ESO Rumors Database

Rumors are narrative scavenger hunts that are hidden all over Tamriel. Here is a list of all and how to solve them.

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Rumors are a new type of content coming to The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) in Season One. They work like scavenger hunts scattered across the world. You find a rumor, get a set of clues and track down the answer yourself with no quest markers to guide you.

ESO Rumors are a new clue-driven exploration system coming to The Elder Scrolls Online in Update 51. ZOS previewed the Rumors system during the April 9 2026 dev stream and first introduced it at the 2026 ESO Seasons Direct as part of Season One content. 

ESO Rumors at a Glance

  • Release: Update 51, Season One
  • Access: Free for all players
  • System: Clue-driven, no quest markers, tracked in a new journal section (Whispers, Plots, Conspiracies)
ESO Rumors journal section as shown during the 2026 Seasons Direct stream
ESO Rumors journal section as shown during the 2026 Seasons Direct stream

What Are Rumors in ESO?

The Rumors system brings marker-free exploration to ESO in Season One
The Rumors system brings marker-free exploration to ESO in Season One

Rumors in ESO are clue-based scavenger hunts hidden across Tamriel. You find a rumor in the world, pick it up and then follow a chain of clues to solve it. They arrive in Season One alongside Favors and Dynamic Encounters.

Each rumor is tracked in a new Rumors tab in the ESO journal, sitting under Quests alongside your other active content.

  • No waypoints
  • No compass markers
  • No glowing quest objectives
  • You read the clues, explore and solve it

Jason Barnes (Associate Design Director) specifically compared this to TES III: Morrowind, where quest directions were written out and you navigated by paying attention. 

How ESO Rumors Work

ZOS compared ESO Rumors to classic TES III: Morrowind questing
ZOS compared ESO Rumors to classic TES III: Morrowind questing

Based on the Seasons Direct stream:

  • Discovery: Rumors are hidden throughout the world. To help players engage with the system without pixel hunting, rumors have a small mouse-over hint on pickup, described on stream as similar to an old school skyshard hint. That is the only guidance ZOS provides.
  • Clue collection: Once you pick a rumor up, it is added to your rumor journal. Each clue includes a book or a visual that hints at where the next clue can be found.
  • On your own: After the initial pickup hint, there is no further hand-holding. You read the clues, explore and solve it.
  • Structure: Some rumors are linear. Others are wide open and can be tackled in any order. ZOS has said there is a lot of variety in how rumors play out.
  • Endings: Most rumors have multiple endings and the player can choose how to end them. Some rumors also have hidden secret endings for players who pay close attention.

ESO Rumors Rewards

Rumors offer scavenger hunt gameplay with no quest markers in ESO
Rumors offer scavenger hunt gameplay with no quest markers in ESO

No specific rewards have been confirmed for solving rumors. ZOS did not mention loot, collectibles or currencies tied to the system during the Seasons Direct. Given that rumors involve multiple endings and hidden layers, it's reasonable to expect completion rewards, but nothing has been announced.

The Three ESO Rumor Tiers

The three ESO Rumor tiers sit as separate categories in the journal under Rumors
The three ESO Rumor tiers sit as separate categories in the journal under Rumors

ESO Rumors come in three difficulty tiers, tracked as separate categories in the journal. ZOS compared the tier system to bronze, silver and gold but with better names.

  1. Whispers (Easiest)
  2. Plots (Harder)
  3. Conspiracies (Hardest)

Where to Find ESO Rumors

The ESO Rumors starter quest is in Daggerfall, with more rumors spread across base game zones
The ESO Rumors starter quest is in Daggerfall, with more rumors spread across base game zones

ESO Rumors are spread across base game content. The starter quest is in Daggerfall, where an NPC explains how the system works.

Confirmed zones include:

All of this content is part of the base game as of Update 49, so no DLC is required to take part.

Rumor Progress Is Per Character

Rumors are character specific so you can chase different endings on different characters
Rumors are character specific so you can chase different endings on different characters

ESO Rumors are per character, not per account. ZOS made this call so you can chase different endings on different characters, the same way you would replay a quest to see another outcome. Pick an ending you like on your main, then roll the same rumor on an alt to see what happens if you make different choices.