free -- unless you're one of those Elder Scrolls Online Plus members, it'll cost you about 2000 Crowns -- but you pay up and we'll take care of you. Just stick with us and you're gonna go far, kid.

Psst...over here

Mostly we operate out of Hew's Bane, a place about as friendly as a back-alley mug. If you're not sure how to get there, don't worry about it -- we set up your first contact, woman by the name of Quen. You want to start working with us, go find her in any of the Outlaw Refuges you can stumble into.

How is she in so many places at once? We don't ask, she don't tell. Look there and you'll find her, that's all we can say. You go through the initiation quest, "Partners in Crime", and you'll be in Abah's Landing faster than you can say "Open Says-a-me". Look around and you'll find us (or more likely, we'll find you). If you're a little green around the ears, don't worry -- we'll get you up to speed (and battle level) as soon as you show up.

The land of opportunity

Once you're in, you'll have some standard access to jobs we can give everyone -- look on the Tip Board and Reacquisition Board at the Den to find things that need doing. Once you've worked with us a little and played "The Long Game", you'll have met Fa'ren-dar, our resident furball and Master of Heists, and you can start going on Heists as well. Do us the favors you find here, and we'll reward you with some gold, experience, and most importantly Reputation with the Guild. 

Tips

Tips are small-ball jobs that can take you all over Tamriel. Pick a pocket here, unlock a safebox there. Occasionally gather together some items for consignments. Nothing too hard, nothing too dangerous. Usually. You can only follow up on one Tip at a time, but we'll let you take as many a day as you want. If you're looking to score a little harder on the job, there's always bonus items to steal. 

Just talk to Kari, the Nord in the center of the den, to finish up a completed Tip. On top of the normal rewards, she's sometimes generous and will hand out a Bounty Edict that can reduce or eliminate any Bounty and heat you've managed to acquire, or boxes of valuable goods that are fine to sell -- though a local "Covetous Countess" might also be interested.

"It's in there somewhere." 

Reacquisitions

Reacquisitions, on the other hand, are a little more local -- and a lot dicier. See, sometimes very specific items fall out of our hands just as easily and accidentally as they fell into them, and we need you to go get them for us. Usually, they're somewhere hiding in the overland, but every once in awhile there's a little Delving into Bahraha's Gloom or the Shark's Teeth Grotto. 

Nothing too dangerous in either of those -- just a buried alive sect of ancient necromancers in the Gloom, and a resident (totally unaffiliated) gang of bandits called the Shark Teeth Gang in the Grotto. I'd handle it myself, but I'm more of a business man than a fighter.

These are a little more delicate jobs, and we want you to take your time, so we only hand out one Reacquisition a day to any Guild member. Once you're done, go talk to the Breton Spencer Rye to get your pay, then take a load off. There'll be more things that need reacquisiting tomorrow. 

Heists

Heists, well, you'll have to talk to Fa'ren-dar for the specifics, but what I know is this: you (or yourself and some friends) get dropped into a job site. Different every time. Different enemies, different layouts, different treasure locations. Your team has to sneak, lockpick, and generally Thief about the best you can, grab the treasure, and get out.

You do it quick enough, we'll even throw in a bonus from our unique Thieves Guild item sets, and you get a much bigger boost to your Reputation with us. Try to keep it quick and clean, if you can, since you can only run one Heist a day. Now, if your friend has his own Heist to run, and you want to tag along and quest share, that's a different story... 

Be careful, though -- we're hiring professionals, not bandits or strongarms. Every time you get spotted or caught, your timeframe shrinks, and the bonus gets harder to get. We'll always pay as long as you bring us the goods, sure... but more is always better, no? 

"Look, I get that we're a team -- but were uniforms really necessary?"

Tools of the Trade (Skill Tree)

Now now, don't look at me all confused like -- we know you were only dabbling in the Thievery game before this. To try and help you out, we've opened up a whole new Skill Tree specific to our guild, and given you six new ways to up your pickpocket game for as long as you're a member.

You'll never forget what you learned if you stop being a Plus member, of course, but advancement in these techniques requires current membership in the Guild, whether its from Plus or Crowns. I'll tell you all about them below, and I'll try to keep it simple. 

• Finder's Keepers - There are Thieves' Troves all over Tamriel, you'll know when you've found one by the distinct blue glow. You find it, you keep it -- as long as you have this passive Skill. 

• Swiftly Forgotten - We're professionals, and we know how to disappear in a hurry. This Skill will decrease your Bounty and heat after only three seconds, after which you're just another face in the crowd.

• Haggling - Like I said, we're business people, and we'll teach you how to business too -- netting up to 10% more when you're selling acquired merchandise to a fence. Remember this is for sales only, though. Laundering is a whole different story. 

• Clemency - No one knows how to say sorry like a member of the Guild -- and once a day, you can say it so well that a Guard hot on your trail might actually believe you, letting you walk with all your gold and goods intact. You even get about a minute of free reign to extract yourself...as long as you don't go for another less than legal opportunity, anyway. 

• Timely Escape - We take care of our own, when we can. Any time you have Heat and you're in combat in a place where there's an Outlaw's Refuge, there's a chance one of our members will help a friend in need. Interact with the Footpad, if one shows, and they'll have you back to the Refuge in no time. 

• Veil of Shadows - People can't catch what they can't see, and we're pretty good about not being seen. Stick with us long enough to pick up the Veil of Shadows, and both guards and witnesses will have their detection range reduced by 10%. That means less chance anyone will see you commit a crime at all. And even if they do, the local Watch will have a much harder time tracking you down to challenge you. 

Business Partners

"Look, let me call in my friend. He's an expert on this kind of stuff."

Look, I know - you're a busy Thief. We all are. Between Tips to follow up on, Heists and Reacquisitions, Delves, a new Trial - there's a lot to fit into a day, and we don't always have time to run back and forth all over the place to move our goods or buy supplies. 

