Why You Shouldn’t Expect A Console Version Of Elder Scrolls Online…Or Want One

Pixel Gate writes:

''The Elder Scrolls Online has been one of the oddest MMO’s to release in quite some time. From announcement to release, the development window was rather short, even more so given the apparent scope of the game. Given the promise of both a PC and PS4/Xbox One release, the short development cycle comes off as rather suspect. After a PC release, and a console delay, Elder Scrolls Online turned out to be a bit off a mess, a MMO failing on core mechanics. Elder Scrolls Online is limping along, failing to live up to the hype, or even stand side by side competition, is a console version even a viable option any more?''

[ArchangelMike]

I don't understand the article?! Firstly, as the author acknowledges, console versions of ESO are still in development. There has been no news that the PS4 and XbOne versions have been cancelled.

Secondly, ESO on PC is not F2P, and at present there is no indication from Bethesda that it will become F2P.

The author is making assumptions - they may be legimite, but they are still assumptions none-the-less. For all we know Bethesda may learn from the PC launch and adapt the game for consoles. If so ESO might well find a solid audience on consoles. Skyrim sold phemoninally well on consoles and you have that fanbase to entice into ESO.

I can't see Bethesda cancelling the console editions of ESO at this stage, too much money has already been invested into the development. The game might eventually be F2P, but I can bet it will come to consoles eventually.

[GamerEuphoria]

It's never once claimed that ESO is free to play...no idea where you got that from to be fair.

Not a assumption, it's a opinion, it's not like the points were presented as fact if you get what i mean?

I honestly don't see them every popping out a console version, it's like Conan all over again if you remember that wonderful time of 'it's coming' and it never did!

[ArchangelMike]

Why are you getting so uptight about MY opinion?

You put out an article in order to generate discussion. If you can't handle the ensuing discussion you should stop posting articles? No?

The author concludes his article by using the assumption that ESO will go F2P. Based on this assumption the author does not see that a console version of ESO will be viable.

However, ESO is not F2P, so the authors conclusion, which is based on an assumption (that ESO will eventually become F2P) is just that - an assumption.

Moreover, the authors assumption does not include the possibility of ESO being released for consoles as a F2P model. The author assumes that ESO will become F2P on PC, but will still require a subscription fee for consoles. Again an assumption that does not make logical sense.

So my comments are not baseless. But if the author is entitle to their opinion, then I certainly am entittled to mine - without you getting uptight about it! No?

[16bitNutritionist]

Stop writing articles as you obviously can't handle people criticising you're work.

[Bigpappy]

Good comment. I agree with you. The assumption that it will not come to consoles is very premature and baseless.

[GamerEuphoria]

So baseless the article states possible reasons and possible situations? come on now

[16bitNutritionist]

@GamerEuphoria:Stop writing articles as you obviously can't handle people criticising you're work.

[bez87]

Well you didn't read it and neither did the people who agree with you. They never said it was a free to play, I know you didn't read it all because before he even mentions f2p he has a whole paragraph about how it's full retail plus subscription and that he doesn't believe console gamers will buy into that, the whole section on free to play is about other games which started out as subscription and then turned into f2p games, his whole take on not being a console version is because of how poorly the game is on PC, plus it isn't Bethesda game, it's made by ZeniMax, bethesda just allowed them to use the elders scroll name. the article is just there concern over how bad the game is on PC, that he is just thinking they may have to rethink the console version's, as they have been delayed anyway and no word as of yet what's happening, PC was the place that would tell them if it was going to work or not.

[ArchangelMike]

Bez - see my reply above to Gamer Euphoria.

I did read the article. I am simply challenging the author's view that for consoles ESO - "does not seem like a legitimate option anymore and should no longer be expected." That statement is illogical based on the arguments that the author presented.

As I stated in my original post Bethesda/Zenimax will be looking to get a return on their investment. If they release a console version, no matter how bad, then they will be able to recoup some of their investment. Furthermore there is a market on consoles for an MMO/RPG like ESO. The install base from Skyrim was huge. That translates into potential sales for ESO.

