[Column] Elder Scrolls Online: With A New Roadmap, ESO Feels Back on Track

SBFord

Zenimax has been sharing details about The Elder Scrolls Online’s first DLC content, The Imperial City for about three weeks. Last week’s QuakeCon presentation centralized all the details of the Imperial City all in one place, while also living up to the “Beyond” portion of the presentation’s title with some new details about what to expect from both the game and its future DLC content.

Read more of Christina Gonzalez's Elder Scrolls Online: With New Roadmap, ESO Feels Back on Track.

meonthissite

I've been played an MMO that genuinely makes me excited to login everyday in a long long time. I get that feeling everytime I login on this title. It's so nice to have developers that aren't trying to manipulate your wallet or trying to cater to their shareholders instead of the players.

Volgore

Sounds like this is finally becoming a complete package and something for me to look out for this fall/winter, when my gaming season starts.

SpottyGekko

Yup, the next year of ESO certainly looks well provided for. But what happens after that ?

 

The Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood are well-established parts of the canon, so it can be expected that they will sell well. Orsinium is less of a staple feature, so it's a bit of "padding" to fill out the DLC schedule ahead of the two important DLC's.

 

How will the "new stories" be received, I wonder ? All these new stories have to be created in way that doesn't upset the existing lore and timeline of the "later" games in the ES IP, so they don't really have free reign in the plot design department.

DAS1337

You're a damned liar.

 

I pre-ordered, so I've been here since the beginning.  Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood were never promised.  They were never confirmed.  Only teased here and there.  Only just recently did we get any idea as to when it might be coming.  Also, any additional content was going to be free even before they made subscriptions optional.  Therefore, there is no additional price tag.  It's still free for subscribing members. 

 

Maybe you should stick to reporting facts instead of trying to insert your own 'uninformed' opinion about MMO's. 

heroofnone

Been having fun doing streams on the PTS server the past week ( ) but hope they give more polish to the city and combat. It's fun with the back and forth, but with "open world" PVP there are a lot that will stack up on one faction and roll over everything. This may improve but I feel ZOS has rarely strayed from their roadmap, despite player input, and are moving the train along the premade track, just getting the money a different way. It's not a bad thing, things are exciting to play and a lot more reactive than other MMOs. Still I would like to see more about things they are "looking into" and throw the community a bone with some of Thier requests like: instanced PVP matches, player housing, etc.

They have delivered a lot, just hoping they go a little off road from Thier road map here and there

rojoArcueid

Originally posted by DAS1337

You're a damned liar.

 

I pre-ordered, so I've been here since the beginning.  Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood were never promised.  They were never confirmed.  Only teased here and there.  Only just recently did we get any idea as to when it might be coming.  Also, any additional content was going to be free even before they made subscriptions optional.  Therefore, there is no additional price tag.  It's still free for subscribing members. 

 

Maybe you should stick to reporting facts instead of trying to insert your own 'uninformed' opinion about MMO's. 

Playing a game from the begining doesnt give you any information about content they have announced or whatever.

If you have ever watched ESOLIVE you should know by now that Thieves and Brotherhood should have been in the game already, or even before the imperial city DLC. Before you go all out calling people liars go do some research, not just play the game. But since you didnt do your homework on that, i wont do it for you.

Bladestrom

Quantify 'should'

Greatsword

Could be a great game. But why does blocking with a greatsword look like a hunchback monkey holding a shovel?

Unfortunately I am too OCD about stuff like this to let it slide.

bcbully

ESO is doing a lot right. It's hard to believe I've already been playing for a 18 months. That's my second longest stent in a mmorpg next to WoW. On top of that I'm just as eager to log in, create builds and find new ways to kill as I was in month 2. 

 

For this long time rpg player ESO is going to be a tough act to follow. 

Brenics

LOL on the right track.  I was hoping this was a joke. Yes Thieves Guild and dark brotherhood was promised a long time ago when it was a subbed game. They are running a contest on PTS and even that they get wrong on the rules in one post. This sums up everything how the company is run. One person has no clue what other person is doing or saying.

The company is hurting in players and are not doing one thing to try and get those players back. If they really wanted to save the game instead of IC they should drop everything and fix the lag in PvP. Then give IC for free to bring back players and then release the next PVE expansion on the crown store.  That would go far in helping restore the trust with players old and new.