I got you covered - for a fee, anyway. Nothing's free, friend, but if you complete a few objectives for us, or fork over some Crowns, we can help you out with some Assistants. Some are bankers, some are merchants, some are fences. Some only do business with you, others will take the opportunity with anyone around. There's plenty to choose from, but if you've got the coin we've got the connections to keep you moving. 

A few words of warning, though - Assistants aren't much for fighting (though they'll usually stick around until you've done your own wetwork), and for some reason they're all scared to death of Cyrodiil. Won't go near the place. 

I know it's a lot to take in, and we haven't even covered everything yet - there's still the lamia Syvarra of the Deep, Captain Virindi Slave-taker, and some rumors about the Temple of the Seven Riddles being taken over by a bunch of weird ghosts and possessed monks. Renamed the place the "Maw of Lorkhaj", whatever that means. 

You did fine for your first day, though. Now if you'll excuse me, I hear there's some independent operator north of here. Calls himself Al Adding or something, thinks he's hot stuff because he has a genie. I need to go have a kind word with him about operating outside of the Guild.

In the mean time rest up, get a feel for the place, and do any work for us that you feel like. I have a feeling you're going to like it here.

Partner.  

Good to see you again, kid. There aren't many good pickpockets left in the Thieves Guild after the mercs cracked down -- I was getting worried we might have lost you in the Shark's Teeth Grotto. I heard rumors that some pirates have cracked into this place, Bahraha's Gloom, and figured there might be something worth lifting there. 

We're certainly going to check, but I won't lie -- I'm going on precious little intel compared to what I can normally gather. So stick close to me, keep quiet, and stay in the shadows as much as you can. 

Manage that, and we might even make it out of here alive. 

Tilt-a-whirlwind

Alright, first obstacle -- a Defiled Aegis. I'm not sure what kind of aegis this used to be, but it's very definitely defiled now. I saw a daring adventurer type meet that thing head on before you showed up, and it started spinning around like a whirlwind. Filled with swords. 

I'm sure you can figure out the rest. 

The man out front said there was pay for doing something with a few ghosts and that amulet you have there, though, so we're going to have to forge ahead if we want the extra coin. It'd be a shame to come all this way for nothing, and I want whatever those pirates were after anyway, so here's the plan: 

I go left, you go right, we shoot at it with bows. Or magic, if you're into that. It starts spinning, we get even farther away. Sound good? Good. On three. 

One....two...

Salt (Catchers) and Sanctuary

Well that was...something. Good work back there, and nice footwork. Now for the second obstacle -- the Bleak Veils. Seems a bit dismal for an organization name, but I guess when you're trapped in a sealed tomb with a bunch of necromancers, dismal's normal. 

They're always around those Salt Catcher spirits you were looking for, though. What they're doing to it, I can't fathom...but I imagine it'll stop soon enough with a few arrows in them. Watch your step, though -- I had to take one down earlier, and it desecrated the very ground it died on. 

It doesn't tickle. 

Good news is -- they don't know we're here. Even better is the fact that while they hit hard, they've gotten a little brittle from all this time near old bones. Hit em a few times and it's dust to dust. There's a few different kinds, and they all come at you slightly differently, but the plan's the same -- put the pointy end into their squishy bits until they fall down. 

Bahraha Blast

Well, I pilfered a map off of one of those Bleak Veils, and I think that seal you're looking for is up ahead. A few other tomb raiders went on ahead of us muttering something about slaying a big aegis named The First. I figure if they did most of the hard w--

Oh. Oh no. Kid, that's the Magnifico himself -- Bahraha. He's old, powerful, and (judging from those spells he's slinging at the guys from earlier) he's very angry. I don't think he's spotted us yet, so you go up behind that throne of his -- the map says the seal we're looking for is there. Meanwhile, I think I see a Thief's leathers in that pile of corpses over there, so I need to have a few words with our friend here. 

Go on, recharge the seal or whatever it is you're doing with that talisman. I'll be right behind you -- he doesn't look so tough. 

Escape from Bahrahatraz

 Fine, fine! He's tougher than he looks. You can say "I told you so" later, for now just keep running. We'll come back with more force later -- or if we're lucky, never again. Watch your step though, kid, one fall and we're right back between a room full of the Bleak Veils and where we found that defiled aegis. Judging from the sounds, it's not fantastic at staying dead, either.

Necromancers. Bah. 

Just keep your footing and keep moving. There's a door over this way. We're almost there. Doesn't seem to be any evil undead types up here so get a move on. Only a few more boards, another door and...

Huh. Another one of those air fragments. Or...what did you call it again? Cloud splinters? No...no that wasn't it. Well anyway, this one doesn't budge for me any more than the last one. You go ahead and do whatever strange thing it is you do with these, I'm going to investigate this lever. It looks like pulling the lever might open this gate...

Which leads back to the original room of the Gloom, and lets us stroll on out. Back to the lovely...hospitable...scorpion riddled desert of Hew's Bane.

Well, beats the inside of that place. Shame we didn't manage to nab anything past some gold coins and the breeze piece, but at least we're alive. All things considered, I'm willing to chalk that up as a victory.  

The Talisman? Sabileh might be interested. She's a priestly type in Abah's Landing, look around and you'll find her, I'm sure. The balance beams on the way out of the Gloom were even fine practice - last I heard, she was operating off of a roof. 

You take a breather, kid. You had my back in there, and the Thieves Guild won't forget it. So go on, take some time off. Spend some of that gold. I'll try to dig up what dirt I can on the Maw of Lorkhaj in the meantime. 

Can't hurt to be prepared -- something tells me that's one Trial we won't be able to buy your way out of. 

It seems Amazon has quietly introduced several games to their list of Amazon Prime-Exclusive items, with GTA V, FIFA 16, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, Minecraft and Far Cry Primal all currently marked as "exclusively for Prime members", among others.

