Microsoft to Purchase ZOS

TineaCruris

Pandorii wrote: »

Can someone help me understand the difference between ZOS and Bethasda? Microsoft bought ZOS. Does that mean Bethesda is still it's own thing? What does that mean for Elder Scrolls (Not Online)?

Zenimax Online Studios is the parent company of Bethesda. Where ZOS goes, Bethesda goes.

alainjbrennanb16_ESO

Norgh wrote: »

Add on's coming to an Xbox near you but not for PS users:)

nope not happening

TineaCruris

REMEMBER: This sale does not take place for a year. We have another year of the same level of financial investment as we've had for the last couple years for at least another year. So we can reasonably expect to not see any improvements as it relates to performance for probably another year. (assuming most of the performance issues are actually hardware based)

I'm not a huge fan of Microsoft, but they do, generally, make solid software and can track down bugs and fix them pretty effectively. Let's hope Microsoft demands the same from ZOS and provides ZOS with the needed financial resources to make it happen.

JinMori

Interesting, this is possibly good news to be honest. Microsoft has made some pretty nice moves recently.

method__01

my pc account wont be affected for current ESO or the next one,i will buy and play like i did back in 2016
but my plans for PS5 are now changed,cause when ESO 6 comes out and nothing holds me back to sony,i'll go for xbox
till then i'll keep my ps4-and wont upgrade to 5

TineaCruris

I might actually buy the next expansion now and even, if there are performance improvements, renew my eso+ membership.

I'm really excited to hear of this change, and I'm not a huge fan of Microsoft. I just know the direction this game was heading and that there is a very real possibility that direction will change now.

NewbieOKS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_expensive_video_game_acquisitions

As a reference, below are the video game company acquisition with deal value of at least USD$1 billion (as of 21 Sept 2020)

[img][/img]

Fata1moose

Please everyone keep in mind this could be a stressful situation for those at ZOS given it's their life and think about that before getting into silly console warring.

Shadowspawn42

What will this mean for TES6? Cause I’m not sure about you guys, but that’s what I really care about.

Sahidom

I hope everyone now understands why their trying to actively addressing core issues with the game and performance issues to migrate over to MS administration management. I am unimpressed with MS on many of their software releases, and I simcerely hope ESO doesn't suffer from the bottom line on a ledger book. As fast as other titles falll, ESO is vulnerable now as their changing mechanics.

Nanfoodle

MS has some really good servers farms. This could be good for ESO lol

virtus753

Sarannah wrote: »

Avariprivateer wrote: »

Items in loot boxes can always be earned through play. All items available through paid loot boxes in our games will also be available through unpaid opportunity by gameplay (i.e. grinding).

This line is very interesting, this would mean lootbox changes are coming, since not everything in these boxes can be earned in-game. But this also means the game would be made into a major grindfest, maybe ruining the essence of ESO.

Interesting indeed!

But that loot box qualification only applies to games made by XBox Studios. ESO doesn’t fall into that category, so there’s no way to know if Microsoft will expand its “responsible loot box” philosophy to ESO to avoid hypocrisy or toe the technical line that ESO is not an XBox Studio game and therefore not subject to said philosophy.

Only time will tell...

maddiniiLuna

When Microsoft bought Mojang it didn't go as horribly wrong, as i expected it to be. You don't really notice a difference at all.

One thing i know for sure: I will not download yet another Launcher!

Nanfoodle

Two things you can expect, ESO one day maybe pulled off PS4 and PS5 or MS may work a deal to get some Sony titles on XBox. Also Stadia will not be keeping ESO on their platform as Xbox has its own streaming service. First chance its legal it will be pulled.

Pandorii

virtus753 wrote: »

Sarannah wrote: »

Avariprivateer wrote: »

Items in loot boxes can always be earned through play. All items available through paid loot boxes in our games will also be available through unpaid opportunity by gameplay (i.e. grinding).

This line is very interesting, this would mean lootbox changes are coming, since not everything in these boxes can be earned in-game. But this also means the game would be made into a major grindfest, maybe ruining the essence of ESO.

Interesting indeed!