Sad part the company has no clue on how to run a good PR campaign.

JeroKane

Originally posted by rojoArcueid

Originally posted by DAS1337

You're a damned liar.

 

I pre-ordered, so I've been here since the beginning.  Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood were never promised.  They were never confirmed.  Only teased here and there.  Only just recently did we get any idea as to when it might be coming.  Also, any additional content was going to be free even before they made subscriptions optional.  Therefore, there is no additional price tag.  It's still free for subscribing members. 

 

Maybe you should stick to reporting facts instead of trying to insert your own 'uninformed' opinion about MMO's. 

Playing a game from the begining doesnt give you any information about content they have announced or whatever.

If you have ever watched ESOLIVE you should know by now that Thieves and Brotherhood should have been in the game already, or even before the imperial city DLC. Before you go all out calling people liars go do some research, not just play the game. But since you didnt do your homework on that, i wont do it for you.

And don't forget about the horrible Veteran rank system. That system was supposed to be gone by now too. It suddenly got all silent about this before the F2P announcement, never to hear about this horrible system removal again.  /shrug

Bladestrom

1) if you actually read shit instead of skimming you would know they have aknowledged that pvp lag issues are at least partially related to
Long suspected range calcs and are actively working on them now.

2) all account is IC is looking good and it absolutely is the best next thing to go after since pvp needs some love.

3) it is free if you use your brain, wah wah wah i want something for free - wrong game.

Brenics

Originally posted by Bladestrom
1) if you actually read shit instead of skimming you would know they have aknowledged that pvp lag issues are at least partially related to
Long suspected range calcs and are actively working on them now.

2) all account is IC is looking good and it absolutely is the best next thing to go after since pvp needs some love.

3) it is free if you use your brain, wah wah wah i want something for free - wrong game.

LOL typical response. Like I said they need a good PR to bring players back. But your response is exactly what is wrong with the developers of the game. They think like you. :-D

josko9

Originally posted by Brenics

LOL on the right track.  I was hoping this was a joke. Yes Thieves Guild and dark brotherhood was promised a long time ago when it was a subbed game. They are running a contest on PTS and even that they get wrong on the rules in one post. This sums up everything how the company is run. One person has no clue what other person is doing or saying.

The company is hurting in players and are not doing one thing to try and get those players back. If they really wanted to save the game instead of IC they should drop everything and fix the lag in PvP. Then give IC for free to bring back players and then release the next PVE expansion on the crown store.  That would go far in helping restore the trust with players old and new.

Sad part the company has no clue on how to run a good PR campaign.

Hurting in players? Haha ESO is probably the most populated Western MMO and still growing.

Bladestrom

Nope apparantly ita all an illusion, to fix the game we need 'PR' and free stuff

Brenics

Originally posted by josko9

Originally posted by Brenics

LOL on the right track.  I was hoping this was a joke. Yes Thieves Guild and dark brotherhood was promised a long time ago when it was a subbed game. They are running a contest on PTS and even that they get wrong on the rules in one post. This sums up everything how the company is run. One person has no clue what other person is doing or saying.

The company is hurting in players and are not doing one thing to try and get those players back. If they really wanted to save the game instead of IC they should drop everything and fix the lag in PvP. Then give IC for free to bring back players and then release the next PVE expansion on the crown store.  That would go far in helping restore the trust with players old and new.

Sad part the company has no clue on how to run a good PR campaign.

Hurting in players? Haha ESO is probably the most populated Western MMO and still growing.

Bigger than WoW? I didn't know that, I wonder why they went with a crown store then? LOL

josko9

Originally posted by Brenics

Originally posted by josko9

Originally posted by Brenics

LOL on the right track.  I was hoping this was a joke. Yes Thieves Guild and dark brotherhood was promised a long time ago when it was a subbed game. They are running a contest on PTS and even that they get wrong on the rules in one post. This sums up everything how the company is run. One person has no clue what other person is doing or saying.

The company is hurting in players and are not doing one thing to try and get those players back. If they really wanted to save the game instead of IC they should drop everything and fix the lag in PvP. Then give IC for free to bring back players and then release the next PVE expansion on the crown store.  That would go far in helping restore the trust with players old and new.