It's unknown how many more titles are affected by the change; however, the games are still available to purchase through third-party sellers on the site.

It's something of a bizarre move for the company, who are clearly trying to incentivize customers to fork out cash for their paid service. Membership requires an annual subscription fee of $99, or £79 per year for UK customers, and gives members access to free next day delivery and their Amazon Instant Video service, amongst other features.

One can't help but wonder, though, if the change might have the opposite effect, with customers simply going to other retailers or buying from third-party sellers instead. It also begs the question...how far will Amazon go with its "exclusive" merchandise?

Other games currently affected by the decision include: Dishonored: Definitive Edition, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Elder Scrolls Online, Battlefield Hardline, Rainbow Six Siege and, somewhat bizarrely, Farming Simulator 15. Strangely, Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes also seems to be included, but not Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

What are your thoughts on the move? Would you consider paying for Amazon Prime in light of this? Or do you think Amazon have just shot themselves in the foot? For those who are already Prime members, how do you feel about the change? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Zenimax Online Studios recently teased us with a video showing off the assassins that players will soon be able to take the role of in their latest update, "Dark Brotherhood". This is all of the information we've been able to dig up on this dark addition to Elder Scrolls Online.

Release Date & Price

Dark Brotherhood will be released on May 31st for PC/Mac, and June 14th for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.  Similar to earlier updates to the game, there will be two parts to this release. The first is the DLC game pack, which will be free for players with an active ESO Plus membership, or roughly twenty dollars if you are not.

There will also be a Collector's Bundle priced at roughly forty dollars. I say roughly, since the only way to purchase these bundles are with the game's currency crowns, which only come in values of either fifteen or twenty-five dollars, meaning you're going to spend a little more no matter what you choose.

The Collector's Edition

The 4,000 crown bundle comes with everything you'd normally receive in the Dark Brotherhood DLC pack, five Crown Experience Scrolls which allow players to earn extra experience to help you level your new skill tree faster, a Highland Wolf Mount as pictured majestically above, and a Sylvan Nixad pet.

Considering how I mentioned you're going to have to spend extra money anyway, this bundle is probably worth it, since at forty dollars (the only single purchase crown pack that has enough to afford this) you also gain an additional 1,500 crowns to save towards the next expansion.

New Features

Naturally, the biggest feature is going to be the addition of the Dark Brotherhood guild. Joining this guild allows players to take on the role of an assassin for hire, killing for money.

There will also be a new zone added in, called the Gold Coast. Fans of Elder Scrolls: Oblivion probably remember this zone as the Western-most region of the accessible world. Elder Scrolls: Online is bringing back this area as well as a few key places in it for the first time since the third installment in the series. If anything it will be neat to be able to visit these areas with updated graphics.

Also included will be a new skill line for players who join the Dark Brotherhood. These include new passives such as the Blade of Woe, which allow your character to potentially dispatch your target in a single blow when attacking from behind. They also enjoy benefits that make them much harder to detect, or simply harder to catch.

Examples are the new Scales of Pitiless Justice passive that reduces any bounties when your murder is witnessed, or their Padomaic Sprint, which grants bonus movement speed after dispatching a citizen.

Finally, there will also be the addition of new repeatable quest chains for the members of the Brotherhood involving stealth assassinations and fulfillment of bounties to hunt down giant monsters and victory in arenas.

Updates to the Game

Finally, there will also be a base-game patch added to the game which has no cost to any players. These are balance changes that will affect you whether or not you feel the need to pledge loyalty to the dark assassins of the Brotherhood. These include things such as the addition of Poison-Making as a profession to further enhance the lethality of your weapons.

Several item sets and user interface options have been updated as well, including a much needed up date to the game's Grouping Tool which now features an updated queue timer and vote-to-kick system.

The Elder Scrolls: Online will be hosting several pre-launch events as well hyping up the release of their game. You can check out some of their new footage on their Twitch channel, or check out their website for guides related to the update.

I don't care who you are- if you like MMORPGs, the upcoming Elder Scrolls Online: Dark Brotherhood DLC should bring you back to this epic game.

If you're like me, the vanilla game never quite satisfied that Elder Scrolls feel. While it was sandboxy, it obviously wasn't as open as Skyrim or Oblivion. I'm assuming it was designed that way to prevent higher-level players from just obliterating entire towns of NPCs.

But between the past DLC and the upcoming ability to join the Dark Brotherhood, it's getting closer to that open world we all love.

To be more specific, here's why you should return to Tamriel.

Reason #1: Join the Dark Side

Even though most gamers tend to play the "good guy," there are those of us who like to take the opposite approach every once in a while. 

We invade people in Dark Souls. We steal from everybody we see in Fallout IV. And we're willing to kill people for a little gold in the Elder Scrolls.

Well that dark side has sorely been missing in ESO to date. Sure, you could be a thief, but so what? The Thieves Guild may have had a decent questline in Skyrim, but it wasn't as epic as the Dark Brotherhood's.

Nothing is.

Reason #2: Better Customization

New areas to explore? That's nice.

But that's not always what keeps players coming back. Another major factor is the ability to customize your character to be exactly how YOU want.

And that's what the Elder Scrolls- even ESO- has always thrived on. You could be play anything from a fire mage in heavy armor to a dual-wielding ranger. You can heal allies in one hand and smack enemies in the face with a shield in your offhand. Any playstyle is fair game.

Customization is also what has kept RIFT successful. It's the main MMORPG I keep crawling back to, largely because of the ability to build MY kind of character.

When Elder Scrolls Online drops the Dark Brotherhood, you get access to a few additional skills, PLUS poison. Since poisoning enemies is one of the most satisfying ways to play any game, this feature alone is worth a trip back to Tamriel.

