Reception improved significantly with the March 2015 re-release and rebranding as The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, transitioning to a buy-to-play model with microtransactions and an optional subscription.

Its structure is broadly similar to Skyrim, with two separate conflicts progressing at the same time, one with the fate of the world in the balance, and one where the prize is supreme power on Tamriel.

In The Elder Scrolls Online, the first struggle is against the Daedric Prince Molag Bal, who is attempting to meld the plane of Mundus with his realm of Coldharbour, and the second is to capture the vacant imperial throne, contested by three alliances of the mortal races.

Players have the opportunity to join any of the three factions warring over the Ruby Throne of the Emperor of Tamriel:[2] the First Aldmeri Dominion (represented by an eagle) led by Queen Ayrenn and composed of the Altmer (High Elf), Bosmer (Wood Elf), and Khajiit races; the Daggerfall Covenant (represented by a lion) led by High King Emeric and composed of the Bretons, Redguards, and Orsimer (Orcs); and the Ebonheart Pact (represented by a dragon) led by Jorunn Skald-King and composed of the Nord, Dunmer (Dark Elf), and Argonian races.

Pre-ordered copies of the game included the "Explorers' Pack" which allowed all races to be played in each of the factions, and this feature is also available in the Crown Store.

[11] The game begins in the Wailing Prison in Coldharbour, where the player character's soulless husk (known as a soul shriven) has been enslaved.

[2] After escaping, the base of operations becomes the Harborage, a cave found at each of the starting cities where the Prophet opens portals to the locations of the main questline.

Once the Amulet of Kings is retrieved, the headquarters shift to the Hollow City, a location in central Coldharbour blessed by Meridia.

Civilians saved from Coldharbour's prisons arrive in the Hollow City, and it is from there that attacks are orchestrated on Molag Bal's controlled areas.

[14] The game's development was funded by Providence Equity Partners and reinvested profits from the success of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

[15] Rumors of a massively multiplayer Elder Scrolls game had been circulating for years, first prompted by a domain registration by ZeniMax Media in November 2007 for ElderScrollsOnline.com.

[16] Information about the game and its imminent May 2012 announcement was leaked in March 2012 to online publication Tom's Guide by an anonymous industry source.

[18] Several actors were announced to voice characters in the game, including John Cleese, Bill Nighy, Kate Beckinsale, Lynda Carter, Alfred Molina, Michael Gambon, Jennifer Hale, Malcolm McDowell, and Peter Stormare.

Shortly after launch, some players reportedly were unable to activate the 30-day complimentary game time without a subscription and—in "a strange state of affairs" and "most likely a mistake"—after a full month had been paid for.

It includes the base game, a certain vanity item, and the four major DLCs: Imperial City, Orsinium, Thieves Guild, and Dark Brotherhood.

The expansion's story centers around an attempt by the three warring alliances to negotiate an end to the conflict in secret while being plotted against by a group known as the Ascendant Order.

The city itself is overrun by the forces of Daedric Prince Molag Bal, with every district and the central White-Gold Tower being merged into his realm.

[48] The Thieves Guild DLC was revealed by ZeniMax in a livestream to be set in a new area, Abah's Landing in Hammerfell, featuring an all-new quest line and new game mechanics.

[50] The 2015 E3 trailer ended with a note with a black hand on it that states, "We Know", a reference to the guild of assassins known as the Dark Brotherhood featured in previous Elder Scrolls games.

[45] The Dark Brotherhood DLC takes place on the Gold Coast of Cyrodiil, and introduces new story content and gameplay mechanics.

[53] Announced along with Horns of the Reach on June 12, 2017, Clockwork City was eventually released on October 23 for Windows and MacOS, and on November 11 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

[54] Murkmire was released in late October 2018, and concerns a previously unexplored region of Black Marsh, where the story is about a dead clan of Argonians.

[55] Dragonhold brings the year-long Season of the Dragon storyline to a conclusion with content including the Southern Elsweyr zone and new quests.

It brings the year-long Dark Heart of Skyrim storyline to an end with the introduction of The Reach zone, has a new solo arena, and has a new item collection system.

It includes two dungeons, Black Drake Villa and The Cauldron, and begins The Gates of Oblivion storyline, which is planned to continue in the Blackwood Chapter.

[73] Waking Flame is a dungeon DLC released on August 23, 2021, which will continue the Gates of Oblivion storyline following the Blackwood Chapter.

The update changed the core gameplay to allow players to play quests, explore areas, and group up with others without previously implemented restrictions.

There are over 40 different types of houses available; homes are styled after the game's ten playable races, and they come in furnished or unfurnished versions, which can be bought using in-game gold or with real money using crowns.

ZeniMax also announced that it would be coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on June 9, 2015, and that it would be rebranded as The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited.

The ability to share the adventure, somewhat clumsily, with friends is both a selling point and a pitfall, but those who concentrate their efforts on the Alliance War will find the experience worthwhile.