So no new trial is payment back and class refreshes are dramatically scaled back until 2027. Unfortunately we know why, but it's still disheartening. Especially for Warden mains who were looking forward to being next and getting their stuff delayed until next year...

DK and WW is the meta for the rest of the year...

Thank you for the information.

The idea that the refreshes are being pushed back that far though is very disappointing. I understand that things are difficult, but the balance of the game is in a disastrous state, and leaving it part-finished only exacerbates the existing problems.

Combat and Class balance is something that affects all facets of the game, from the most casual of overland questing to hypersweaty PvP. Leaving that to languish for any length of time will only serve to drive more and more people away. This is especially obvious from the recent surprise Vengeance test - Vengeance as it currently is was running fine and had a population that enjoyed it as is, so the Combat Team taking time away from the Refreshes to focus on modifying that mode (especially in a way that removed what its main userbase enjoyed to try in vain to entice a userbase that wants nothing to do with it) seemed like a case of skewed priorities.

In addition, we had confirmation that new features for Combat (e.g. the addition of new Skill Lines) was on hold until the Refreshes were finished, which makes sense. However, over the past year, we have seen several examples of other MMOs releasing new Classes, which is always a driver of more engagement (much more so than forced FOMO). With the Refreshes being delayed, that also then delays the release of any potential new Classes - we were already considering that a new Class would not be possible until 2028 at the earliest (making it 5 years since Arcanist, which would be the longest gap between new Classes releasing), and now that is likely to be an even longer gap.

I understand the hardships the team is now facing, but there is nothing this game can do that is more important than finishing the Class Refreshes in a timely manner. And until they are done, every single thing the game releases, particularly if it comes from the Combat Team, will always come with the question of “why did they prioritize this over the Refreshes?”

I would also like to request that the Combat team be more willing to communicate. The other Teams had wonderful communication over the past few months, and we all were interested in seeing the updates on the DevChat streams and the increased interaction from the PTS made it feel like we were valued as players. Unfortunately the Combat Team has not gotten on board with that increased level of communication, and now we know most of the other Teams Leads were caught in the reorganization. We are hoping that the communication level is not one of the things sacrificed going forward.

Thank you for the communication Nick!


it is nice that this post has some dates months in advance and new images for 2026 and Season 1.

Good that you make it clear you are still working on the things you announced like Class Refresh and a Skyrim zone.
I did not doubt it, but i have seen others doubt it.

For the Class and Combat refresh, we are targeting 2027 for the next refresh. However, we are discussing some interim options for the classes still awaiting their full refresh to improve your player experience in the meantime.

i hope the Warden Refresh is in update 53 and i am looking forward to what those interim options might be for i assume update 52.

Thank you, Nick (and Kevin for posting this). As unfortunate as it is, definitely saw this coming and I’m glad you are dedicated to finishing updates instead of pushing them half-baked. I’m hoping for the best for you all.

For the Class and Combat refresh, we are targeting 2027 for the next refresh. However, we are discussing some interim options for the classes still awaiting their full refresh to improve your player experience in the meantime.

I'm just saddened where the game and studio is right now.

Most of what's promising for me personally is being pushed out. That means my engagement is being pushed out. That's just where we are, you know. Some of the upcoming content sounds interesting - the High Seas and Straight to the Crate events and the Nowhere Vault system. Seeing the drop rates of Nowhere Keys makes me really hesitant though. I just hope it's rewarding. So far this year, I'm not confident in that. Seems like RNG is still an issue, along with scarce rewards.

The Warden thing's really bothered me. It's fine that it got pushed out, I'm not upset about that. But I am just upset by the lack of transparency on it. That's my main class, so it's something that I absolutely want transparency on and not wait months and months for scant information. We had great communication with the DK refresh, not sure why we can't have that here. I really don't appreciate how weirdly that's been treated.

In any case, hope you guys finding your footing.

Appreciate the letter, thank you. Whether it's what people want to hear or not is debateable, but at least it's a substantial update.

Kind of sapped of excitement with the Warden announcement and what it means for those of us playing classes way further down the list, not going to lie.

I understand why this has happened, but still doesn't feel great.

Development slowdown after the brutal layoffs is now hopefully apparent to all the people who kept saying that "nothing will change" and that somehow "it was a good thing"...
This is beyond terrible news, I came back to the game this spring lured with new direction that game had under new director and the good changes already done and promised. Now it's all falling down ;(

Honestly, if you gonna bring back 3 team BG`s, you NEED to give us how it was when BG`s released. Give us the option to pick the mode we want to play. I absolutely dread to play objective modes with 3 teams. It´s absolutely horrible and anti-PvP where you´re rewarded for avoiding the other teams and not fighting. As much as people cope on 2 team BG´s, the objective modes was 100x better because you actually had to engage with the other team and PvP.

Thank you for the update! Very unfortunate to hear about the class rework seemingly being pushed back a long ways. As was mentioned in the article, I hope that interim increases for non-reworked specs can be given where possible!

Thank you for the update.

As already expressed by other fellow players disappointing, but understandable.

On the positive side QoL, at least what was already 'on the cards', is going ahead. I was dreading that it would become a casualty of the layoffs. The QoL team was doing Z'en's work, they deserved better. Everyone did.

Honestly, I'm so fine with these updates. Bringing back three-team BGs permanently is also absolutely massive. The continued focus on improving what's there and delivering new content only when it is good enough is music to my ears.

Thank you for this update.

Totally understand that you have to change schedules & priorities after what has happened to ZOS; it must be hard working there at the moment.

And I’d rather wait for stuff than get it half-arsed.

Some may be annoyed or disappointed about certain things, especially the Warden refresh, but again, do it well rather than fast is best. (Re: pvp dk/ww meta - there’s always a meta. Just work out how to counter. Though if the devs are reading this might suggest bringing back poison susceptibility?!).

And if you are looking to add mounted combat to a trial, then take as long as you like! As long as I can bring my war mammoth!

But thank you. And hope things get easier.

1 rework a year will hammer the final nails in the coffin in for the balance of the game.

As it stands - at the bare minimum we need class masteries removed from reworked classes, as well remove WW ability to benefit from non-WW class masteries. Class masteries were introduced as a way to bridge the gap between reworked and unreworked classes, so it makes absolutely no sense to give them to the reworked classes, further raising their power floor.