Reason #3: The Blade of Woe

The very first skill you learn when you join the Dark Brotherhood is the Blade of Woe. An insta-kill ability that puts every assassin on a level playing field? That's what I'm talking 'bout. 

Have you ever played an assassin in another game that... just wasn't very good? For example, most low-level characters in Skyrim- and even Elder Scrolls Online- don't do enough sneak damage to take out a target in one hit.

This DLC is making that a thing of the past. No longer will you get those awkward moments of a sneak attack that just scratches the enemy. 

Will the Elder Scrolls Online Dark Brotherhood DLC be enough to keep players happy for years to come? Probably not- but hopefully we'll have more great DLC or Elder Scrolls VI before killing people for hire gets stale. 

Do you have what it takes to become Tamriel's deadliest assassin?

One week from today, players of The Elder Scrolls Online will have the chance to join the Dark Brotherhood and carve their name into the guild's bloody legacy.

The long-anticipated Dark Brotherhood expansion will include two new locations, a great deal of quests, and powerful assassin-inspired gear. Best of all, it will also introduce features available for both base-game and expansion owners.

The Dark Brotherhood expansion will launch on PC/Mac, May 31. Console owners can expect the game to release on June 14.

It will be available for purchase on the ESO crown store for roughly $20.

Blood will flow. A guild of assassins rises to power in Tamriel.

Complete with a new Dark Brotherhood passive skill line, gameplay and graphical fixes, and a fresh look at The Gold Coast, the new expansion will be packed with improvements of the base-game.

The expansion will feature:

• Access to join the Dark Brotherhood and become an assassin.
• Entry into The Gold Coast. Explore the the region home to the historical cities of Anvil and Kvatch.
• A new passive skill line.
• Hours of exciting new story content.
• New repeatable activities. Complete daily bounty quests, contract kills, or sacrament quests.
• Two new delves. Hrota Cave and Garlas Agea. Each one featuring their own distinctive challenges and rewards.
• Two fresh world-boss encounters.
• New gear and rewards inspired by the Dark Brotherhood. A new assassin personality. Three new item crafted sets, and two new costumes and venom dyes. 

The last time we visited Anvil and Kvatch was in TES: Oblivion.

However, similar to other previous expansions, the expansion will also incorporate some features available to base-game owners. 

The base-game patch will feature:

• The removal of Veteran Ranks.
• Poison-making. For those who want to be especially nasty to their enemies.
• Toggleable nameplates.
• Item locking. This will help prevent the deconstruction of some of your most valuable items.
• Craft Bags. Will help you story a nearly unlimited amount of crafting materials.
• Improvements and adjustments to Item Traits.
• Performance improvements.
• Combat and gameplay improvements.
• Two new crafting styles. Abah's Watch is available from the large shipments of goods that the Thieves Guild distributes, and after completing heights, you'll be given the chance to use the highest standards of the Thieves Guild.

Your new goal is simple: make the Night Mother proud.

If there's one thing that I felt was missing from the online world of Tamriel, it was the Night Mother and her band of sneaky assassins. You can't have an Elder Scrolls world without your death-loving executioners.

The new expansion packs in a whole heap of features and is expected to make the online world feel more like the world Elder Scroll fans are so accustomed to.

Pick up the Dark Brotherhood DLC for PC/Mac on May 31, and June 14 for Xbox One and Playstation 4. 

The Dark Brotherhood is waiting for you.

Elder Scrolls Online update 11: Shadows of the Hist, will feature many new changes. As with other updates, it comes in two steps; the DLC dungeon pack and the base-game patch.

The DLC dungeon pack part of the patch will feature two new Argonian dungeons. First, Cradle of Shadows, is a 4-player dungeon with both normal and veteran modes. Next, Ruins of Mazzatun is also a 4-player dungeon featuring both normal and veteran difficulty. The dungeons offer some new loot, including a new monster mask.

The base game patch will feature appearance, race, and name change options. You will be able to buy tokens that will allow you to change yourself. They will also be adding new hair styles, adornments, and body markings, available to be bought in the crown store.

Another great addition to this patch is for console players. Xbox One and PS4 players will now be able to use text chat, in addition to voice chat, while playing. This will be good for guild leaders and traders.

As players requested, town capture will be added to the game. PvP in Cyrodiil will have 3 new capturable towns; Cropsford, Vlastarus, and Bruma. The towns will have flags to control and guards to deal with. It will be similar to the district flags in the Imperial City DLC. Capturing a town unlocks another PvP respawn point and access to town merchants selling rare items.

ESO will be making improvements to update 11. So, watch for updates, and be ready to try it on the test server soon!

For everyone eagerly awaiting the release of the Legion expansion for World of Warcraft, the days may seem long and stale. So here is a list of MMOs that you should check out this summer to fill the void, scratch the itch, or simply pass the time until it's time to gear up and head back into Azeroth.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR) released with an insane amount of hype. Many considered this game as the proverbial “WoW killer”, only to see its popularity dwindle. BioWare has recently transitioned the game to be focused more on story and individual play.

SWTOR’s most recent expansion, Knights of the Fallen Empire, is an episodic story that will culminate within the coming month. This leaves you with a total of 16 additional chapters of story, each of which ranges from 30-60 minutes of playtime. Add on additional companion acquisition, dungeons, and a new battleground for PvP, and you can easily fill any spare time this summer.

If you are a first time player of the game, there are 8 unique class story lines, along with the 2 other expansions' worth of content to add to Knights of the Fallen Empire.

SWTOR is currently free to play, with an option to subscribe for $15 a month. Currently, only subscribers have access to Knights of the Fallen Empire, so for the price of a month of WoW, you can fully experience Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Price: Free to Play – (optional) $15/month subscription

Black Desert Online

Let’s say you want to branch out from the traditional lock on and cast style of combat featured in many MMOs. Look no further than Black Desert Online (BDO). BDO is an action combat MMO that was recently brought to Western audiences by Daum Games.

