Companions up for purchase, really?

WitchyKiki

Each DLC has brought two companions with it so far, but I found it suspicious that this one didn't. Well, moving on today, it's announced they are up for purchase, and if I heard correctly, you can still get them with ESO Plus? (correct me if I'm wrong)

This is my favorite game, and I try to focus on its positive aspects, but this DLC feels very lackluster, and it's upsetting to see content being pushed to the crown store.

Those are just my two cents. As always, I'll continue to play and support ESO.

LunaFlora

yes they are included with ESO Plus.

and it was only the 3 chapters before Gold Road that had companions, not each dlc.

WitchyKiki

LunaFlora wrote: »

yes they are included with ESO Plus.

and it was only the 3 chapters before Gold Road that had companions, not each dlc.

I should've specified each dlc since they were released.

cozmic72

Makes Gold Road seem even less worth the money. If they’re going to reduce the content they should reduce the price.

Reginald_leBlem

cozmic72 wrote: »

Makes Gold Road seem even less worth the money. If they’re going to reduce the content they should reduce the price.

Gold Road has been out for several months now. It was well known there were no companions offered.

WitchyKiki

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

cozmic72 wrote: »

Makes Gold Road seem even less worth the money. If they’re going to reduce the content they should reduce the price.

Gold Road has been out for several months now. It was well known there were no companions offered.

Typically content is added through updates after a DLC releases. The fact is that other companions were available with their respective dlcs, to now include them in the crownstore after not adding any to Goldroad is what has everyone so upset. look at the bigger picture here.

ApoAlaia

I hope that given that they are 'purchased' there is no unlock quest.

I do understand that a lot of people put time and effort into creating the companion quests, however after doing each one of them x30 (once per each non-mule character) and meaning no disrespect for the work, I am all quested out.

Reginald_leBlem

WitchyKiki wrote: »

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

cozmic72 wrote: »

Makes Gold Road seem even less worth the money. If they’re going to reduce the content they should reduce the price.

Gold Road has been out for several months now. It was well known there were no companions offered.

Typically content is added through updates after a DLC releases. The fact is that other companions were available with their respective dlcs, to now include them in the crownstore after not adding any to Goldroad is what has everyone so upset. look at the bigger picture here.

1) the other companions were included with their Chapters, not a DLC
2) If they were included with DLC they would be free to ESO+, and everyone else would have to buy them.... exactly as they are now.

WitchyKiki

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

WitchyKiki wrote: »

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

cozmic72 wrote: »

Makes Gold Road seem even less worth the money. If they’re going to reduce the content they should reduce the price.

Gold Road has been out for several months now. It was well known there were no companions offered.

Typically content is added through updates after a DLC releases. The fact is that other companions were available with their respective dlcs, to now include them in the crownstore after not adding any to Goldroad is what has everyone so upset. look at the bigger picture here.

1) the other companions were included with their Chapters, not a DLC
2) If they were included with DLC they would be free to ESO+, and everyone else would have to buy them.... exactly as they are now.

I didn't use perfectly precise language. Oh my, the horror.

Reginald_leBlem

WitchyKiki wrote: »

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

WitchyKiki wrote: »

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

cozmic72 wrote: »

Makes Gold Road seem even less worth the money. If they’re going to reduce the content they should reduce the price.

Gold Road has been out for several months now. It was well known there were no companions offered.

Typically content is added through updates after a DLC releases. The fact is that other companions were available with their respective dlcs, to now include them in the crownstore after not adding any to Goldroad is what has everyone so upset. look at the bigger picture here.

1) the other companions were included with their Chapters, not a DLC
2) If they were included with DLC they would be free to ESO+, and everyone else would have to buy them.... exactly as they are now.

I didn't use perfectly precise language. Oh my, the horror.

I don't really understand what you were expecting. Free base game companions? Free companions if you bought gold road? Why?

Aislinna

Companions have never been "free", you either purchased the chapter or waited for ESO+ to include them.

WitchyKiki

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

WitchyKiki wrote: »

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

WitchyKiki wrote: »

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

cozmic72 wrote: »

Makes Gold Road seem even less worth the money. If they’re going to reduce the content they should reduce the price.

Gold Road has been out for several months now. It was well known there were no companions offered.

Typically content is added through updates after a DLC releases. The fact is that other companions were available with their respective dlcs, to now include them in the crownstore after not adding any to Goldroad is what has everyone so upset. look at the bigger picture here.