The authors siting of other games that have gone F2P does not include any that was cross platform to consoles. For example Sony have provided stats to show that all the F2P games on PS4 continue to be profitable - DCUO, Warframe and Blacklight. The console market is a slightly different market than the PC market. So ESO on consoles is not doomed (as the author claims), but could succeed with a F2P model. The author did not consoder this a possibility for consoles though!

The author assumes that ESO will become F2P on PC, but will still have a subscription model for consoles. This is an assumption that does not make any logical sense!

I agree that Bethesda/Zenimax have to rethink their model for the console market, but the author doesn't leave room for the fact that ESO could be F2P on consoles. He simple reaches a conclusion that ESO will be subscription based on consoles, and therefore is doomed and will not be released at all!

C'mon man even you can see that those assumptions are far fetched!

[DanteVFenris666]

F2p=dead. For people who don't understand sub games. The money goes into paying employees who constantly add new content and improvements. F2p= cash shop and more things to pay for

[Codewow]

Are you saying that F2P is dead or is a bad idea? Because, as far as I see it, F2P is a growing market than a lot of games are going to try to profit off of if there aren't regulations put in place.

[wsoutlaw87]

I think you are letting your high hopes for the game make you believe this game is actually going to be "fixed" or improved when it comes out on consoles. Thats fair, everyone does it and we all wanted this to be good but they just made so many bad and strange decisions on this game.

[ATi_Elite]

Kinda hard to find TESO player count numbers of active player accounts.

350k to 500k Players and a MMO can survive, on life support but survive.

actually I know no one who plays it. I know people who play FTL, Maple Story, and NeverWinter but not TESO. Bummer

the Console version will only arrive if PC version provides the necessary funds to keep a console version development time well funded.

I don't see MS/Sony/AMD/Nvidia putting up dollars for TESO!

[_LarZen_]

That's strange...I have a few friends that activly play ESO and they are enjoying the hell out of it. They just got new content to explore also.....

I have tested it on PC and I found it to be a nice MMORPG. Sure it had some bugs and it need's some polishing. Everything as expected in other words. A MMORPG is never finished and ESO as it was when I tested it was just fine.

I am waiting for the PS4 version and I hope it has gotten enough love from the developers to make it a superb MMORPG experience on a console.

[Summons75]

Except the co sole version is releasing later this year... This article is pretty stupid.

[GamerEuphoria]

Hahahahah

That's what they said about Huxley and Conan. Sure is a lot of screenshots, gameplay videos and aplha/beta for that 'co sole' version huh?

[_LarZen_]

You do know that as a article writer and with a comment like that you just stand even more out as a butthurt Skyrim fanboy that got a MMORPG instead of a RPG?

[GamerEuphoria]

@lazern, that makes no sense, at all. Not even in the slightest.

[16bitNutritionist]

Yes it does make sense, you really need to stop as you are actually no good at writing articles or communicating with the community that has opinions on you're articles, writing bad articles is one thing and can sometimes be forgiven but the way you handle comments is just pure douchery.....

[Summons75]

Have you even played the game? General consensus in the community is really good and there are very friendly people playing for have been ES fans since long before Skyrim. The console version is on track unlike the other two games you just mentioned which were awful to begin with.

For someone who writes articles and is over cocky you sure know little about what your writing about and it shows in your writing. So you be an a** to people you disagree with but the fact remains you're wrong.

[liquidhalos]

You know you're pathetic right? I've never seen anyone hang around to defend their poorly written blog opinion piece as much as you have. Put your ego away and see your article for what it is. Pure speculation and bad journalism.

Like this website - NO
Story quality - WTF

Everyone vote. We need to get hacks like this off of our News site and down voting piss poor sites like this is the only way to do it.

[liquidhalos]

Seriously? Now your sending out private messages to defend your site? Look at the ratio of people patting on your back compared to those calling you a hack. The consensus is, that they don't like your article.