BDO is a fully open-world, sandbox game that gives the player complete freedom to choose their own path. You say you want to raise and breed horses? Check. What if your life dream is to live on the open waters and fish? Covered. You say you want to dominate and disgrace your enemies in fierce PvP combat? Well go on ahead!

Black Desert Online has one of the deepest worlds featured in a game recently, and there are countless hours for you to throw into this game.

Price: $29.99 – no subscription

The Elder Scrolls Online

The Elder Scrolls Online was a game much like Star Wars: The Old Republic that received a large amount of hype before release. Many thought of this game would be similar to a multi-player version of Skyrim, and in some ways they were not wrong.

The game’s initial subscription model has changed to a buy-to play with an option to subscribe. There have been many changes to end-game, most recently, the removal of the “Veteran Ranks” in favor of “Champion Points”. This has allowed more content to be accessible by all players, and with their 4 DLC available now, there is an insane amount of content for players to experience.

Price: $29.99 – (optional) $14.99 subscription

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

Final Fantasy XIV has been a niche MMO since it re-launched, and has continued to hold a steady player base. The game features a deep job system that allows any one character to instantly swap classes or professions to suit whatever playstyle you may be feeling at the time. The base game contains 9 standard classes that when combined unlock up to 10 advanced classes.

On top of the huge class system, the game features 11 crafting professions. Each class and profession has its own experience bar, giving you the freedom to advance your character in your own way, at your own pace.

Its most recent expansion, Heavensward, has breathed new life into the game. The expansion adds additional story content, a new playable race, 3 new jobs, a new raid, and new dungeons.

For those returning, there is plenty of content to hold you over this summer -- and for those just checking the game out for the first time, there is more than enough content to keep you busy well into the holidays.

The only downside is comparatively steep price, as well as the continual subscription plan. However, looking past the price, this game is worth the investment and will give you something you can dump a ton of hours into.

Price:   

[New Players] $59.99 -- $12.99/month or $14.99/month

[Returning Players] $39.99 -- $12.99/month or $14.99/month

Blade and Soul

Blade and Soul is an MMO that has been thriving in the Eastern market for some time, and was recently brought to Western markets by NCSoft. This game features action combat with influences from fighting games. Combos, over the top animations, and fast paced combat are staples for this game.

The game has 8 classes, a rich story, and engaging controls. The combat takes influences from fighting games, where you can combo enemies into crazy knock-ups, grabs, and other maneuvers. The PvP content is focused around 1v1 arena, 3v3 tag-team style matches, and open world PvP. The system they have in place is unique -- most of the gear is cosmetic, so player skill and mastery shines through.

The most recent update released the Warlock, a new spell casting class. This game’s fast-paced action combat is the main draw, and can offer players a lot of fun.

Price: Free to Play – (optional) $11.99/month subscription

What MMOs will you be playing until Legion drops in August? Let me know down in the comments!

So last month all gamers waited in anticipation for the E3 Press Conferences to show and wow us with what they have cooking for their audience. This year E3 had some solid presentations among its press conferences but also some cringe moments along the way. So basically it was the normal air and fare for E3.

Naturally, from forums to the live Twitch chat, there always seems to be a tremendous amount of competition between gamers who prefer different consoles. Sometimes it’s nice to see fellow gamers sticking up for their preferred systems but more often than not there are forms of bias, harsh words and annoying spammers present as well. For this set of E3 Evaluations, the plan is to comment and judge on the content and overall tone of the press conferences. Did they impress gamers and give their loyal fans something to look forward to or did they drop the ball this year? So without further ado, let’s start with the first of the group: Bethesda.

The Intro and Overall Length:

Compared to the conferences that followed it, Bethesda’s press conference was rather short. However, that doesn’t instantly make it a failure in any sense. The very beginning of the conference had an interesting vibe pointing back to the old 8-bit style computer system. With their first trailer for Quake Champions Bethesda keeps up their reputation of making trailers that are gorgeous to watch and fun to react to. The actions of the various warriors fighting during the trailer synced with the music perfectly.

Even though it was a gorgeous and well-made trailer Bethesda has proven in the past that their trailers sometimes are better than their products, like with Elder Scrolls Online. The discussion after the trailer about their planned tournaments focused mostly on those who love Quake and even go to the aptly named Quake-Con. This didn’t exactly resonate with me, but I’m sure those die hard Quake fans ate up that info.

Small Fillers and Not Much VR:

From there Bethesda headed toward smaller games and content. They revealed Elder Scrolls Legends, a card game system that seemed very similar to the Magic the Gathering card games of the past. Naturally, they covered their bases concerning Fallout with new updates for Fallout Shelter and showing off some of the planned DLC for Fallout 4.

They also went into detail about how they were giving all members of The Elder Scrolls Online full access to all races and areas in the game. It’s nice to see that Bethesda has finally fixed one of the big issues with the game: that of exclusive content that is taken out of most normal copies of the game. It’s a bit late, though, seeing as its been about two years since its’ release on PC. Bethesda also mentioned a little bit about their work on VR, but there wasn’t much said besides that there are games in the works.

Upswing Moments and Highlights:

It may sound like Bethesda didn’t do an impressive job this year from everything said so far but naturally, they had a few games up their sleeves that caught the attention of their audience and from yours truly. Bethesda had been keeping tight-lipped about Dishonored 2 since its sole trailer at last years’ E3, but they showed off some very impressive gameplay and plot points in their conference. Dishonored two will let the player choose to play as Emily or Corvo, although it seems that Emily might be the best choice as she seems to have a unique set of powers and abilities.

