Please Consider Console Players More When Scheduling Events

Sapphire_Ocelot

To anyone who might see this feedback, please, PLEASE think more of your console players when scheduling events and releases of updates. I know that it is almost always two weeks after PC launch of an update for console players to get ours, but what keeps happening is that ongoing in game events either start RIGHT after we get an update or new content, or that an event happens that PC players with an update can take advantage of while console players are left with nothing.

Let me give an example.

This most recent witches festival PC players had access to the new Endless Archive and us console peeps did not. But PC players could try out the new EA and still be rewarded with event plunder skulls, so they could do both the new content AND receive boons from the event.

Now us console players are finally getting Update 40 in mere hours, but guess what? The new Blackwood event starts on Thursday. That is literally only *two days* to be able to enjoy the EA and the new crafting tables and such before we are thrust into another event but we won't get reward boons for doing EA during the Blackwood event. Thus we have to choose - do we spend time doing event stuff, or exploring the new content? While the new content will be there when the event is over, it is frustrating that we HAVE to choose at all.

This isn't the first time this has happened, either. It has become an all too common problem and it feels like such a smack in the face. Everything console people do is more time consuming because we have no fancy add ons, so we have to be even more guarded and choosy with how we spend our play time. I almost never complain, but I do get tired of those of us on console being treated as an afterthought (if thought of at all).

Maitsukas

The event assets (quest, collectibles) were added with Update 40 and ZOS had to make sure that all platforms get the update before the event starts. They can't make it exclusive to one platform, as there would be backlash from players on other platforms.

code65536

This most recent witches festival PC players had access to the new Endless Archive and us console peeps did not. But PC players could try out the new EA and still be rewarded with event plunder skulls, so they could do both the new content AND receive boons from the event.

Not really. Only purple skulls dropped in EA. Every single new reward that people were trying to collect this event were exclusive to the gold skulls. Every. Single. One. And you couldn't get a gold skull in the EA. And with how long the EA runs took, it meant we didn't have time to go farm gold skulls, and with the *** drop rates, you needed to farm multiple gold skulls every day if you wanted to be able to complete the event items without having to buy them.

And to add insult to injury, the purples were a nuisance, since all they contained were junk that clogged inventory, and along with the vendor trash items that drop in EA, you basically needed an assistant out the whole time.

kringled_1

Not to mention, PC also had a long down time for U40, during the witches festival.

Danikat

I agree with the people saying the timing of Update 40 clashed with an event for PC players too. But IMO that just shows it's an even bigger problem than the OP thought: poor timing of events and updates affects players on all platforms.

The tricky part is we get so many events there's not much time between them for updates, especially not ones which need to come 2 weeks apart. Also ZOS apparently can't announce the start date of events more than a few days in advance because it can change, so that may be what's happening - they do plan it around updates and then have to move the event for some reason and it ends up clashing.

Personally I'd say fewer events wouldn't be a bad thing, but I'm not sure how many people would agree with that. Even scheduling has been a problem for ZOS for years so that's not likely to improve. I'm not sure what else they could do to fix it.

Araneae6537

code65536 wrote: »

This most recent witches festival PC players had access to the new Endless Archive and us console peeps did not. But PC players could try out the new EA and still be rewarded with event plunder skulls, so they could do both the new content AND receive boons from the event.

Not really. Only purple skulls dropped in EA. Every single new reward that people were trying to collect this event were exclusive to the gold skulls. Every. Single. One. And you couldn't get a gold skull in the EA. And with how long the EA runs took, it meant we didn't have time to go farm gold skulls, and with the *** drop rates, you needed to farm multiple gold skulls every day if you wanted to be able to complete the event items without having to buy them.

And to add insult to injury, the purples were a nuisance, since all they contained were junk that clogged inventory, and along with the vendor trash items that drop in EA, you basically needed an assistant out the whole time.