Instead of blindly defending this rubbish, read it again, except this time try to actually comprehend what you are reading. I'm pretty sure that once you exercise your right to comprehension you too will come to the same conclusion. This article is rubbish.

[Magicite]

cos its a flop?

[kevinsheeks]

my lord i forgot all about this game if the combat was action rpg instead of point and click i'd go for it

[GamerEuphoria]

It's not point and click bud, it's exactly the same combat system as Skyrim

[DanteVFenris666]

I agreed with you but there is slight differences. Their is a bit of auto aim with bows and staffs. Where your cursor is on them and then it will autoaim. But this of course is because it would be annoying as hell if there is a hundred players in front of you and your trying to hit that one guy.

2nd difference is bows and staffs have range limits. Again this is made for balance issues. It wouldn't be fun if 30 archers could snipe and kill everyone before they came even close to keep walls.

Otherwise it's pretty much the same as skyrim, but a balance design in place to accommodate multiple players

[kevinsheeks]

I went in googled it O.o oh my goodness i think i might have to check it out now

[Angerfist]

This probably won't work on consoles. People are bitching about the LIVE/PS+ fee so I don't see a lot of people pay 15 a month for it. Make it free to purchase and ask for 10 a month, that may work. But don't ask for 60 and then a additional 15 each month.

[DanteVFenris666]

60 goes to the 200 million made to make the game. When they make that it'll probably go less. 15= server costs(about 5 dollars per player) and the rest goes into constant development until the game gets so unpopular they can't afford servers anymore.

Personally I've actually played the game unlike most of the people on here that say bad things about the game. The game is fantastic and is constantly getting improved. In the next couple months it's going to change into something even greater. By the time consoles release it'll hopefully have a better launch with all of the improvements. It is the best mmo in my opinion. The only thing that can beat it will probably be Everquest next if it's as good as they promised

[sourav93]

Stop defending the game's subscription model. You've been trying to do that throughout the comments section. Yes, the game might be fun, and yes, it's getting constantly improved. But paying $60 for the game upfront with an added $15 monthly subscription is nothing but pure greed. Many people who have been playing MMOs for decades have also said that TESO's payment model is stupid.

Look at Wow, the most successful MMO. You can play for free til level 20, after which you have to subscribe. Yes they do charge for expansions, which is fine imo.

[Lucreto]

I am enjoying the game.

The missions are far more interesting than the ones in Skyrim

[lemoncake]

The console version will come, best thing they did was to delay it so that it could get worked on more and by releasing it on pc they are able to get good feedback on whats working and whats not.

[Einhert]

Game is garbage, far far better MMOs out there namely Guild Wars 2.

[PiNkFaIrYbOi]

Is it F2P yet?

[Darth Gamer]

#1 reason... Because I'm having too much fun playing Final Fantasy 14

[PainandGain3102]

@sourav93 you do know that when WOW was at its most popular rate with 12 million subs you had to pay 60 bucks for the game along with the sub fee right? when they introduced the free up to level 20 was when there numbers dwindled and they never recovered from it. and its not pure greed at all it has been that way since the early days of MMOS, a subscription fee keeps the game going to get new expansions and content all of the best MMO's either have it or had it until they became to old and people left the game. Those people that you claim ESO payment model is stupid clearly have not been playing MMO's for decades at all.

[Zero-One]

1. Cause it sucked.
2. We have Final Fantasy XIV so were good.

[RaiTheNoblesse]

they should delay this for the PS4/XO, till mid/late next year.. (have more time for polishing, bug fixing ect...)
.. besides, Destiny (a massiv MMO-ish game) and Dragon Age 3 (massiv & hyped RPG) are both comming at the end of the year.. (and many are still playing FFXIV).. the timing of TESO at the end of the year is not ideal...

(give TESO more time and bring it out, when there are less rivals out.... imo best would to release it like 6-3 months before Zelda U 2015, when many are in a "fatansy" hype again...)