The gameplay shown off during the conference was impressive, to say the least with time travel, amazing senses of strategy and a plot that seems to have plenty of twists and turns. Bethesda also showed off quite a surprise: Skyrim Remastered for the PS4 and Xbox One. There wasn’t a whole bunch shown during its short trailer, but the environment and the detail given to the remastered versions just looked drop dead gorgeous. Finally, they had a short trailer for a new game in the Prey series. This trailer was the first of many trailers that seem to have an odd sense of confusion and mind-bending plot and setting in store for those who buy it.

Final Thoughts:

Bethesda’s performance during their conference had its highs and lows. There was enough there to make the Bethesda fans watching it live and from home to feel like they have something to look forward to in the future. But the conference seemed to have a focus on so many different games on different platforms that there were only a handful of games that got a strong reaction from the crowd. The conference seemed to be an overall jack of all trades situation: nothing was mind blowing, but nothing was cringe worthy or awful.

Seeing as more often than not it helps to give a grade for these evaluations I’d say the Bethesda Conference was a solid C+ or B-.

Do you agree with my evaluation? Any comments or arguments? If so, please leave a comment and stay tuned to GameSkinny for more E3 Evaluations and gaming news. If you haven't seen the conference for yourself, check out the recording of it on Youtube.

In update 11 of the Elder Scrolls Online came the PC release of "Shadows of the Hist", the Argonian-centered DLC. Featuring a plethora of new achievements, two new dungeons, new mounts, and loads of fun, Shadows of the Hist hits consoles on August 16th.

The largest new content comes from the two new dungeons, Cradle of Shadows and Ruins of Mazzatun. In the Cradle of Shadows, you are battling against rogue assassins on the behalf of the Argonians of the Dark Brotherhood. These assassins are working to throw the Black Marsh into chaos.

Fighting your way through this dungeon, you will uncover the secrets of the twisted Silken Ring and face off against bosses such as Velidreth: Lady of Lace. In the Ruins of Mazzatun, brains over brawn could prove advantageous, as the dungeon is also referred to as the “Puzzle City”. Controlled by a tribe of Argonians known as the Xit-Xaht, they have forced others into slavery on a project that has driven them mad. Race against time to save them all from forces beyond their power. Both dungeons offer three new item sets as well as a new monster mask set.

When it comes to the Crown store and new mounts, "Shadows of the Hist" brings a variety. Among the new mount offerings comes the Hist Guar, the only subspecies of guar that seems to enjoy music. Featuring red splashes making it appear to be covered in His Sap, this little guy is 1500 Crowns. The other new mount is the Haj Mota Hatchling. Looking like a cross between and fish and a turtle, this horned baby will waddle after you happily for 1000 Crowns.

There are also now Race and Appearance Change tokens, allowing you to switch up your style with ease -- along with new hairstyles, markings and adornments.

Alongside the "Shadows of the Hist" DLC, there were also base game tweaks included in update 11. These include Dragonstar Arean improvements, improved rewards from Undaunted chests, updated item sets, and improved Clothier Surveys. New things introduced in the update include four new crafting styles (Dark Brotherhood being one), the ability to trade bind-on-pickup items with group members in dungeons and Trials, and the new Cyrodiil town capture system.

Whether you are new to Elder Scrolls Online or a Vet, these new dungeons are challenging and exciting. Let us know about your "Shadow of the Hist" adventures in the comments below!

If you have not yet played The Elder Scrolls Online, an MMORPG from Zenimax Online and Bethesda, or you're thinking about playing again, this fall may be the time. September 9th 2016 you can pick up the Gold Edition for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Edition includes:

The Elder Scrolls Online 

The DLC game packs:

• Imperial City
• Orsinium
• Thieves Guild
• Dark Brotherhood
• A Palomino horse mount
• 500 crowns to spend in the in-game Crown Store for new game accounts

You'll have a lot of content to play through for the cost of the original release ($59.99). Also, if you're new to ESO you will really appreciate having a mount to start the game with. In such a big world it doesn't take long to realize getting to places on foot will be a bit tedious (until you find waypoints that is).

You also get the added benefit of being able to play anywhere in the online world of Tamriel, and you get access to things that were released in DLC like the Thieve's Guild and the Dark Brotherhood.

For the cost of $59.99 buyers are getting a good deal. Elder Scrolls Online offers a lot of variety in the classes and characters that you can create, along with lots of content that you, through this character, can experience. The Gold Edition is already available for pre-order, but will release at most major retailers on September 9th.

For the first time ever in FIFA, live your story on and off the pitch as the Premier League’s next rising star, Alex Hunter. Play on any club in the Premier League, for authentic managers and alongside some of the best players on Earth in "The Journey". Experience realistic football/soccer on September 27th, with new features like direct free kicks, player controlled throw-ins, new corner kicks and new penalty kicks.

Here's a full list of the different editions of FIFA 17 being released and what each contains:

FIFA 17 Standard Edition includes:

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• Full game
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• Up to 5 FUT Draft Tokens (1 per week over 5 weeks - worth up to $15)
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• 8-match FUT loan item of Hazard, Martial, Reus, or Rodriguez
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• Custom FUT kits created by designers or FIFA soundtrack artists
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FIFA 17 Deluxe Edition includes:

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• Full game
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• Up to 20 FIFA Ultimate Team Jumbo Premium Gold Packs (1 per week over 20 weeks - worth up to $60)
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• 3-match FUT Team of the Week loan player (up to 1 player per week over 20 weeks)
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• 8-match FUT loan item of Hazard, Martial, Reus, or Rodriguez
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• Custom FUT kits created by designers or FIFA soundtrack artists
\n

FIFA 17 Super Deluxe Edition includes:

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• Full game
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• Up to 40 FIFA Ultimate Team Jumbo Premium Gold Packs (2 per week over 20 weeks - worth up to $120)
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• 3-match FUT Team of the Week loan player (up to 2 players per week over 20 weeks)
\n
• 8-match FUT loan item of Hazard, Martial, Reus, or Rodriguez
\n
• Custom FUT kits created by designers or FIFA soundtrack artists
\n

September's not the biggest month for game releases but there's still some titles to look forward to, especially for sports game fans. Aside from that there's lots of good changes coming to Destiny in the new DLC and it's a good time to get into popular titles like Elder Scrolls Online and BioShock. If you're back to school this September maybe it's a good thing that there isn't a lot of major releases to distract you!