1) the other companions were included with their Chapters, not a DLC
2) If they were included with DLC they would be free to ESO+, and everyone else would have to buy them.... exactly as they are now.

I didn't use perfectly precise language. Oh my, the horror.

I don't really understand what you were expecting. Free base game companions? Free companions if you bought gold road? Why?

Free? Companions were a part of the content offered in the last DLCs/CHAPTERS/Whatever. I can't believe people who pay more for less and are content to defend these [snip] tactics. I really *do not* get where this mentality comes from. I purchased Goldroad and pay my sub, and you think I want "free" content because I want the stuff I pay for to not have less? Really?

[snip]
[edited for bashing]

hiyde

Up until now, every companion came included as part of Chapter purchases.

This year, they announced companions were being moved into Q4 content instead, and people have been asking how they would be obtained. Now we know.

People are going to have opinions on that.

Alaztor91

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

I don't really understand what you were expecting. Free base game companions? Free companions if you bought gold road? Why?

Free Companions if you bought Gold Road is what I assume most people were expecting, seeing as that is how it worked with Blackwood, High Isle and Necrom. By making them a separate purchase, even if they are free with ESO+, ZOS is basically reducing the value that Gold Road has as a Chapter compared to the last 3.

Reginald_leBlem

WitchyKiki wrote: »

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

WitchyKiki wrote: »

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

WitchyKiki wrote: »

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

cozmic72 wrote: »

Makes Gold Road seem even less worth the money. If they’re going to reduce the content they should reduce the price.

Gold Road has been out for several months now. It was well known there were no companions offered.

Typically content is added through updates after a DLC releases. The fact is that other companions were available with their respective dlcs, to now include them in the crownstore after not adding any to Goldroad is what has everyone so upset. look at the bigger picture here.

1) the other companions were included with their Chapters, not a DLC
2) If they were included with DLC they would be free to ESO+, and everyone else would have to buy them.... exactly as they are now.

I didn't use perfectly precise language. Oh my, the horror.

I don't really understand what you were expecting. Free base game companions? Free companions if you bought gold road? Why?

Free? Companions were a part of the content offered in the last DLCs/CHAPTERS/Whatever. I can't believe people who pay more for less and are content to defend these [snip] tactics. I really *do not* get where this mentality comes from. I purchased Goldroad and pay my sub, and you think I want "free" content because I want the stuff I pay for to not have less? Really?

[snip]

Ok but companions were not offered as part of Gold Road.

WHICH WE ALL KNEW.

So, this outrage seems 4 months too late.

Oh and if you pay your sub, the new companions are included. So.... what's the big deal?

[edited to remove quote]

whitecrow

Maybe they knew not everyone would want both.

AllenaNightWood

they should have at least been free for those who own the latest expansion

DenverRalphy

I don't know what percentage of players are Non-ESO+ players, so dunno how big of an issue this really is.

But too, you can aways just purchase one month of ESO+, unlock the companions, the let the subscription expire. It'll put a few crowns in your wallet too.

Dunno that they'd be giftable, so dunno if you can buy them for gold from a Crown seller.

Punches_Below_Belt

For me this is a nice change. I don’t have to buy the chapter or wait a year in order to get the companions.Not that anyone needs more companions but they do have desirable perks.

It’s not like I’m going to have anything else to do. Configure them however you want, I don’t see me being a regular battlegrounds or Infinite Archive player any time soon. I want to be out in the world of Tamriel not stuck in some arena for button mashers.

hiyde

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

So, this outrage seems 4 months too late.

Reaction is coming today because today is the day ZOS revealed how to obtain these new companions. People have been asking this question for a long time. It got answered today and now folks are weighing in.

Bo0137

It is indeed a reduce in the chapter value. But it is going to stay. The forums had the same reaction when they announced Morrowind was not part of ESO Plus. Zenimax won't change their business model necessities despite criticism.

I do also want to point out that it is very unsustainable to keep adding a new system every year while also updating last years' systems.

I feel it is fairly acceptable to charge for extra content IF this means we get more content and at a faster cadency AND these are not too expensive.

jaws343

DenverRalphy wrote: »

I don't know what percentage of players are Non-ESO+ players, so dunno how big of an issue this really is.

But too, you can aways just purchase one month of ESO+, unlock the companions, the let the subscription expire. It'll put a few crowns in your wallet too.

