Studio Director’s Letter: What are you hoping to hear?

Jaraal

JustFrog54 wrote: »

Rebalance of all sets in game to same vallues , because in PvE and PvP strong meta of small list of sets .

So make all 650+ sets nearly identical? That doesn't seem very efficient, or logical.

I'd rather see them send a list of all 650 sets to a sufficient sample size of players, and ask them to select their 10 favorite sets. Then ZOS can reverse the results and determine the 100/200/300/400 or whatever least used/least desirable ones, refund all materials used by players to create or upgrade them, and nuke them from orbit. Not only would it reduce the data storage clutter, but it would cut down on the sheer number of different calculations the servers have to make.

As long as they keep releasing new content, the set glut will continue to pile up. At what point will it reach critical mass, and have to be pared down, like they did with achievements? Something's got to give.

LadyGP

Erissime wrote: »

The original post in this thread pretty much sums up my own thoughts - as I see several others following up in similar tones. So I am only here to add up to the Cyrodiil news everybody is waiting for, even if they are a clearly stated "We have no intention to perform any updates/changes to that zone in the near future". It is better to bluntly know that is the case from start, rather than wait and hope to no avail.

And yes, performance is an issue - particularly in that environment. But also as of late overall in game. So yes, transparency of communication can indeed go a long way. Preferably as straightforward as it can be. Vague statements around a subject long required by the community are not communication. So better straight up "no" than "perhaps" or "maybe" and the like. Thank you.

I appreciate the directness - but with respect - form of this message.

LadyGP

Jaraal wrote: »

JustFrog54 wrote: »

Rebalance of all sets in game to same vallues , because in PvE and PvP strong meta of small list of sets .

So make all 650+ sets nearly identical? That doesn't seem very efficient, or logical.

I'd rather see them send a list of all 650 sets to a sufficient sample size of players, and ask them to select their 10 favorite sets. Then ZOS can reverse the results and determine the 100/200/300/400 or whatever least used/least desirable ones, refund all materials used by players to create or upgrade them, and nuke them from orbit. Not only would it reduce the data storage clutter, but it would cut down on the sheer number of different calculations the servers have to make.

As long as they keep releasing new content, the set glut will continue to pile up. At what point will it reach critical mass, and have to be pared down, like they did with achievements? Something's got to give.

Actually - kind of agree with the logical aspect of this message as well. Would be kind of cool to cut down on the "options" so to speak and make it more of an appreciated smaller set of... sets.

Stamicka

First, I really don’t want to see the “this has been a great year for ESO!” stuff like last year. I would like some pain points to be acknowledged at the very least. This would tell us that ZOS at least knows what the problems are. I also think the game needs a proper shakeup. ESO has been very stagnant both in terms of content and in terms of combat balancing. Balance is in a pretty horrible spot and has been since 2019, so much needs to change.

Honestly at this point I would celebrate the announcement of ESO classic the most, that’s how terrible the current state of the game is to me. So many bad changes need to be completely reversed. We are beyond the point of minor adjustments.

o_Primate_o

I'm 50-50 on the following:

49%
the best i'm expecting is:
new sets, DLC zone to complement West Weald, two dungeons, "QoL Improvements"

51%
The worst:
QoL improvements as ZOS commitment to EOS is reduced to simply managing the game.

o_Primate_o

Artim_X wrote: »

•we have no plans to sunset the game.

•we plan to raise Cyrodiil population caps back up to how it was prior to the pop reduction test.

•we plan on bringing back 3 team battlegrounds by quarter 2.

•we plan on utilizing battlespirit to address the excess heals and tankiness in PvP without affecting PvE balance.

•we plan to keep the writing in line with the logic of the world in relation to natural inclusivity and natural representation, while refraining from forced ham-fisted modern day political messaging that has no place in a fantasy game and only serves to break immersion for the sake of a message that is not needed in a world that already naturally represents people from all walks of life.

Good luck with all of that.

LPapirius

Is it too much to hope for a revival and fixes for Cyrodiil? I figure if I'm gonna dream, I'm gonna dream big.

o_Primate_o

LPapirius wrote: »

Is it too much to hope for a revival and fixes for Cyrodiil? I figure if I'm gonna dream, I'm gonna dream big.

Honestly, I'm expecting sunset (no new content, only maintenances). Maybe as a parting gift cross-platform play.

LPapirius

Jaraal wrote: »

JustFrog54 wrote: »

Rebalance of all sets in game to same vallues , because in PvE and PvP strong meta of small list of sets .