Sad part the company has no clue on how to run a good PR campaign.

Hurting in players? Haha ESO is probably the most populated Western MMO and still growing.

Bigger than WoW? I didn't know that, I wonder why they went with a crown store then? LOL

Right because WoW is that big in the West? haha

Besides WoW is bleeding subscribers left and right.

 

And what exactly is wrong with the Crown Store? Or do you mean the B2P transition? Because unless you didn't know ESO is more of a hybrid between B2P and P2P, though leaning more towards P2P. This transition was needed because of Microsoft's restrictions on PS4 and had nothing to do with the lack of players. ESO sold millions of copies on both Console platforms, but hey think whatever you want.

SlyLoK

Looking good but a few things are wrong in the article. There is no additional cost and the thieves guild and dark brotherhood where only talked about with a complete justice system but that isn't ready but will be when those arrive.

Timesplit

I would agree, but i just can't. The sole fact that they had to increase the Cyrodill buff (debuff) means they failed as designers. You may think they're actually listening to players, but for the most part they stick their head in the sand instead. They need a change of management at ZOS to root out some of the more obvious problems.

 

IC is pretty much Nightblade City.

SavageHorizon

Originally posted by josko9

Originally posted by Brenics
Originally posted by josko9
Originally posted by Brenics
LOL on the right track.  I was hoping this was a joke. Yes Thieves Guild and dark brotherhood was promised a long time ago when it was a subbed game. They are running a contest on PTS and even that they get wrong on the rules in one post. This sums up everything how the company is run. One person has no clue what other person is doing or saying. The company is hurting in players and are not doing one thing to try and get those players back. If they really wanted to save the game instead of IC they should drop everything and fix the lag in PvP. Then give IC for free to bring back players and then release the next PVE expansion on the crown store.  That would go far in helping restore the trust with players old and new. Sad part the company has no clue on how to run a good PR campaign.

Hurting in players? Haha ESO is probably the most populated Western MMO and still growing.

Bigger than WoW? I didn't know that, I wonder why they went with a crown store then? LOL

Right because WoW is that big in the West? haha

Besides WoW is bleeding subscribers left and right.

 

And what exactly is wrong with the Crown Store? Or do you mean the B2P transition? Because unless you didn't know ESO is more of a hybrid between B2P and P2P, though leaning more towards P2P. This transition was needed because of Microsoft's restrictions on PS4 and had nothing to do with the lack of players. ESO sold millions of copies on both Console platforms, but hey think whatever you want.

 

Lol you are talking shit, Wow has a bigger player base that ESO in the west. Ah look Wow is down to 5.1/7? million subs, so freaking what it still trumps your beloved game. As for selling millions on consoles,sorry it sold around the 600k on PS4 and similar on the XB1. The most played mmo on XB1 is NWN and on the Ps4 it's Ffxiv are and Destiny. You love the game and that fine but stop talking delusional rubbish.

josko9

Originally posted by SavageHorizon

Originally posted by josko9

Originally posted by Brenics

Originally posted by josko9

Originally posted by Brenics

LOL on the right track.  I was hoping this was a joke. Yes Thieves Guild and dark brotherhood was promised a long time ago when it was a subbed game. They are running a contest on PTS and even that they get wrong on the rules in one post. This sums up everything how the company is run. One person has no clue what other person is doing or saying.

The company is hurting in players and are not doing one thing to try and get those players back. If they really wanted to save the game instead of IC they should drop everything and fix the lag in PvP. Then give IC for free to bring back players and then release the next PVE expansion on the crown store.  That would go far in helping restore the trust with players old and new.

Sad part the company has no clue on how to run a good PR campaign.

Hurting in players? Haha ESO is probably the most populated Western MMO and still growing.

Bigger than WoW? I didn't know that, I wonder why they went with a crown store then? LOL

Right because WoW is that big in the West? haha

Besides WoW is bleeding subscribers left and right.

 

And what exactly is wrong with the Crown Store? Or do you mean the B2P transition? Because unless you didn't know ESO is more of a hybrid between B2P and P2P, though leaning more towards P2P. This transition was needed because of Microsoft's restrictions on PS4 and had nothing to do with the lack of players. ESO sold millions of copies on both Console platforms, but hey think whatever you want.