Actually, no, I intentionally went for purple skulls, including by playing EA, because they more often contained the furnishings, including the new Apocrypha ones and the Ruby Candleflies. Some purple skulls just contained a few materials, sure, but it was the gold ones most likely to dump junk in my inventory in the form of years-old motifs and style pages.

Ingenon

I play on PS/NA, and I agree with OP that it feels like there are times console players are being treated as an afterthought.

However, I am grateful that this Update 40 is dropping today, and the next event starts in two days. I plan to try Endless Archive with my Oakensoul DPS builds that I have used successfully for Maelstrom, Vateshran, Dragonstar, Blackrose, world bosses, dungeons, and trials. If I can get through EA Arc 1 and start collecting some of the EA specific rewards before the next event starts, that will be good.

Sapphire_Ocelot

Araneae6537 wrote: »

code65536 wrote: »

This most recent witches festival PC players had access to the new Endless Archive and us console peeps did not. But PC players could try out the new EA and still be rewarded with event plunder skulls, so they could do both the new content AND receive boons from the event.

Not really. Only purple skulls dropped in EA. Every single new reward that people were trying to collect this event were exclusive to the gold skulls. Every. Single. One. And you couldn't get a gold skull in the EA. And with how long the EA runs took, it meant we didn't have time to go farm gold skulls, and with the *** drop rates, you needed to farm multiple gold skulls every day if you wanted to be able to complete the event items without having to buy them.

And to add insult to injury, the purples were a nuisance, since all they contained were junk that clogged inventory, and along with the vendor trash items that drop in EA, you basically needed an assistant out the whole time.

Actually, no, I intentionally went for purple skulls, including by playing EA, because they more often contained the furnishings, including the new Apocrypha ones and the Ruby Candleflies. Some purple skulls just contained a few materials, sure, but it was the gold ones most likely to dump junk in my inventory in the form of years-old motifs and style pages.

Exactly. There isn't a way to farm the gold ones, but many people like myself and like the person I'm quoting farmed the purples for other reasons.

Please note all, the Witches Festival example was *just an example*. This happens all of the time. It happened when Galen dropped. It happened when Necrom dropped. It's beyond frustrating that console players get new content and get mere days to enjoy it before another event starts and we have to set aside the new content if we want to partake in the events. I love events and they are good for the community and can be fun, but it's just more and more apparent that when it comes to scheduling things that console players aren't even really considered.

My hopes are that someone at ZOS sees this feedback and realizes that the weird time constraints we are put in with the release of new content aside events needs to change and not just to always accommodate the PC community. Best case scenario all communities and servers would be considered but I would imagine there'd be quite the outroar from PC people if they were constantly put in the corner that us console peeps are.

allochthons

Ingenon wrote: »

I play on PS/NA, and I agree with OP that it feels like there are times console players are being treated as an afterthought.

This, so much! It goes through the game in every way. Consoles? What consoles?

belial5221_ESO

It's not ZOS's fault,complain to Sony and Microsoft(ZOS's new owners) for their delays in approving the updates for consoles.Noone at the company can really do anything,so moot point to complain here really.

Tyrant_Tim

belial5221_ESO wrote: »

It's not ZOS's fault,complain to Sony and Microsoft(ZOS's new owners) for their delays in approving the updates for consoles.Noone at the company can really do anything,so moot point to complain here really.

It’s not Sony or Microsoft’s fault either.

Ask yourself, how is it that every other company can manage to release content simultaneously regardless of which platform you play on?

Planning. When you plan ahead, and consider the time it takes to achieve certification, it’s quite easy.

I’m also sure the OP isn’t even debating this point, and is more irritated that it is now becoming a trend that instead of having an entire week to experience new content, we are being funneled into another DLC for double drops.

Consider people that work week days, those same people are going to be pressured all weekend long to run Rockgrove now instead of being able to enjoy the Endless Archive with friends.