If you have not yet played The Elder Scrolls Online, an MMORPG from Zenimax Online and Bethesda, or you're thinking about playing again, this fall may be the time. You'll have a lot of content to play through for the cost of the original release. The Gold Edition is already available for pre-order, but will release at most major retailers for PC, PS4, and Xbox One on September 9th.

Includes:

The Elder Scrolls Online

The Gold Edition game packs:

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• Imperial City
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• Orsinium
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• Thieves Guild
\n
• Dark Brotherhood
\n
• A Palomino horse mount
\n
• 500 crowns to spend in the in-game Crown Store for new game accounts
\n

Return to the cities of Rapture and Columbia this September! Coming to PC, Xbox One, and PS4, BioShock: The Collection contains all the single-player content from BioShock, BioShock 2, and BioShock Infinite, remastered in 1080p. Experience the award-winning franchise again in its' entirety, or perhaps for the very first time, on September 13th.

Includes:

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• Remastered in 1080p.
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• BioShock main game and all single player DLC.
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• BioShock 2 main game and all single player DLC.
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• BioShock Infinite main game and all single player DLC.
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• Director's Commentary: Imagining BioShock, featuring Ken Levine and Shawn Robertson
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Welcome to the new NBA 2K season. The wildly popular NBA game is back with it's most realistic NBA experience ever. In NBA 2K17, you can create teams from real player rosters, compete in tournaments and more. Return to the courts on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One starting on September 20th. 

Since there will be a few different editions of NBA 2K17 releasing here's a straightforward buyer's guide explaining exactly what you get with each edition. Plenty of collectibles for the die hard NBA and Kobe fans out there!

The NBA 2K17 Early Tip-Off Edition (while supplies last) includes:

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• Early Access (4 days before standard release)
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• All Pre-Order Bonuses
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Pre-order Bonuses:

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• 5000 Virtual Currency
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• MyTEAM Bundle. 3 packs with guaranteed Paul George Free Agent Card and More
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• 2 items yet to be announced
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The NBA 2K17 Legend Edition includes:

Physical Items:

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• Limited-edition Kobe poster
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• Black Mamba controller skin
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• 2 Panini Kobe trading cards
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Digital Content:

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• 30,000 Virtual Currency
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• MyTEAM Bundle + (including 3 packs with guaranteed Kobe Free Agent card)
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• 2K Kobe XI shoe
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• Kobe #8 Mitchell & Ness Jersey
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• Kobe hoodie 
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• And more!
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The NBA 2K17 Legend Edition Gold includes

Physical Items:

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• Limited-edition Kobe poster
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• Black Mamba controller skin
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• 2 Panini Kobe trading cards
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Digital Content:

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• 100,000 Virtual Currency
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• MyTEAM Bundle + (including 3 packs with a guaranteed Kobe Bryant card)
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• 2K Kobe XI shoe
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• Kobe #8 Mitchell & Ness Jersey
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• Kobe hoodie
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• And more!
\n

 This September you can look forward to kicking some balls, shooting some hoops, and shooting some aliens! Featuring some major sports title releases, a couple re-releases, and a major expansion to a popular FPS.

Destiny: Rise of Iron

Releasing: September 20th 2016

Destiny: Rise of Iron is the next highly anticipated expansion to the Destiny universe coming to PS4 and Xbox One. It features an all new cinematic story campaign set within The Plaguelands, a brand new location on Earth. Under the command of Lord Saladin you'll face a new faction of Fallen Devils, the Splicers, while unravelling the mystery of the Iron Lords. 

Includes:

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• New Story Campaign & Quests
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• New Armor and Gear
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• New Weapons
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• New Raid
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• Maximum Light Increase
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• New Strike
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• New Plaguelands Zone & Social Space
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• New Crucible Mode & Maps (including Private Matches)
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• New Enemy Faction and Bosses
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Pre-order Destiny: Rise of Iron and receive the black "Iron" Gjallarhorn, a weapon ornament which will change the look of the Gjallarhorn rocket launcher, which is returning via a quest in the new DLC.

Ashlander

Cosplayer: Carlossa; Photographer: EndrooFoto

The Ashlanders are the nomadic Dunmer of Morrowind. The Velothi people are of Ashlander descent but have settled among other dunmer. Carlossa sticks the nomadic garb featured in Morrowind, with brown attire, leggings, and a head covering. Face paint and red eyes bring to life the dunmer aspects. 

Which cosplay that was featured was your favorite? What character do you wish was cosplayed?

Skyrim Civilian

Cosplayer: Amazingrogue

Not many have chosen to don the robes of Skyrim's civilians. The game would be lackluster without these NPCs and their idle banter. Falling in love with the dress, Amazingrogue took is upon herself to become one of the necessary but often overlooked characters in the game. Not only is her costume straight out of the game, but so is the location and props chosen for the shoot.

Cicero

Cosplayer: Mech-Infect; Photographer Darya Ánima Polyanskaya

Cicero is hands down one of the most annoying enemies in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Not only is he an "ally" at first, but he becomes steadily more deranged as time goes on, quite a feat for the already insane Dark Brotherhood Keeper. Mech-Infect does an amazing job at becoming the unbalanced jester in his spot on cosplay. From the attire, to the poses and facial expressions, hands down this is one of the most impressive Cicero cosplays. 

