If you are looking forward to the release of the Elder Scrolls Online game this year, you are definitely going to enjoy the latest gameplay video that we have to show you. ZeniMax Online Studios are developing the game and they have unveiled some of the gathering and exploration features in the game – including the return of one famous plant from Skyrim and Oblivion.

Elder Scrolls Online is due out on PC before the end of the year, but Bethesda has yet to announce an exact release date for when the game will be available – perhaps this information will be coming during E3 2013 though next month.

For now, we have seen frequent teaser trailers released in the meantime and this latest one is titled Gathering and Exploration. We see some very familiar looting aspects as what you would have experienced in Skyrim and Oblivion, while also there’s confirmation that lockpicking will return, as well as the famous Nirnroot plant too.

The Nirnroot is a special plant in the Elder Scrolls universe, often granting the player some exclusive time duration skills once mixed using Alchemy. Gathering Nirnroots are often part of a special task as well, so it will be interesting to see what type of quests users will get when finding the plant scattered around the different regions.

You’ll notice that the lockpicking mechanism in Elder Scrolls Online will be different to the one seen in Skyrim. It also looks more tricky to open locks, which will please a lot you who were complaining that it was too easy in Skyrim.

Watch the video above and you’ll see that it is essentially a continuation of everything that you loved in Skyrim. The key debate will come when Bethesda finally announces subscription fees. If you are interested in this game, tell us how much you would be willing to pay per month to play it.

We have an update to give you now on the progress of The Elder Scrolls Online, the MMO that is currently in development by Zenimax Online Studios and due to be released later in 2013. Bethesda has confirmed that fans will be able to get their first chance of gameplay in August, while we also have a great new video to show you – confirming the return of a very familiar location.

After E3 2013 in June, the next big gaming event on the calendar is Gamescom 2013, which takes place in Cologne over in Germany. The event is usually packed with massive unveils and show-floor previews, and this year’s event is going to be no different. If you live in Europe and are a fan big of the franchise, you may want to try and book a trip to Cologne in August.

Bethesda has confirmed that they are bringing The Elder Scrolls Online to the event, letting attendees play the game for the very first time. GamesCom will commence from August 22-25 and tickets are available now, starting at 11 euros for a Thursday/Friday entry, 15 euros for entrance on Saturday or Sunday.

On top of that good news, a new trailer for Elder Scrolls Online is available, confirming that players will be able to revisit Oblivion, more specifically a plane of Oblivion called Coldharbour. This plane is ruled by a very famous character from previous games – none other than Molag Bal, the Daedric Prince God of Schemes.

We also find out in the trailer that Molag Bal will steal the players’ souls at the start of the game, which then leaves players to track him down in your journey to stop any further scheming from him. It sounds like just one of the main storylines that players will encounter on their travels, and we’re guessing Bethesda will be releasing more storyline snippets like this to show what else is coming.

An actual gameplay trailer will be nice though, one with just solid action and no cutscenes. Let us know if this game is on your radar, or if you are feeling burned out after Skyrim.

We have a sneaky treat for those of you who are interested in picking up The Elder Scrolls online. The game is not due out until later in the year, but ZeniMax Online Studios has already started with the first wave of beta testing. Inevitably, we have some early gameplay for you to check out, giving you a great idea of what to expect as we progress towards a final release.

Although this isn’t the Skyrim DLC 4 news that you are all anxiously awaiting to hear, this is a pretty good second best as we wait for Bethesda to get moving. As far as we’re aware, beta access into The Elder Scrolls Online isn’t easy and this gameplay that we have for you is already starting to disappear by the second it turns up on the likes of YouTube.

With that in mind, a user has posted a 20 minute gameplay demonstration to Vimeo – which if you’re quick enough should give you adequate time to view it before it gets removed. We see a quick look at the character customization menus, but the real action starts at the 6.50 mark when the player exits the boat allowing you to see what the open world graphics look like.

There’s even a hilarious mubcrab battle at 7.50 which you’ll enjoy, and a peak at some of the instant quests you’ll pick up along the way – gaining XP as you do so. Further on, you’ll see a very welcome sight – another online player joining in out of nowhere to help the player take down a pack of desert wolves.

The graphics are not amazing, but let’s remember that this the very first beta we’re seeing here – so don’t panic. The actual gameplay mechanics look very smooth and we can tell that this will get very addictive once players start to level up and gain more skills to use. Boss fights with friends online is going to be great we expect and we just hope that more gameplay like this is on the way soon.

Check it out through the link above and let us know your initial reaction to the first gameplay for The Elder Scrolls Online. Hit or miss folks?