MidniteOwl1913

I too feel that often the console is given no thought. I remember a recent bug that needed addons disabled and the outcry of many PC players that they couldn't play without addons... So many things in the game are much much more time-consuming without addons and I get the feeling the devs don't care. If there is a PC addon that helps with the grind why fix it?

belial5221_ESO

Tyrant_Tim wrote: »

belial5221_ESO wrote: »

It's not ZOS's fault,complain to Sony and Microsoft(ZOS's new owners) for their delays in approving the updates for consoles.Noone at the company can really do anything,so moot point to complain here really.

It’s not Sony or Microsoft’s fault either.

Ask yourself, how is it that every other company can manage to release content simultaneously regardless of which platform you play on?

Planning. When you plan ahead, and consider the time it takes to achieve certification, it’s quite easy.

I’m also sure the OP isn’t even debating this point, and is more irritated that it is now becoming a trend that instead of having an entire week to experience new content, we are being funneled into another DLC for double drops.

Consider people that work week days, those same people are going to be pressured all weekend long to run Rockgrove now instead of being able to enjoy the Endless Archive with friends.

Problem is,other games jsut release it all together,which means technically PC users have to wait til consoles get it,when they don't really have to.ZOS could delay PC users getting release til consoles get approved,but they don't.Either way someone will get delayed release.

Twohothardware

PC players were making the same complaint about Update 40 releasing in the middle of an event.

EA isn't going anywhere so you'll have plenty of time to run it more whenever. You also aren't going to miss anything if you decide to spend one day playing EA instead of doing dailies in the Blackwood event.

You guys are complaining about having too much content you want to play lol.

tomofhyrule

Also remember that, since the patch dropped for PC during the event, many PC players actually lost days of the event due to long maintenances. Technically, console got it better this round. Sure, Console missed out on some purple plunder skulls, but they could have gotten them from other areas in the same time. PC got to sit and stare at "Servers down for maintenance" instead of farming skulls.

No matter what, someone's getting the shorter end of the stick. But it did so happen that Console got it better since their patch was not during an event so they're not losing event playtime due to patches.

Aurielle

Ingenon wrote: »

I play on PS/NA, and I agree with OP that it feels like there are times console players are being treated as an afterthought.

I played the game between 2016-2019 on PS4 after my crappy laptop (circa 2016) could not handle the game anymore. One of the main reasons why I stopped playing ESO on PS4 four years ago was because it felt like console was the black sheep of the ESO family. Poor overall performance, delayed updates, etc. I highly doubt this will ever change. Performance is limited by console hardware, and delayed updates are the result of the patch authentication process.

I've been playing ESO on PC again this past month, and I would honestly never go back to playing on console. It was a little bit of a pain starting over from semi-scratch (I had JUST hit CP range on PC when I switched to PS4 in 2016...), but it's also just so much better. I'd forgotten how awesome it was to get updates first, to have access to writ addons and survey addons... It's also pretty great to run around Tamriel at a stable 100 FPS, not the sub 30 FPS I was getting on PS4 before I quit. I don't even have a powerful gaming laptop. It has a 3060, and it manages the game extremely well.

If you can stomach the thought of starting over, I'd highly recommend switching to PC. It's just a better experience all around. Sure, you lose your progress and anything you've purchased in the crown store, but what you gain in return is worth it, IMO.

Braffin

belial5221_ESO wrote: »

Tyrant_Tim wrote: »

belial5221_ESO wrote: »

It's not ZOS's fault,complain to Sony and Microsoft(ZOS's new owners) for their delays in approving the updates for consoles.Noone at the company can really do anything,so moot point to complain here really.

It’s not Sony or Microsoft’s fault either.

Ask yourself, how is it that every other company can manage to release content simultaneously regardless of which platform you play on?

Planning. When you plan ahead, and consider the time it takes to achieve certification, it’s quite easy.

I’m also sure the OP isn’t even debating this point, and is more irritated that it is now becoming a trend that instead of having an entire week to experience new content, we are being funneled into another DLC for double drops.