Dunno that they'd be giftable, so dunno if you can buy them for gold from a Crown seller.

Or, just wait for a free ESO+ trial and get them for free unlocked permanently.

A whole lot of noise over a fairly reasonable thing.

We knew companions weren't included with Gold Road. So expecting them to retroactively be included in that purchase is absurd.

Zos also removed 2 entire paid DLC updates, so expecting them not to find some way to monetize content they are releasing, even if it is just a few companions, is odd. I would expect the DLC release changes have absolutely cut into the amount of money they were making per year on DLC sales.

And again, if you have ESO+, the companion unlock is free and permanent.

Syldras

DenverRalphy wrote: »

I don't know what percentage of players are Non-ESO+ players, so dunno how big of an issue this really is.

It is still another reduction of chapter content. They charge the same every year and it's getting less and less.

Soarora

I haven’t watched the stream yet so take with some salt— but yes, I did expect the companions to unlock with Gold Road. Actually, I thought all companions would require Blackwood. On one hand, I can’t complain if they’re cheaper, on the other, it devalues expensive DLCs. Saying “it doesn’t matter because ESO+ exists” is not a good argument. Not everyone has ESO+, and this is a paid game with way too many DLCs. People spend hundreds, thousands on DLCs and ESO+ and crowns. Free ESO+ probably won’t unlock the companions, so that’s moot.

ApoAlaia

Soarora wrote: »

I haven’t watched the stream yet so take with some salt— but yes, I did expect the companions to unlock with Gold Road. Actually, I thought all companions would require Blackwood. On one hand, I can’t complain if they’re cheaper, on the other, it devalues expensive DLCs. Saying “it doesn’t matter because ESO+ exists” is not a good argument. Not everyone has ESO+, and this is a paid game with way too many DLCs. People spend hundreds, thousands on DLCs and ESO+ and crowns. Free ESO+ probably won’t unlock the companions, so that’s moot.

Free ESO+ has historically not allowed unlocking companions.

On one particular instance (early on) it became possible to unlock Mirri, but that was plugged which to me it means that it was unintended.

Anifaas

It feels like bait and switch. If ZOS had intended to sell the companions this time around they had a responsibility to communicate such BEFORE selling Gold Road. Instead they let people assume "companions are coming later in Q4" meant that the usual inclusion of 2 companions was simply delayed. Which is very reasonable.

This feels fundamentally deceptive even though the hair-splitters assure us otherwise.

Soarora

Anifaas wrote: »

It feels like bait and switch. If ZOS had intended to sell the companions this time around they had a responsibility to communicate such BEFORE selling Gold Road. Instead they let people assume "companions are coming later in Q4" meant that the usual inclusion of 2 companions was simply delayed. Which is very reasonable.

This feels fundamentally deceptive even though the hair-splitters assure us otherwise.

Exactly this.

AScarlato

DenverRalphy wrote: »

We knew companions weren't included with Gold Road. So expecting them to retroactively be included in that purchase is absurd.

That isn't true at all. They never said they would be sold separately.

The business practice has always been that the companions were included as a part of the Chapter offering. This is the first and only time they weren't. They did state they werne't going to be released at the same time as the Chapter, but everyone I know expected them to be a part of what we got.

The statement I quoted above is what I find absurd. Not all the people surprised as I am.

JiubLeRepenti

(snip)

You got something included into the yearly content you were paying for. Now you pay the same money, for less content, and the removed part has to be paid apart.

But hey, it's fine, what's wrong with that after all...

(edited for baiting)

WitchyKiki

DenverRalphy wrote: »

I don't know what percentage of players are Non-ESO+ players, so dunno how big of an issue this really is.

But too, you can aways just purchase one month of ESO+, unlock the companions, the let the subscription expire. It'll put a few crowns in your wallet too.

Dunno that they'd be giftable, so dunno if you can buy them for gold from a Crown seller.

I've seen this elsewhere in the forums, I missed this part. Awesome if you can still keep them after unlocking them with ESO+ and letting the sub expire.

As for the rest of the people complaining about my original complaint, yall missed the point. If you're happy to pay for less, thats you, not me.

sunsrest

yeah it does feel like a bait and switch, I understood the original messaging to be like 'we couldn't finish the companions on time for Gold Road's release date but don't worry we'll release them later in the year', do we know how much they will cost in the crown store for non-ESO+ people?

the companions themselves look good btw, both of them