So make all 650+ sets nearly identical? That doesn't seem very efficient, or logical.

I'd rather see them send a list of all 650 sets to a sufficient sample size of players, and ask them to select their 10 favorite sets. Then ZOS can reverse the results and determine the 100/200/300/400 or whatever least used/least desirable ones, refund all materials used by players to create or upgrade them, and nuke them from orbit. Not only would it reduce the data storage clutter, but it would cut down on the sheer number of different calculations the servers have to make.

As long as they keep releasing new content, the set glut will continue to pile up. At what point will it reach critical mass, and have to be pared down, like they did with achievements? Something's got to give.

This is an outstanding suggestion! ESO could easily dump 75% of the sets and nobody would even notice. People already aren't using more than 75% of the sets though, so I'm not sure how much of a performance boost it would create. But the idea remains sound. There is just way, way too much clutter in ESO. The game could be cleaned up massively. Maybe hire one of those specialists hoarders have to hire to help them de-clutter their homes.

gariondavey

Artim_X wrote: »

•we have no plans to sunset the game.

•we plan to raise Cyrodiil population caps back up to how it was prior to the pop reduction test.

•we plan on bringing back 3 team battlegrounds by quarter 2.

•we plan on utilizing battlespirit to address the excess heals and tankiness in PvP without affecting PvE balance.

•we plan to keep the writing in line with the logic of the world in relation to natural inclusivity and natural representation, while refraining from forced ham-fisted modern day political messaging that has no place in a fantasy game and only serves to break immersion for the sake of a message that is not needed in a world that already naturally represents people from all walks of life.

Good stuff

tomofhyrule

I hope we don't get a lot of empty platitudes. I just want to see hope for the future.

It's no secret that this was a... difficult year. It should have been a huge year-long celebration - the 10th anniversary of this game! And we got:

• A bunch of free gifts based on various anniversary spotlights, most of which were old Crown-store things that older players may have already owned.
• A grind-a-thon worth of an anniversary event which burnt people out so hard that the population still hasn't entirely recovered.
• A week-and-a-half temp ban affecting the most dedicated unpaid testers this game has.
• Several sweeping combat (and other) changes that seem more like changes for the sake of having changes instead of doing something that has a purpose.
• Two updates which promise massive content for specific playerbases (housingmancers and PvPers respectively) that ended up being underwhelming at best.
• A spotlight stream on PvP by the developers that put all of the bugs and issues with the mode on full display, and then the video is swept under the rug without comment.
• Another series of "we'll do better" commitments.
• A surprise cancellation of the NA anniversary event with no explanation and nobody's trying to stop the spread of misinformation and despondency.

Honestly, I don't ask for much in the letter. I just want some hope that the game isn't going to go the way of Legends in 2025.

What I would like to see is results. We've seen the developers ask how they can do better with communication. We've seen those commitments for years now. I want to actually see that. Bring back Rich's stream - people enjoyed being able to see a dev play the game and offer insight into things. Interact with people more on the official forums beyond just support tickets. And yes, try to have some in-person events, especially for the half of the world that doesn't get them.

Another big thing for me: The PTS is there for a reason. Please please please make better use of it. There are a lot of people who test things and post their feedback, and most of it is very good. And yes, it may feel counterproductive to balance things in a way different to the spreadsheet, but the spreadsheet can't tell how fun something is. If you remove the fun from the game, nobody'll want to hang around. And beyond combat, there have been several really really long threads on more cosmetic issues that never get a response or dev comment - and that all goes into fun as well. Sure, the spreadsheet may not say much about the spear model change for Templar jabs, or the NB permaglow, or the locking of Class outfit styles, but those were massive threads that deserved a response. I'd hope that the dev team takes account of the PTS in the future and considers the feedback as part of the patch process.

But yeah, I just want to have some hope for the future again. Obviously we're not going to get info on exactly what's coming, but to know that ZOS isn't going to abandon ESO and will focus on it again would be nice (and would make some of us feel more comfortable spending money on the game if we weren't scared it was going to die next year). I'll admit, my spending on this game has gone down lately because I'm not feeling this game right now because of all of the above. But if the letter gives that hope back, then I'll have reason to play more. If I feel valued as a player (and an unpaid tester), I'll feel better about opening my wallet. Otherwise... I'm not as inclined to throw money at this game as I was last year.
...but I will say that there's one thing that they could drop in the January reveal that'll make me preorder the next Chapter sight unseen: a new Class (bonus points if it's a Dwemer Artificer)

TheRimOfTheSky

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Cellithor wrote: »

Do we know when the letter is supposed to come out?