Consider people that work week days, those same people are going to be pressured all weekend long to run Rockgrove now instead of being able to enjoy the Endless Archive with friends.

Problem is,other games jsut release it all together,which means technically PC users have to wait til consoles get it,when they don't really have to.ZOS could delay PC users getting release til consoles get approved,but they don't.Either way someone will get delayed release.

I don't think that's correct.

If all platforms get their respective updates at the same time (yes, most probably at current console launch), there isn't a delay for anyone, even if it seems this way for pc users once, because we are used to the current system.

Exactly this current system deserves some improvements imo: For example yesterday EA was launched on console, including a bug regarding transformations and set boni, which was fixed on pc the day before. That's not exactly what I call efficient use of resources.

Imo opinion nothing would be taken away from us players on pc, if the whole community recieves their respective updates at the same time. It would just be fair.

AlterBlika

PC and consoles are two different games, you don't play with each other, you can't transfer. So it's okay imo

Hapexamendios

Players on all platforms get events interrupted by maintenance. It's pretty much inevitable imo.

katanagirl1

I suppose PC players can come here and invalidate all the console players concerns regarding this if they want to, but it isn’t very helpful.

rpa

Regardless of platforms, there are so many events it's almost an event to not have an event for few weeks so of course updates and maintenances overlap events. Its a game which is supposed to be fun way to discard ones free time. An event is not mandatory and neither is playing the new content immediately as it drops. It's perfectly fine to not participate even if one misses some lousy event collectible or something.

Ph1p

Braffin wrote: »

I don't think that's correct.

If all platforms get their respective updates at the same time (yes, most probably at current console launch), there isn't a delay for anyone, even if it seems this way for pc users once, because we are used to the current system.

Exactly this current system deserves some improvements imo: For example yesterday EA was launched on console, including a bug regarding transformations and set boni, which was fixed on pc the day before. That's not exactly what I call efficient use of resources.

Imo opinion nothing would be taken away from us players on pc, if the whole community recieves their respective updates at the same time. It would just be fair.

The bug you're describing exactly illustrates the underlying issue: While ZOS had the same game version ready for PC and consoles, they could only release it for PC immediately. The latter is delayed by certification requirements from Sony and Microsoft, so by the same it comes out, PC already has a fix for it.

Nothing is technically taken away from PC players if ZOS waited to release at the same time, but nobody gains anything either. In fact ZOS would lose time, feedback from PC players, and revenue by pushing out a release, while probably making their employees' lives more difficult by bunching up release activities across all platforms.

boi_anachronism_

Twohothardware wrote: »

PC players were making the same complaint about Update 40 releasing in the middle of an event.

EA isn't going anywhere so you'll have plenty of time to run it more whenever. You also aren't going to miss anything if you decide to spend one day playing EA instead of doing dailies in the Blackwood event.

You guys are complaining about having too much content you want to play lol.

Nope. Im upset because it always overloads the servers when you have a big update and a huge event. They backload this stuff. They released ea and a big event right on top eachother. More players will be on to try new content on top of all the players the will be online for the event. It leads to more times being kicked from the server, more lag, more que times, more vc issues, more bugs in general, ect. Its awful. For raid folks its a real mess too. Mechs in trials dont work properly, most of us have to parse for new update within 2 weeks for our guilds and just cant because of the lag.

dcam86b14_ESO

Most of the older events have been on the same schedule for years now and it has to be that way bc they have so many events already, it would be tough to push some back or readjust due to the timing of all the events. The best solution which would probably never happen is same-day updates for both both platforms.

XSTRONG

belial5221_ESO wrote: »

Tyrant_Tim wrote: »

belial5221_ESO wrote: »

It's not ZOS's fault,complain to Sony and Microsoft(ZOS's new owners) for their delays in approving the updates for consoles.Noone at the company can really do anything,so moot point to complain here really.

It’s not Sony or Microsoft’s fault either.