But that loot box qualification only applies to games made by XBox Studios. ESO doesn’t fall into that category, so there’s no way to know if Microsoft will expand its “responsible loot box” philosophy to ESO to avoid hypocrisy or toe the technical line that ESO is not an XBox Studio game and therefore not subject to said philosophy.

Only time will tell...

I agree that we probably won't see any chances within the year or the next. However, I do think that Microsoft's loot crate philosophy can have an impact on ESO's system because it is a reflection of the company in an ethical way. An issue that receives public attention. So they will probably quietly encourage ZOS to start shifting their loot crate system to reflect their philosophy. Who knows though...

Danikat

Pandorii wrote: »

virtus753 wrote: »

Sarannah wrote: »

Avariprivateer wrote: »

Items in loot boxes can always be earned through play. All items available through paid loot boxes in our games will also be available through unpaid opportunity by gameplay (i.e. grinding).

This line is very interesting, this would mean lootbox changes are coming, since not everything in these boxes can be earned in-game. But this also means the game would be made into a major grindfest, maybe ruining the essence of ESO.

Interesting indeed!

But that loot box qualification only applies to games made by XBox Studios. ESO doesn’t fall into that category, so there’s no way to know if Microsoft will expand its “responsible loot box” philosophy to ESO to avoid hypocrisy or toe the technical line that ESO is not an XBox Studio game and therefore not subject to said philosophy.

Only time will tell...

I agree that we probably won't see any chances within the year or the next. However, I do think that Microsoft's loot crate philosophy can have an impact on ESO's system because it is a reflection of the company in an ethical way. An issue that receives public attention. So they will probably quietly encourage ZOS to start shifting their loot crate system to reflect their philosophy. Who knows though...

I agree that they'll want to match what Xbox Studios do for the sake of public perception. But as someone pointed out in another thread technically all they need to do is make crates a rare drop from VMA or any other single source and then they can claim that crates, and everything in them, can be earned in-game.

Or do it like Guild Wars 2, where black lion keys - the equivalent of crown crates - can drop from almost any enemy in the game, so they are available for free to all players, regardless of what content they play. But they're one of the rarest drops in the game, up there with precursor weapons (top tier stats + vanity skins), meaning most players will very rarely, if ever, see one. I've had a grand total of 2 in over 6,000 hours played.

Ragged_Claw

Shadowspawn42 wrote: »

What will this mean for TES6? Cause I’m not sure about you guys, but that’s what I really care about.

My hope is that we'll finally see some movement on it. I would imagine that Microsoft is going to want to cash in asap and releasing ES6 is going to be the quickest way of doing it.

I think short-term everything will be much the same. I'd also be very surprised if they keep future titles to themselves, given that Bethesda have always released on multi-platforms. Skyrim on Alexa for example I could see them possibly having timed exclusives, but no way would they turn down all that lovely money from PS owners. I mean, they own Minecraft and you can play that on everything apart from the fridge, and I'm not even sure about that.

My concern is more for titles like Dishonored that are popular, but more niche and probably don't sell anywhere near the numbers of ES games. As for ESO, I think (hope) they'll keep it going as long as it's turning a profit, it's all about the money after all. And who knows, perhaps they'll spring for a new server or two for us if we grovel enough...

Only time will tell I guess. Fingers crossed and all that.

GarnetFire17

SilentRaven1972 wrote: »

At least it wasn't bought by Disney!

or Tencent

Danikat

Ragged_Claw wrote: »

Shadowspawn42 wrote: »

What will this mean for TES6? Cause I’m not sure about you guys, but that’s what I really care about.

My hope is that we'll finally see some movement on it. I would imagine that Microsoft is going to want to cash in asap and releasing ES6 is going to be the quickest way of doing it.

This might be controversial but I'd rather wait longer for a game which is released when it's as complete and functional as the developers think they can make it than get one which is rushed out because the new people in charge want to start making a profit ASAP and think this one will sell even if they have to cut everything which isn't finished yet. (And then sell all the other bits as DLC.)

Pyvos

maddiniiLuna wrote: »

One thing i know for sure: I will not download yet another Launcher!

But you already have a unique launcher on PC unless you bought it through Steam, so there is no net change there. Even so, Steam is a thing, both ESO and many Microsoft Studio + subsidiary titles are there.