We have some good news for those of you who have been keeping an eye on updates for the highly anticipated Elder Scrolls Online game. The title is not due out until the end of 2013, but we now have a confirmation that the first playable build of the game will be coming at the PAX East 2013 expo, which kicks off between March 22 and March 24.

This year’s event will be held in Boston and it now means that lucky attendees will have the chance to play The Elder Scrolls Online for the very first time at the end of this week – just days away! Considering that the game was only announced in May last year and the development time needed for such a MMORPG of this scope, we’re pleasantly surprised that Zenimax Online Studios have already got a playable build together in under a year.

Unfortunately, tickets appear to be completely sold out already for the event, with users having to pay $35 up to $70 for one day or three day badge pass for the big shindig. If you already have your pass waiting, you’ll be able to sample Elder Scrolls Online before anyone else, but also take part in a variety of other activities as well, including game tournaments and competitions.

Additionally, Bethesda has said that they’ll be holding a Tamriel Beer Garden event as well just to top everything off. An Elder Scrolls-esque flyer teased on Bethesda’s Blog states that Tamriel brews will be served throughout the event, with local merchants selling various wares and gambling activities possible as well.

It looks like great fun and an ideal place to talk about the gameplay that attendees have just witnessed for the first time – we wish we were going. With the rumored ‘Redguard’ DLC still not official for Skyrim, how much of a priority are you giving The Elder Scrolls Online?

Is it a game that you are definitely buying, or are you worried about high subscription costs each month?

We have some massive news for Elder Scrolls fans now, as Bethesda has now confirmed that sign-ups are available for those fans wishing to take part in the upcoming beta test for the MMO title. Along with the beta sign-ups, the company and ZeniMax Online Studios have also released an amazing cinematic trailer for the game, giving you another look at some of the factions playable in the game.

You just know that this game is going to be well worth the wait and Bethesda really know how to get the juices flowing with a cinematic trailer. We felt it was like a movie whilst we were watching it and glued to the clip the whole time to see how it unfolds at the end when the three factions meet.

The three factions seen in this particular ‘Alliances’ trailer are the Aldmeri Dominion, Daggerfall Covenant and Ebonheart Pact teams, which each obviously offering a different set of abilities and combat type. We can’t wait for the game to arrive after seeing some of the potential on offer in the trailer, but not everyone seems totally pleased with it.

We’ve been reading some initial feedback on the trailer and a lot of you are fearing that it could be another ‘Old Republic’ pattern, where an amazing cinematic trailer was followed by ‘poor’ gameplay when actually playing the title. It’s true that no gameplay was shown in the trailer, but hopefully Bethesda will be able to end the doubt soon by revealing that the gameplay is just as good.

For now though, just enjoy the fact that we now have a new trailer out and beta sign-ups are available. There’s no date yet for when the test will be starting, but Bethesda will be picking out registered members at random, the company has said. Good luck to all and let us know your reaction after watching the visually impressive trailer.

You may remember a few months ago that rumors started to surface on a possible MMO game for the Elder Scrolls franchise and obviously the rumors have now turned out to be correct. Confirmed in a Tweet by Bethesda, Elder Scrolls Online will be developed by ZeniMax Online Studios and the game will be releasing sometime in 2013.

Game Informer initially had the scoop on the story and the game has been confirmed to be featuring on the next issue of their magazine. However, a trailer as well as an initial screenshot should be available over this weekend which is exciting.

Before you all get your hopes up on this appearing on home consoles, it looks like this game will be developed for PC and Mac only. We also know that it will be set in Tamriel, 1000 years before Skyrim and the previous leaked information regarding three factions was correct – those being factions represented by a lion, a dragon, and a bird of prey emblems.

There’s obviously an endless amount of possibilities with an online Elder Scrolls games. The most obvious of which is playing the game with other people, for the very first time in the franchise. You’ll be able to explore dungeons with other players, fight for loot perhaps and take down massive bosses with a group of warriors – it is mouthwatering stuff.

We just hope that ZeniMax won’t go too overboard with their pricing for the game. Expect a monthly subscription for sure, but anything over $15 USD a month may start to raise one or two eyebrows. For now though, it’s best to just enjoy the announcement and now imagine a reality where you’ll be able to take everything that you love from Skyrim and share it with your friends.

Also, it’s probably safe to assume that you can kiss goodbye to your social life once this comes out next year. What is your initial reaction to an Elder Scrolls Online game? Disappointed that it is PC and Mac only? Looking forward to a closed beta? Share your thoughts below!