Ask yourself, how is it that every other company can manage to release content simultaneously regardless of which platform you play on?

Planning. When you plan ahead, and consider the time it takes to achieve certification, it’s quite easy.

I’m also sure the OP isn’t even debating this point, and is more irritated that it is now becoming a trend that instead of having an entire week to experience new content, we are being funneled into another DLC for double drops.

Consider people that work week days, those same people are going to be pressured all weekend long to run Rockgrove now instead of being able to enjoy the Endless Archive with friends.

Problem is,other games jsut release it all together,which means technically PC users have to wait til consoles get it,when they don't really have to.ZOS could delay PC users getting release til consoles get approved,but they don't.Either way someone will get delayed release.

Do you hear people in games like D4 complain that they need to wait for console? No.

PC and Console players pays and play this game therefore new content should be pushed out when its done and complete for all platforms.

I find it very strange that for example console players buying expansions have to wait 2 weeks longer then PC players when Zos have the choice to make it ready for all platforms and then release it for all their players.

Tyrant_Tim

XSTRONG wrote: »

belial5221_ESO wrote: »

Tyrant_Tim wrote: »

belial5221_ESO wrote: »

It's not ZOS's fault,complain to Sony and Microsoft(ZOS's new owners) for their delays in approving the updates for consoles.Noone at the company can really do anything,so moot point to complain here really.

It’s not Sony or Microsoft’s fault either.

Ask yourself, how is it that every other company can manage to release content simultaneously regardless of which platform you play on?

Planning. When you plan ahead, and consider the time it takes to achieve certification, it’s quite easy.

I’m also sure the OP isn’t even debating this point, and is more irritated that it is now becoming a trend that instead of having an entire week to experience new content, we are being funneled into another DLC for double drops.

Consider people that work week days, those same people are going to be pressured all weekend long to run Rockgrove now instead of being able to enjoy the Endless Archive with friends.

Problem is,other games jsut release it all together,which means technically PC users have to wait til consoles get it,when they don't really have to.ZOS could delay PC users getting release til consoles get approved,but they don't.Either way someone will get delayed release.

Do you hear people in games like D4 complain that they need to wait for console? No.

PC and Console players pays and play this game therefore new content should be pushed out when its done and complete for all platforms.

I find it very strange that for example console players buying expansions have to wait 2 weeks longer then PC players when Zos have the choice to make it ready for all platforms and then release it for all their players.

Right, that and PTS create a problem where all of the content has guides available before console launch, completely destroying any sense of discovery in the game.

Part of me wishes there was an NDA for DLC content leading up to launch so everyone can go in blind.

virtus753

Tyrant_Tim wrote: »

XSTRONG wrote: »

belial5221_ESO wrote: »

Tyrant_Tim wrote: »

belial5221_ESO wrote: »

It's not ZOS's fault,complain to Sony and Microsoft(ZOS's new owners) for their delays in approving the updates for consoles.Noone at the company can really do anything,so moot point to complain here really.

It’s not Sony or Microsoft’s fault either.

Ask yourself, how is it that every other company can manage to release content simultaneously regardless of which platform you play on?

Planning. When you plan ahead, and consider the time it takes to achieve certification, it’s quite easy.

I’m also sure the OP isn’t even debating this point, and is more irritated that it is now becoming a trend that instead of having an entire week to experience new content, we are being funneled into another DLC for double drops.

Consider people that work week days, those same people are going to be pressured all weekend long to run Rockgrove now instead of being able to enjoy the Endless Archive with friends.

Problem is,other games jsut release it all together,which means technically PC users have to wait til consoles get it,when they don't really have to.ZOS could delay PC users getting release til consoles get approved,but they don't.Either way someone will get delayed release.

Do you hear people in games like D4 complain that they need to wait for console? No.

PC and Console players pays and play this game therefore new content should be pushed out when its done and complete for all platforms.

