‘Elder Scrolls Online’ PS4 And Xbox One Release Slips To 2015, ‘Skyrim’ Thieving System Inbound

The Elder Scrolls Online was originally slated to release on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One alongside the PC this past summer. The console release was then pushed off to an unspecified December 2014 release date. ZeniMax Online made official Thursday what was already known: the MMORPG will not make that release either.

Game Director Matt Firor detailed some of the future updates coming to The Elder Scrolls Online in a post on the game’s website. After covering some of the updates delivered since the PC release, Firor confirmed the delay.

“We couldn’t be more excited about everything there is to look forward to in 2015. We’ll be introducing some of the new systems that we’ve talked about publicly over the last couple of months, and of course, we will be bringing ESO to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One,” he wrote.

“As I’ve mentioned, we have been (and will continue to be) steadily working on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of ESO,” he added later on. “They are playable and fun right now, but there’s still some work to do before we can set an official launch date.”

Bethesda Softworks’ Vice President of PR Pete Hines previously told CVG that the infrastructure of the PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE was part of the reason of the original delay to December. This new delay looks to be due to timing. Update 6 is scheduled for January and is “a big one,” according to Firor.

Update 6 will introduce the Champion System and Justice System to Elder Scrolls Online. The release will be the third phase of the Champion System, which will add the ability to spend points in Champion Passives.

Meanwhile, the Justice System will take a phased release approach as well. The first release will add the ability to steal from vendors, pickpocket NPCs, and kill NPCs similar to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. That includes guards busting players for thieving and murderous actions.

“It’s also important to note that the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of ESO are not just ports of the PC/Mac game,” Firor explained. “We have completely replaced the PC user interface with a console-specific UI designed from the ground-up with a controller and a living room play experience in mind. We’ve also added voice chat and full integration with XBL and PSN. Expect to see lots of news about our console versions in early 2015.”

A February or March release looks to be the earliest we will see The Elder Scrolls Online on the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One based on this news. Is that a good time for you to jump in with a MMORPG on consoles or do you have other interests? Sound off in the comments below.

[Images via Elder Scrolls Online]