 

Lol you are talking shit, Wow has a bigger player base that ESO in the west. Ah look Wow is down to 5.1/7? million subs, so freaking what it still trumps your beloved game. As for selling millions on consoles,sorry it sold around the 600k on PS4 and similar on the XB1. The most played mmo on XB1 is NWN and on the Ps4 it's Ffxiv are and Destiny. You love the game and that fine but stop talking delusional rubbish.

1. WoW has less than 2mil players in the West.

2. ESO sold 1mil physical copies on both PS4 and X1 in just 3 weeks.

3. ESO outsold Heavensward BY A LOT in the launch month of Heavensward.

4. ESO sold somewhere between 3-5 million copies on the PC side.

 

SavageHorizon

Originally posted by josko9

Originally posted by SavageHorizon
Originally posted by josko9
Originally posted by Brenics
Originally posted by josko9
Originally posted by Brenics
LOL on the right track.  I was hoping this was a joke. Yes Thieves Guild and dark brotherhood was promised a long time ago when it was a subbed game. They are running a contest on PTS and even that they get wrong on the rules in one post. This sums up everything how the company is run. One person has no clue what other person is doing or saying. The company is hurting in players and are not doing one thing to try and get those players back. If they really wanted to save the game instead of IC they should drop everything and fix the lag in PvP. Then give IC for free to bring back players and then release the next PVE expansion on the crown store.  That would go far in helping restore the trust with players old and new. Sad part the company has no clue on how to run a good PR campaign.

Hurting in players? Haha ESO is probably the most populated Western MMO and still growing.

Bigger than WoW? I didn't know that, I wonder why they went with a crown store then? LOL

Right because WoW is that big in the West? haha

Besides WoW is bleeding subscribers left and right.

 

And what exactly is wrong with the Crown Store? Or do you mean the B2P transition? Because unless you didn't know ESO is more of a hybrid between B2P and P2P, though leaning more towards P2P. This transition was needed because of Microsoft's restrictions on PS4 and had nothing to do with the lack of players. ESO sold millions of copies on both Console platforms, but hey think whatever you want.

 

Lol you are talking shit, Wow has a bigger player base that ESO in the west. Ah look Wow is down to 5.1/7? million subs, so freaking what it still trumps your beloved game. As for selling millions on consoles,sorry it sold around the 600k on PS4 and similar on the XB1. The most played mmo on XB1 is NWN and on the Ps4 it's Ffxiv are and Destiny. You love the game and that fine but stop talking delusional rubbish.

1. WoW has less than 2mil players in the West.

2. ESO sold 1mil physical copies on both PS4 and X1 in just 3 weeks.

3. ESO outsold Heavensward BY A LOT in the launch month of Heavensward.

4. ESO sold somewhere between 3-5 million copies on the PC side.

 

 

Really so link me all these figures because I'm calling bullshit on your claims.

reeereee

Originally posted by josko9

Originally posted by Brenics

Originally posted by josko9

Originally posted by Brenics

LOL on the right track.  I was hoping this was a joke. Yes Thieves Guild and dark brotherhood was promised a long time ago when it was a subbed game. They are running a contest on PTS and even that they get wrong on the rules in one post. This sums up everything how the company is run. One person has no clue what other person is doing or saying.

The company is hurting in players and are not doing one thing to try and get those players back. If they really wanted to save the game instead of IC they should drop everything and fix the lag in PvP. Then give IC for free to bring back players and then release the next PVE expansion on the crown store.  That would go far in helping restore the trust with players old and new.

Sad part the company has no clue on how to run a good PR campaign.

Hurting in players? Haha ESO is probably the most populated Western MMO and still growing.

Bigger than WoW? I didn't know that, I wonder why they went with a crown store then? LOL

Right because WoW is that big in the West? haha

Besides WoW is bleeding subscribers left and right.

 

And what exactly is wrong with the Crown Store? Or do you mean the B2P transition? Because unless you didn't know ESO is more of a hybrid between B2P and P2P, though leaning more towards P2P. This transition was needed because of Microsoft's restrictions on PS4 and had nothing to do with the lack of players. ESO sold millions of copies on both Console platforms, but hey think whatever you want.

