ZeniMax Online, the recently formed MMO developer for ZeniMax Media, has acquired the rights to use the HeroEngine for an as yet untitled MMO and in true style, everyone is talking Elder Scrolls.

The HeroEngine is a 3D engine and server technology platform originally developed for use in the MMO title, "Heroes Journey," and has recently seen wide interest from other developers, with ZeniMax Online and BioWare/Lucas Arts both acquiring the engine for use on MMO projects.

Despite the acquisition, there is still no confirmation of what the title will be but most bets are on Bethesda's highly successful Elder Scrolls franchise making the transition to an MMO environment.

Fingers crossed.

Bethesda Softworks, creators of the famed Elder Scrolls series of RPG games, has been playing its card close to its chest and not revealing anything about a future Elder Scrolls MMO.

Speculation has recently emerged over Bethesdas first MMO title taking place under the Elder Scrolls banner and the reason beind this is the registration of elderscrollsonline.com to ZeniMax Media, Bethesdas parent company.

Pete Hines, an executive VP from Bethesda quickly pointed out that ZeniMax Online had recently been set up to deal with MMO titles but wasn't about to reveal anything of interest to CVG.

When asked about the possibility of an Elder Scrolls MMO, Hine didn't say no but he didn't say yes either, chosing to shroud the entire possibility in complex wordings.

Recently, Bethesda, a subsidary of ZeniMax Media and the famed creator of the Elder Scrolls series, recieved a massive $300 million to go towards an as yet unannounced MMO title, among other things. Speculation as to what the title may be has been thrown in favour of one camp of Bethesda fans.

It appears that the domain EDLERSCROLLSONLINE.COM has been registered by the developers parent, ZeniMax Media, which adds to the growing speculation that the first MMO title out of the RPG veteran will indeed be the transition of the Elder Scrolls series from single player gameplay to the MMO format.

For those of you that don't know, Oblivion, the latest game in the Elder Scrolls franchise, was credit with being the closest a single player game could get to feeling like an MMO, which suggest that the company may have been thinking about the idea for quite a while.

Bethesda have not confirmed or denied this rumor and it seems unlikely that they will do so at any point in the near future.