One Less Team In The Elder Scrolls Online's PvP Starting Today With The PC Launch Of Update 44

A new base-game update hits The Elder Scrolls Online's servers today on PC and all players, regardless of the expansions they own, will get to try out the improvements and updates the MMORPG's team is making.

The "major" change that Update 44 introduces is a revamp of the game's Battlegrounds PvP system. Previously, matches were a three team affair. This new update strikes an entire team from each match making Battlegrounds a 4v4 or an 8v8 battle for supremacy. You can queue up for the smaller skirmishes using the activity finder and you'll find that seven new maps have been added to the rotation. While 3-team battles may return for special events in the future, they won't be an option outside of those events.

Two new companions join the adventure in this update. The High Elf outcast Tanlorin mixes Dragonknight and Soul Magic abilities (the first Companion to do so). Zerith-var, on the other hand, is a Khajiit Necromancer from the distant past. However, these companions, like past companions, aren't free to all players. You'll be able to pick them up right away if you are an ESO Plus subscriber, but outside of that, you'll have to purchase these new friends via the Crown Store (cash shop).

If you've been scribing with the Gold Road expansion's new skill system, you'll see a few improvements made via this update. There's a new Grimoire to unlock allowing you to skill into "Banner Bearer" and slapping a banner on your back to buff allies. Additional existing scripts have also been modified to add them to 9 launch Grimoires. The full patch notes detail all the changes.

If you want a few new rewards, the "Golden Pursuits" system we previewed last week should be worth taking a look at once you boot up. However, the first campaign for this new system doesn't kick off until mid-November, likely right after Update 44 goes live for console players on November 13th.