# The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood

> 2021 expansion pack

**Wikidata**: [Q108871621](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108871621)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-elder-scrolls-online-blackwood

## Summary
The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood is a 2021 expansion add-on (chapter) for the massively multiplayer online role-playing game The Elder Scrolls Online. Developed by ZeniMax Online Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks, it was announced on 2021-01-26 and released in June 2021 for multiple platforms.

## Key Facts
- Title: The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood — an expansion add-on (chapter) for The Elder Scrolls Online.
- Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios (United States).
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks (United States).
- Announcement date: 2021-01-26.
- Publication dates: 2021-06-01 (worldwide for Microsoft Windows and macOS); 2021-06-08 (worldwide for PlayStation 4 and Q13361286); 2021-06-15 (worldwide for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S).
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows; macOS; PlayStation 4; PlayStation 5; Xbox Series X and Series S; (also listed: Q13361286).
- Director: Rich Lambert.
- Genre: Massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG).
- Distribution formats: digital distribution and optical disc; distributed by Steam and Google Stadia.
- Review aggregates: OpenCritic Top Critic Average 77/100 (21 critics, point in time 2021-09-13); OpenCritic Critics Recommend 70% (21 critics); CriticDB 78/100 (7 critics).
- Narrative location within the fiction: Cyrodiil and Black Marsh.
- Official website: https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/updates/chapter/blackwood (English).
- Instance of: expansion add-on; part of the The Elder Scrolls series and media franchise.
- License: proprietary.
- Language availability: English, Russian, French, German.

## FAQs
### Q: What is The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood?
A: It is a chapter (expansion add-on) for The Elder Scrolls Online, released in June 2021. It expands the base MMO with new content and takes place in Cyrodiil and Black Marsh.

### Q: On which platforms was Blackwood released?
A: Blackwood was released for Microsoft Windows and macOS on 2021-06-01; for PlayStation 4 (and Q13361286) on 2021-06-08; and for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on 2021-06-15.

### Q: Who developed and published Blackwood?
A: The expansion was developed by ZeniMax Online Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks.

### Q: How was Blackwood received by critics?
A: Aggregate scores include an OpenCritic Top Critic Average of 77/100 (21 critics) and a CriticDB rating of 78/100 (7 critics) as recorded in the provided sources.

### Q: Where can I find official information about Blackwood?
A: The official English update page is https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/updates/chapter/blackwood and additional detailed coverage appears on the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP) entry for Online:Blackwood (Chapter).

## Why It Matters
The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood represents a major post-launch chapter expansion for an ongoing MMORPG in a long-running and commercially significant franchise, The Elder Scrolls. As an expansion add-on, Blackwood continued Elder Scrolls Online’s model of regular chapters and content drops that extend the game world and narrative beyond the base game. Its June 2021 releases across PC, macOS, current and previous-generation consoles demonstrate the cross-platform support typical of modern online games and the developer/publisher commitment to a live-service title. The expansion is notable for situating new content in specific franchise locations (Cyrodiil and Black Marsh), thereby tying MMO content to the broader Elder Scrolls lore. The chapter’s multi-platform rollout, official distribution via major digital channels (including Steam and Google Stadia), and measurable critic reception (OpenCritic and CriticDB aggregates) make it a relevant case of ongoing franchise maintenance, cross-platform release strategy, and critical evaluation within the video game industry.

## Notable For
- Being an official 2021 chapter expansion to The Elder Scrolls Online developed by ZeniMax Online Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks.
- Launching in a staggered, cross-platform schedule in June 2021: PC/macOS (June 1), PlayStation 4 (June 8), and PlayStation 5/Xbox Series X|S (June 15).
- Earning aggregated critic scores in the high 70s (OpenCritic Top Critic Average 77/100; CriticDB 78/100).
- Director credit to Rich Lambert and availability in multiple languages (English, Russian, French, German).
- Distributed both digitally and on optical disc, and available via major platforms such as Steam and Google Stadia.

## Body

### Overview
- The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood is an expansion add-on (chapter) for the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online.
- It is part of The Elder Scrolls media franchise and takes place in the fictional locations Cyrodiil and Black Marsh.
- The expansion is licensed under a proprietary license.

### Development and Credits
- Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios, an American video game development company based in Hunt Valley (company inception 2007).
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks, an American video game publisher headquartered in Rockville.
- Director: Rich Lambert.

### Announcement and Release Dates
- Announcement date: 2021-01-26.
- Publication dates by platform (worldwide):
  - 2021-06-01 — Microsoft Windows and macOS.
  - 2021-06-08 — PlayStation 4 and Q13361286.
  - 2021-06-15 — PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S.

### Platforms and Distribution
- Platforms listed: Microsoft Windows; macOS; PlayStation 4; PlayStation 5; Xbox Series X and Series S; and Q13361286 (as listed in source data).
- Distribution formats: digital distribution and optical disc.
- Distributed by: Steam and Google Stadia (per structured properties).

### Reception and Scores
- OpenCritic Top Critic Average: 77/100 (21 critics; point in time 2021-09-13).
- OpenCritic Critics Recommend: 70% (21 critics; point in time 2021-09-13).
- CriticDB rating: 78/100 (7 critics).
- OpenCritic identifier: 11464.
- CriticDB game id: 79159 (with platform qualifiers).

### Metadata and Identifiers
- Official website (English): https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/updates/chapter/blackwood.
- vk_play_id: the-elder-scrolls-online-blackwood.
- stopgame_id: elder_scrolls_online_blackwood.
- rawg_game_id: the-elder-scrolls-online-blackwood.
- mobygames_game_id: 165615 (also listed under a former scheme as elder-scrolls-online-blackwood).
- metacritic_game_id: the-elder-scrolls-online-blackwood (qualifier provided).
- tuespwiki_id / UESP page: Online:Blackwood_(Chapter) — https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Online:Blackwood_(Chapter).

### Narrative and Languages
- Narrative location: Cyrodiil and Black Marsh within The Elder Scrolls universe.
- Languages of work or name: English, Russian, French, German.

## Schema Markup
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{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "VideoGame",
  "name": "The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood",
  "description": "The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood is a 2021 expansion add-on (chapter) for the massively multiplayer online role-playing game The Elder Scrolls Online.",
  "url": "https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/updates/chapter/blackwood",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Online:Blackwood_(Chapter)"
  ],
  "gamePlatform": [
    "Microsoft Windows",
    "macOS",
    "PlayStation 4",
    "PlayStation 5",
    "Xbox Series X",
    "Xbox Series S",
    "Q13361286"
  ],
  "author": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "ZeniMax Online Studios"
  },
  "genre": "Massively multiplayer online role-playing game"
}

## References

1. OpenCritic
2. [Q131917281](https://criticdb.com/games/the-elder-scrolls-online-blackwood)
3. [Online:Blackwood (Chapter) - The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP)](https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Online:Blackwood_(Chapter))
4. Q131917281