Elder Scrolls Online Xbox One/PS4 Beta Starts Tomorrow, Massive File Size Revealed

Ahead of The Elder Scrolls Online's release for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in June, Bethesda will hold a beta on both current-generation platforms starting tomorrow, the developer has announced.

The beta is described as "limited," and you'll need to receive an invitation to take part. if you've been accepted, you'll receive an email (check your spam!) with instructions for how to get started.

Bethesda warns that not everyone who signed up for the game's beta will be invited. It's unclear what criteria the developer is using to determine who gets in and who doesn't. If you do get in, it's recommended that you start your download right away due to the game's massive file size (more on that below).

The Elder Scrolls Online console beta begins Thursday, April 23, at 10 AM EDT and comes to a close on Monday, April 27, at 10 AM EDT.

Bethesda has also published a detailed FAQ about the beta. In it, the developer explains that there is no non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for the trial period; in fact, the studio said it encourages users to share screenshots and livestream their gameplay as much as they'd like.

The FAQ also mentions that any progress you make in the Elder Scrolls Online console beta will not carry forward to the full version when it arrives on June 9. It also points out that the console beta does not support cross-platform play and that the version of The Elder Scrolls Online included in the beta is the full game and nothing less. Check out the full FAQ for more.

Bethesda also released a handful of new screenshots today from the console versions of The Elder Scrolls Online. You can see those images in the gallery at the bottom of this post.

In addition, Bethesda today announced that the console version of The Elder Scrolls Online will be a massive download, weighing in at potentially more than 65 GB.

"The Elder Scrolls Online is an incredibly massive game, both in terms of sheer scope and the data required to bring you this truly enormous experience," the developer said. "At the moment, the client will exceed a 50 GB Blu-ray disc which means there will also be a large day-one patch that is somewhere in the region of 15 GB."

The Elder Scrolls Online was originally released for PC in April 2014. The console versions were at one point expected to launch that year, but were later delayed to 2015. In January, Bethesda announced that it was doing away with the game's mandatory monthly subscription fee, rebranding the game The Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited.

Bethesda is also offering a nice discount plan for people who already bought the PC/Mac edition and are looking to pick up the console version; you'll need to meet a few requirements, however.