Matt's letter to the community will be published next Tuesday, December 17.

I thought that Rich Lambert was the Game Director now? Shouldn't he write a letter too?

Jaraal

LPapirius wrote: »

Jaraal wrote: »

JustFrog54 wrote: »

Rebalance of all sets in game to same vallues , because in PvE and PvP strong meta of small list of sets .

So make all 650+ sets nearly identical? That doesn't seem very efficient, or logical.

I'd rather see them send a list of all 650 sets to a sufficient sample size of players, and ask them to select their 10 favorite sets. Then ZOS can reverse the results and determine the 100/200/300/400 or whatever least used/least desirable ones, refund all materials used by players to create or upgrade them, and nuke them from orbit. Not only would it reduce the data storage clutter, but it would cut down on the sheer number of different calculations the servers have to make.

As long as they keep releasing new content, the set glut will continue to pile up. At what point will it reach critical mass, and have to be pared down, like they did with achievements? Something's got to give.

This is an outstanding suggestion! ESO could easily dump 75% of the sets and nobody would even notice. People already aren't using more than 75% of the sets though, so I'm not sure how much of a performance boost it would create. But the idea remains sound. There is just way, way too much clutter in ESO. The game could be cleaned up massively. Maybe hire one of those specialists hoarders have to hire to help them de-clutter their homes.

That stuff still takes up space if it's rotting away in banks and inventories, especially of players who haven't logged in in a long time. Plus it all has various variables such as armor health decay, enchantments, dyes, weapon charges, etcetera. If achievements that sit around doing nothing were hogging so much data space that it was affecting performance as they stated, then armor with custom statistics that nobody uses anymore should have the same effect.

Destai

I think folks like @LadyGP and @tomofhyrule really nailed what I was going to say. Great posts guys!

Honestly, I don’t need to hear anymore about the game’s early days, how many copies have been sold, or similar platitudes. It’s fine if those are important to some, but I can’t really do anything with that information.

Right now, my biggest concern is the future support for the game. I enjoyed the content but I ultimately need to see something more refreshing to pay full price and indulge in the crown store like I used to.

I really hope to see some reflection on the issues faced this year, which there were many, and some kind of plan to ameliorate them. I walked into this year very excited. It seemed like it would have been the game’s greatest year. I think there’s still work to do.

In any case, I will read his letter and keep my hopes up for the game and its future.

Now back to skyshard hunting!

moderatelyfatman

A genuine, heartfelt apology.

Attorneyatlawl

Artim_X wrote: »

•we have no plans to sunset the game.

•we plan to raise Cyrodiil population caps back up to how it was prior to the pop reduction test.

•we plan on bringing back 3 team battlegrounds by quarter 2.

•we plan on utilizing battlespirit to address the excess heals and tankiness in PvP without affecting PvE balance.

•we plan to keep the writing in line with the logic of the world in relation to natural inclusivity and natural representation, while refraining from forced ham-fisted modern day political messaging that has no place in a fantasy game and only serves to break immersion for the sake of a message that is not needed in a world that already naturally represents people from all walks of life.

Quoted for emphasis. As a cyrodiil lover from long ago I've been considering coming back but I won't if it's not going to be brought up to snuff again. I want to see higher population caps and better performance, especially.

method__01

i want to know if current model of releases will continue like this or game will go back to previous years
cause we didnt get a DLC this year for team to focus on performance fixes ( still pending ,cause game suffers atm)
hope for raising housing slots and maybe give us a survey assistant im asking all these years

Muizer

I suspect the letter will be quite generic. I don't expect any specifics to be addressed. So, in stating what I hope to hear, I'll try to keep things high level as well.

We know ZOS wanted to move away from the year long story arcs and focus more on QoL and systems. Whatever we may think of the year long story arc model, we players knew what to expect and what not to expect.

I think a lot of us felt it was reasonable to think pumping content according to the old pattern was happening at the expense of fixing long standing issues with the game. And so there was some hope associated with a new direction.

But 2024 has given us not hope, but worries and uncertainty about the future. Two supposedly significant updates, housing tours and battlegrounds, do not give the impression ZOS is listening to its players when deciding what to build.

So, what I hope to read in the letter is that 2024 was a year of transition, rather than the model for the future. And I'd like to hear what the actual model is going to be and how it will address the long standing issues with existing game content.

