An ESO Direct is Coming in April, and the Team Previews Update 45's Visual Upgrades and QoL Tweaks

The Elder Scrolls Online is getting an ESO Direct stream on April 10th, and we should expect some major announcements. The team is also previewing some of the base game improvements, including zone overhauls, coming in Update 45 in March.

With the shift to a seasonal update cadence, an intent to use existing places, characters and otherwise add to and grow existing elements in Tamriel, April looks like it's going to give us a ton of information about what we can expect from ESO going forward. With Matt Firor’s letter in December noting the changes in direction, 2025 looks like a blend between the old and the new for a little while. All things point to this stream being a packed one, as they have said their major global announcement will be in April. April is also a year since the yearlong 10th anniversary celebrations began, so there could be something special to end on too, perhaps.

Now, though, they’re revealing more about Update 45, including visual zone upgrades, quality of life changes like improved base mount speed, crafting changes, and more.

Updating all of the five starter zones is important and plays off of prior efforts, the Wailing Prison from Update 44 as well as ongoing efforts to improve the new player experience and  early game. Their goal is to make these older starter zones similar in visual quality to newer zones that they've released in updates and Chapters. 

Bal Foyen, Bleakrock Isle, Betnikh, Khenarthi’s Roost, and Stros M’kai all get these visual overhauls, with improved lighting, textures for ground and water, as well as grass or flowers. Some get updated structures and some replacement props and elements that are intended to make things feel more lived in. Overhauls are tailored to each location as needed, and designer Greg Barley notes that Kenarthi’s Roost, for instance,  got updates to its docks and shipwrecks.

Tamriel is also getting a map cleanup and clearer messaging. Fewer wayshrines and other clutter will clog the map, and zone names appear when you zoom in.The base Mount speed is getting a boost to make them feel more useful earlier on. Some more changes involve crafting, clearer info about Mundus Stones to guide you in their use, and disguise items becoming collectibles.