Elder Scrolls Online puts Update 50 on the PTS with overland challenge mode and PvP changes

The Elder Scrolls Online has opened Update 50 testing on the PTS, giving players an early look at one of the bigger additions in the patch: a new overland difficulty option called Challenge difficulty. The test build also includes the new PvP Veterancy system, Class Mastery skill lines, updated Werewolf models and skills, new story content, and the first Dynamic World Events.

According to the official post, not everything tied to this update and the broader seasonal rollout is live on the test server yet. ZeniMax says some Season One content will be switched on later in the PTS cycle, including Thieves Guild story content, the new Favors system, and additional story content focused on Sheogorath.

For a lot of MMO players, the headline here is the overland difficulty setting. ESO’s open-world content has long been criticized for being too easy once you’re established, so this is the first real public test of a harder option for regular adventuring outside of dungeons and trials.

Update 50 is scheduled to launch on June 8. That’s set to arrive about a month before Season One begins. In the shorter term, ESO’s Night Market event is also on the way, with that starting April 29.

If you’re looking for the finer details of what’s currently in the build, the patch notes break down the PTS changes in full.