ESO is not a B2P P2P hybrid model.  Nearly every F2P game in the western market has some kind of subscription option.  That does not make them F2P P2P hybrids, that makes them a standard F2P game.  ESO isn't hybrid anything it's straight up B2P.

josko9

Originally posted by SavageHorizon

Originally posted by josko9

Originally posted by SavageHorizon

Originally posted by josko9

Originally posted by Brenics

Originally posted by josko9

Originally posted by Brenics

LOL on the right track.  I was hoping this was a joke. Yes Thieves Guild and dark brotherhood was promised a long time ago when it was a subbed game. They are running a contest on PTS and even that they get wrong on the rules in one post. This sums up everything how the company is run. One person has no clue what other person is doing or saying.

The company is hurting in players and are not doing one thing to try and get those players back. If they really wanted to save the game instead of IC they should drop everything and fix the lag in PvP. Then give IC for free to bring back players and then release the next PVE expansion on the crown store.  That would go far in helping restore the trust with players old and new.

Sad part the company has no clue on how to run a good PR campaign.

Hurting in players? Haha ESO is probably the most populated Western MMO and still growing.

Bigger than WoW? I didn't know that, I wonder why they went with a crown store then? LOL

Right because WoW is that big in the West? haha

Besides WoW is bleeding subscribers left and right.

 

And what exactly is wrong with the Crown Store? Or do you mean the B2P transition? Because unless you didn't know ESO is more of a hybrid between B2P and P2P, though leaning more towards P2P. This transition was needed because of Microsoft's restrictions on PS4 and had nothing to do with the lack of players. ESO sold millions of copies on both Console platforms, but hey think whatever you want.

 

Lol you are talking shit, Wow has a bigger player base that ESO in the west. Ah look Wow is down to 5.1/7? million subs, so freaking what it still trumps your beloved game. As for selling millions on consoles,sorry it sold around the 600k on PS4 and similar on the XB1. The most played mmo on XB1 is NWN and on the Ps4 it's Ffxiv are and Destiny. You love the game and that fine but stop talking delusional rubbish.

1. WoW has less than 2mil players in the West.

2. ESO sold 1mil physical copies on both PS4 and X1 in just 3 weeks.

3. ESO outsold Heavensward BY A LOT in the launch month of Heavensward.

4. ESO sold somewhere between 3-5 million copies on the PC side.

 

 

Really so link me all these figures because I'm calling bullshit on your claims.

And I should go bother to search it for you, why exactly?

But anyway even Best Seller for PS4 Amazon will reveal you the truth: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Video-Games-PlayStation/zgbs/videogames/6427831011#1

 

- ESO -> #15

- Heavensward -> #88

 

Or how about this: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/07/08/playstation-store-junes-top-sellers/

ESO was the best selling game in June 2015. FFXIV #19.

And as you can see ESO+ managed to outsell expansion Heavensward as well, which was at #4.

SpottyGekko

Originally posted by reeereee

Originally posted by josko9

Originally posted by Brenics

Originally posted by josko9

.

Hurting in players? Haha ESO is probably the most populated Western MMO and still growing.

Bigger than WoW? I didn't know that, I wonder why they went with a crown store then? LOL

Right because WoW is that big in the West? haha

Besides WoW is bleeding subscribers left and right.

 

And what exactly is wrong with the Crown Store? Or do you mean the B2P transition? Because unless you didn't know ESO is more of a hybrid between B2P and P2P, though leaning more towards P2P. This transition was needed because of Microsoft's restrictions on PS4 and had nothing to do with the lack of players. ESO sold millions of copies on both Console platforms, but hey think whatever you want.

ESO is not a B2P P2P hybrid model.  Nearly every F2P game in the western market has some kind of subscription option.  That does not make them F2P P2P hybrids, that makes them a standard F2P game.  ESO isn't hybrid anything it's straight up B2P.

ESO is a B2P P2P hybrid.

 

F2P - No purchase upfront, but pay for each DLC to access that content.

B2P - Buy the game and pay for each DLC to access that content.

 

 

ESO hybrid model:

• B2P - Buy the game and pay for each DLC to access that content.

OR

• P2P - Buy the game and pay a monthly subscription to get access to ALL DLC's for no extra cost.