The silence in regards to the console version of Elder Scrolls Online has been eerily unsettling. Like, “cancellation” unsettling. Until late last year, when the game removed its six month subscription option and forced user to continue on with either 30 or 90-day subscriptions, many were wondering if the game was even still set to hit consoles. But today pretty much solidifies that we will, in fact, be seeing the game sometime this year.

The Xbox One version of the game surfaced on the Microsoft Store this morning, and was originally labeled to be releasing on February 24 of this year. Here’s how the listing looked when folks first caught wind of it:

Did the Microsoft Store possibly just out the official release date of the Elder Scrolls Online console iteration? Either way, this obviously wasn’t meant to be seen, and the team on the back end of the Microsoft Store saw the error of their ways (or they were contacted by Bethesda about their placeholder date) because the listing has since changed to show simply “2015”.

Consumers are beginning to connect the dots on what possibly may be happening with Elder Scrolls Online. Given the six month subscription removal I mentioned before, many are suspecting that ESO will go free-to-play sometime within that period. When you take into account that the placeholder date is set for February 24– on a Tuesday, which is when games in North America are typically released– there’s a good shot that the game will simultaneously release on consoles and go free-to-play. When also considering how much of a struggle console games have had with the subscription model (see DC Universe Online), this is anything but far-fetched.

Are you still interested in picking up Elder Scrolls Online on console? Conjure the celestial magic of your fondest thoughts into the comments below.

[HT: VG247]