Shadowspawn42

@Ragged_Claw I hope you’re right that they’ll get going on TES6 soon. As far as ESO, I’m thinking they’re planning to keep it going. I doubt they would buy it otherwise.

Danikat

Shadowspawn42 wrote: »

@Ragged_Claw I hope you’re right that they’ll get going on TES6 soon. As far as ESO, I’m thinking they’re planning to keep it going. I doubt they would buy it otherwise.

Would they be able to choose?

I admit I don't have any direct experience buying large parent companies with dozens of subsidiary companies, ownership of multiple IPs etc. but the impression I've gotten from similar deals in the past is that it's pretty much all-or-nothing, you can't pick and choose which bits you want to buy and which you want to let go. The only way to do that is to wait until the deal has gone through and then start selling off or closing down the parts you don't want.

Inyhel

Good god I thought this was a joke.
Goodbye Elder Scrolls.

virtus753

Pandorii wrote: »

virtus753 wrote: »

Sarannah wrote: »

Avariprivateer wrote: »

Items in loot boxes can always be earned through play. All items available through paid loot boxes in our games will also be available through unpaid opportunity by gameplay (i.e. grinding).

This line is very interesting, this would mean lootbox changes are coming, since not everything in these boxes can be earned in-game. But this also means the game would be made into a major grindfest, maybe ruining the essence of ESO.

Interesting indeed!

But that loot box qualification only applies to games made by XBox Studios. ESO doesn’t fall into that category, so there’s no way to know if Microsoft will expand its “responsible loot box” philosophy to ESO to avoid hypocrisy or toe the technical line that ESO is not an XBox Studio game and therefore not subject to said philosophy.

Only time will tell...

I agree that we probably won't see any chances within the year or the next. However, I do think that Microsoft's loot crate philosophy can have an impact on ESO's system because it is a reflection of the company in an ethical way. An issue that receives public attention. So they will probably quietly encourage ZOS to start shifting their loot crate system to reflect their philosophy. Who knows though...

I hope you’re right.

I’ve seen a lot of companies take a lot of PR hits for not even trying to make it look like they care about ethical policies, if they even claim to have them. I’m very curious to see what changes we might get and when.

Not to mention that Zenimax will now be owned by a public company. It might open things up a bit more in terms of transparency and accountability. But like you said, who really knows?

EmEm_Oh

$7.5 Billion.

Wonder how many higher-ups are gonna do the golden parachute with a middle finger.

Kinda demonstrates the fact they could have fixed things but just milked us over time until the MS deal.

Well, I hope this means more devs who can change things for the better.

Pauwer

Cyrodiil was working fine since the last update, but today the performance was suddenly again abysmal hmmm

DigitalHype

If what MS did to Minecraft is any indication, there is a decent chance we see most of the 3rd party addon functionality moved behind a paywall. On the bright side, it will be years before that happens if it does.

Shadowspawn42

@Danikat Yeah I don’t know about that. I just thought that, given that ESO makes a lot of money for the company, it probably factored into their purchase.

Deter1UK

Zweible wrote: »

Microsoft tried a persistent MMO in the past. It was called Asherons Call. It was a disaster. Didn't last long.

Not entirely, I played it for ages, was imaginative and quite exciting. Made a lot of online friends through that game.

What killed it was Asheron's Call 2 followed rapidly by WOW and the massive advances in technology that outdated its graphics and so on very quickly.

The game itself? Not a disaster by any means.

Nulami

Ackwalan wrote: »

The creative team for ZOS won't change. They may go in a different direction, but that's normal. Other parts of ZOS, the parts that are in a support role will get moved around or eliminated. Position like QA and server maintenance will become redundant and fall under the umbrella for what Microsoft already has in place. Probably the first place the players will is a change is in the forums. Forum management is normally maintained by a 3rd party contractors and Microsoft will want to use whichever contractor they use now. 2021 game plan won't change much,, we will see some new names, but the next chapter for 2021 is already will on it's way. Of course all this is just conjecture on my part and Microsoft could chop up ZOS and sell it for lunch money.

Yeah. Expect the Community Team to be either "reassigned" or "eliminated".