The Elder Scrolls Online Beta to Hit PS4 and Xbox One This Week

The latest major MMORPG to go subscription-less, The Elder Scrolls Online, is hosting a big beta event to prepare for its long overdue current-gen console debut.

Bethesda Softworks has announced that it's launching a closed beta for The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited on PS4 and Xbox One starting April 23. Given that the beta is closed, you're going to need an invite to play (you can still sign up at the game's official website, but not everyone is guaranteed an invite). The beta will last from 10:00AM EST on April 23 to the same time on April 27. This is likely to stress-test its servers before the console versions go live in June. Despite the closed nature of the beta, feel free to livestream, broadcast, share footage and post your thoughts about it on the Internet, as Bethesda is boasting that the beta features the full console version of the game. As you should expect, you can't incorporate any of your previous characters from the PC version and your progress made throughout the beta will be erased on the morning of April 27.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited will launch on June 9 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, a full year after its original intended console launch date. It'll cost the full $59.99 price as most other current-gen games. Luckily, the MMORPG no longer has its subscription requirement to play, but there is a $14.99 monthly Elder Scrolls Online Plus membership you can opt-into, which gives you all kinds of premium content, new DLC and Crowns (a special type of in-game currency) for subscribing. Make sure you save some space, as ESO's data size goes well beyond the capacity of your average blu-ray disc and a hefty day-one patch will be necessary. Just imagine how much space you'll need to go fully digital...