I find it very strange that for example console players buying expansions have to wait 2 weeks longer then PC players when Zos have the choice to make it ready for all platforms and then release it for all their players.

Right, that and PTS create a problem where all of the content has guides available before console launch, completely destroying any sense of discovery in the game.

Part of me wishes there was an NDA for DLC content leading up to launch so everyone can go in blind.

I don’t think a universal gag order is the solution here, personally.

Spoilers should be clearly marked on whatever platform. They aren’t allowed in the titles of forum posts here, and Gina doesn’t put them in patch notes for PTS or live. Streamers should do the same (e.g. “ESO new dungeons”). Content guides labeled appropriately (e.g. “Endless Archive builds”) are obviously going to discuss that content. If these things are appropriately marked, then they are easily avoidable. I say that from experience with new dungeon mechanics here as well as with big releases from other games too. It is possible to remain unspoiled by being careful about content consumption.

If you don’t want to read them to preserve that sense of discovery, you should absolutely have the choice not to click on them. But that shouldn’t prevent others from sharing what they like with people who want that content. There is a way both groups can have what they want, and an NDA would be very one-sided.

Tyrant_Tim

When making the argument that it’s a choice whether or not you research the content beforehand, you need to consider that even if I don’t, the person next to me might.

This is a problem because when you’re playing any multiplayer game, you’re going to have that one guy in the group that knows everything before it even releases and directs everyone to the most important things within the first ten minutes of a patch… whereas if everyone went in blind, you would have the potential for discovery.

The Elder Scrolls: Online captures so many aspects of the previous games very well, except for that sense of discovery and I believe the two week stagger mixed with the PTS DLC previews destroy any semblance of it.

Perhaps an NDA might not be the way to go about it, and instead the PTS should be used as a means to test combat and it’s interaction with live content rather than a preview program you can download.

OtarTheMad

I don’t think it’s a big deal either way. If there is an event taking place and a DLC drops which leads to a longer downtime… I just do something else for the time being. Plus EA is not a good source for the boxes anyway honestly. If you wanted those you’d be better off farming some public dungeons, much faster to bosses.

You really make it seem like events are such a huge burden because sometimes they drop at the same time as DLC’s… just do the event and then do the DLC’s after… update 40 isn’t going to vanish and this is the longest gap in content for the game so you got time. Q1 is just a dungeon so that’s simple, so we truly have from Q4 drop to Chapter drop in Q2 when it comes to real content. Take your time.

boi_anachronism_

OtarTheMad wrote: »

I don’t think it’s a big deal either way. If there is an event taking place and a DLC drops which leads to a longer downtime… I just do something else for the time being. Plus EA is not a good source for the boxes anyway honestly. If you wanted those you’d be better off farming some public dungeons, much faster to bosses.

You really make it seem like events are such a huge burden because sometimes they drop at the same time as DLC’s… just do the event and then do the DLC’s after… update 40 isn’t going to vanish and this is the longest gap in content for the game so you got time. Q1 is just a dungeon so that’s simple, so we truly have from Q4 drop to Chapter drop in Q2 when it comes to real content. Take your time.

Who cares about the event lol. I care about the server explosion.

OtarTheMad

boi_anachronism_ wrote: »

OtarTheMad wrote: »

I don’t think it’s a big deal either way. If there is an event taking place and a DLC drops which leads to a longer downtime… I just do something else for the time being. Plus EA is not a good source for the boxes anyway honestly. If you wanted those you’d be better off farming some public dungeons, much faster to bosses.

You really make it seem like events are such a huge burden because sometimes they drop at the same time as DLC’s… just do the event and then do the DLC’s after… update 40 isn’t going to vanish and this is the longest gap in content for the game so you got time. Q1 is just a dungeon so that’s simple, so we truly have from Q4 drop to Chapter drop in Q2 when it comes to real content. Take your time.

Who cares about the event lol. I care about the server explosion.

The OP, lmao. It’s literally in their first sentence.