Bethesda announced on Tuesday morning that signups for the Elder Scrolls Online closed beta is now open at ElderScrollsOnline.com. Players will be selected based on their hardware configuration, beta experience, gameplay style and more. Chosen participants will know more details and the actual timing of Bethesda's testing program at a later date, the company said.
"We’re really excited to get the game into players’ hands,” said Matt Firor, game director of The Elder Scrolls Online. “We receive invaluable feedback through the beta process, and that helps us ensure that the game will be one of the best online gaming experiences ever offered -- one worthy of The Elder Scrolls franchise."
The Elder Scrolls Online answers what many fans have called on for years: a persistent Elder Scrolls world. Using ZeniMax Online’s Megaserver technology, players will join one connected world with a built in social network that lets them stay up-to-date with everything their friends are doing. Megaserver technology avoids the hassle of shard selection, the company said.
The Elder Scrolls Online is slated for release in 2013 and is being developed by ZeniMax Online Studios. The studio is headed up by industry veteran Matt Firor who has more than 20 years of online game development experience including Mythic Entertainment's popular Dark Age of Camelot and its first two expansions.
"Whether playing alone, or with hundreds of friends, players can develop their own style of play as they embark upon an epic quest across Tamriel, the company said.
PC gamers with Macs will be happy to hear that they won't be left out of the loop this time. However, it seems that Windows 8 owners may have to take pause, as the entry from asks individuals to run DxDiag on Windows Vista and 7 only. We've reached out to Bethesda and ZeniMax on more information and will provide updates as soon as we hear back. UPDATE: Bethesda has confirmed Windows 8 support.
To sign up for the beta, head here. Completing all the optional sections will significantly increase your chances of being selected for beta participation, the form states. DirextX Diagnostic Tool info will be required to submit the closed beta application.
No specific release date for Elder Scrolls Online has been provided yet, though Bethesda has stated that it will be sometime in 2013. Considering that closed beta is launching sometime soon, it won't be surprising if the game launches before the second half of the year.