Nightingale

Cosplayer: Piperonni-Cosplay; Photographer: GPFleather

The Nightingale is often spoken of as legend in The Elder Scrolls series. In Skyrim you actually have the ability to become a Nightingale, the servant of Nocturnal. Given special armor, the Nightingale is the ultimate thief. Piperonni-Cosplay takes a break from her criminal activities to rest on a fallen log. The details in the leather work are amazing. 

Khajit

Cosplayer: Folkenstal

The Khajit are a race of feline people from Elsweyr. Many have since left their desert home in search of adventure. That is just what Folkenstal has found in this amazing photo. Preparing to help take down a dark anchor in The Elder Scrolls Online, Folkenstal's khajit cosplay is simply amazing. From the fur on her head to the tip of her tail and toes, the work is awe inspiring.

Haafinger Guard

Cosplayer: Kim-San; Photographer: Kakeboksen

One of the most famous lines from Skyrim comes from the mouths of the guards. "I was once an adventurer like you. Until I took an arrow to the knee." Memed, quoted and overused, the guards status was raised beyond that of a regular NPC. Here Kim-San is standing guard, shield and sword ready for thief or dragon. The costume is on point, from the intricate details in the help to the chain mail to the clean pattern on the shield.

Miraak

Cosplayer: X-beliebig; Photographer: Pohmme-d-adham

Miraak is the villainous star of Skyrim's Dragonborn DLC. A dragonborn who was once a dragon priest, he turned on his master's when his lust for power led him to Hermaeus Mora. Here X-beliebig is reading from the cursed Black Book that led him into servitude to the Daedric Prince of Knowledge. The carvings on the mask as well as the cover of the book are extremely detailed. For his first cosplay, this is mind blowing. 

Serana

Cosplayer: Nastya; Photographer: MilliganVick

Serana is one of the main characters in the Dawnguard DLC for Skyrim.  Found locked away in a tomb far below the surface, she is freed by the Dragonborn. Encased with her is an Elder Scroll. A vampire, she looks to make her way back to Castle Volkihar, becoming your follower in the process. MilliganVick captures the vampiric essence surrounding Nastya in this photo. Her skin is pale, her red eyes shine bright and her attire is on point. The golden Elder Scroll gleams in the light while everything else seems to fade away.

Nocturnal

Cosplayer: Ekaterina Golovanova; Photographer: Ophelia-noir

Nocturnal is the Daedric Prince of night and darkness. Often worshipped by thieves, her reign over the shadows makes her the perfect patron for them. While she has no organized clergy, she may have the largest amount of followings. Directly served by the Nightingales, she remains an enigmatic mystery to mer and man. Kate makes an amazing Nocturnal as she keeps her face hidden from the camera. Wearing a black robe she is surrounded by Nightgales created by Ophelia-noir. This duo has created an outstanding cosplay together. 

Astrid

Cosplayer: IreneAstral; Photographer: SpirosK Photography

Astrid is the leader of the Dark Brotherhood in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Without a Listener to hear the Night Mother, she employs other means to keep her clan afloat. Fearing the way the Night Mother operates as well as the Dragonborn being the Listener, she ends up betraying the player in a bid to protect the other assassins. IreneAstral is a picture perfect Astrid. Clad in the Dark Brotherhood armor, her angry eyes peer from behind hood and mask. The costume is superb, with the small details and colors hitting the mark. 

Daedric Armor

Cosplayer: Beau Peep Cosplay; Photographer: Kosupics

Giulietta Zawadzki, also known as Beau Peep Cosplay, continues to wow with her intricate armored costumes. This time her Daedric armor is ready to protect her from the likes of dragons. Super detailed, clean construction, and amazingly realistic, once again Giulietta knocks it out of the park with this cosplay. 

Argonian

Cosplayer: GuiltyOne; Photograher: Andy-k

The Argonian's are a race of lizard people hailing from the land of Black Marsh. Able to breathe underwater and highly resistant to poison, these people can be seen throughout the land of Tamriel. There is even the provocative book "The Lusty Argonian Maid" featured in many Elder Scrolls games. GuiltyOne has gone above and beyond with the work on this costume. The details in the eyes, the scales, the horns all make the lizard features pop. The embellishments bring to life the character as well as the neatly designed mage staff. 

Ordinator

Cosplayer: SeanDonnanArt; Photographer: Robin McElroy Maloney

The Ordniators played a crucial part in the events that unfolded in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Highly trained soldiers, they are easily recognized in Morrowind by their polished gold armor. Skilled in battle, Ordinators proved a tough challenge, often attacking the player as soon as one of their order was attacked. Here, SeanDonnanArt showcases the armor for which they are known, as well as the merciless view of them.

Queen Ayrenn

Cosplayer: Kaloheart7; Photographer: Edtan

Queen Ayrenn is the ruler of the Aldemeri Dominion and High Queen of the Summerset Isles in The Elder Scrolls Online. A young queen, she is a mere 28 years old, but a seasoned warrior. Kaloheart7 took Queen Ayrenn's character design as inspiration for her costume. Sticking with the green and brown color scheme, Kaloheart7 makes an impressive Altmer Queen.

Azura

Cosplayer: Katsumiyo; Photographer: Max Method Photography

Azura is one of the Daedric Princes in The Elder Scrolls world. Known as the Lady of Twilight, her domain is that of Dusk and Dawn as well as the magic that lurks during their transition. Often depicted holding a crescent moon in one hand and a star in the other, she is one of the more benevolent Daedric Princes. Katsumiyo nails the ethereal look of Azura, opting for holding a rose after another name of hers, the Mother of the Rose. The small star like pattern on her gown really helps bring to life Azura. 

The Elder Scrolls are an ever popular game series by Bethesda. Featuring an open world with various quest lines, character customization  and loads of loot, the various games have a tight grasp on the gaming community. This includes cosplayers, who have recreated some of the most iconic characters from The Elder Scrolls.