MasterSpatula

There's really only two things I want to hear:

1. An acknowledgement that targeting has become a disaster, that hitboxes have gotten too small and are often in inexplicable places. I no longer want to have to ask, "Will I need to aim a little to the right of the enemy, a little to the left of the enemy, at the enemy's head, or at the enemy ankles to hit it?" I no longer want to worry that combat pets or companions strafing in front of my heavy attack will interrupt it. I'd like them to assure me they see how horrible targeting has become and it genuinely matters to them that it gets fixed.

2. I want to hear that skirt-and-stick builds are getting some love. I want the idea of a magica-based DD being pushed into rocking medium armor and two daggers to go far, far away and hide in the shame it deserves.

If either of these is addressed at all, I'm be pleasantly surprised. If we get both, I'll be honest-to-god happy.


EDIT: I take it back. I also want to hear there's going to be a real Fall DLC next year. That one's actually almost essential to my sticking around.

AtriaKhorist

I expect a commitment to their own policies and fix the disastrous permanent Grim Focus glow, preferably in a way that doesn't alienate those people that have grown to like it.
I expect acknowledgement of forum moderation being random, heavily handed and actively creating a toxic environment on this forum alongside a commitment to improve more believable than their commitment to improving communication, which so far also hasn't materialized.

I suspect we'll hear none of that, however.

ChuckyPayne

In previous years, they have been quite brief about next year. They are careful not to reveal anything new before the January announcements. So, what to expect is pretty much nothing new, a nice summary of the 10th year.

LikiLoki

The content of the letter will always follow the path of optimism, avoiding topics that are risky for capital. I expect that the next appeal will be empty and without specifics, a screen to hide the growing concern of the company's employees and players about their future

Jaimeh

I'd love to hear they're going to be making a great investment into fixing performance, so that overland PvP and group PvE can get a revival, as well as revisiting Q3, and creating richer content. That's what I hope to hear... but the thing is over the years I stopped putting too much stock on what the end of the year letter promises, because not only do they never deliver, but when asked for updates on their promised plans, they go radio silence.

LadyGP

Lots of really good comments thus far. I hope the studio takes a look at this thread and takes some of these concerns back to the board room. I don't expect a lot of the concerns brought up in this thread to be addressed as they could be considered "niche" concerns but none the less they are still valid.

It would be cool to see some big forum post created by Gina/Jessica/Kevin that summarized some of these topics and then gave a ZoS response to them - even if it's something like "internally we are satisfied with the way this is working and therefore have no plans to make changes at this time".


Keep the comments coming and as always keep them respectful and constructive.

ZOS_Kevin

LadyGP wrote: »

Community Feedback and Communication

Lastly, I’d like Matt to address how the team handles community feedback. Lately, there’s been a sense that changes are introduced that “no one asked for,” and with each major update, more long-time players seem to be leaving. I wonder if ZOS is aware of this perception internally and if they have plans—such as more community surveys or deeper engagement—to implement changes the community is actually asking for.

Just wanted to chime in on this real quickly. We have been chatting about this internally and setting up some plans like more surveys and ways to better implement more player feedback into direct action. Matt will touch on this to some degree in his letter, but wanted to mention it here as well. We have already started with some of this stuff, like the guild survey we had a few months ago. But we do plan to ramp up more of the requested communication methods in 2025. And we'll make adjustments throughout the year based on feedback. Obviously, this goes without saying but we don't want you to just trust what we say, but keep us accountable with our actions. When we roll these things out throughout the year, please let us know what is working and what isn't. Like Gina mentioned, please look forward to Matt's letter on Dec. 17th.

thejadefalcon

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

We have been chatting about this internally and setting up [snip] ways to better implement more player feedback into direct action. [snip] we'll make adjustments throughout the year based on feedback. Obviously, this goes without saying but we don't want you to just trust what we say, but keep us accountable with our actions.

Sorry, but it very much does not go without saying, Kevin. The only thought I had reading this post, that's been said time and again how you need to get better at communicating is, "let's do the time warp again."

code65536

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Like Gina mentioned, please look forward to Matt's letter on Feb. 17th.

I assume that's a typo and you meant to write Dec instead of Feb.

ApoAlaia

code65536 wrote: »

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Like Gina mentioned, please look forward to Matt's letter on Feb. 17th.

I assume that's a typo and you meant to write Dec instead of Feb.

Now I'm pondering what is happening on Feb 17th :tinfoilhat:

Hurbster

I hate to say it, but I believe whatever news there is will have to be separated from the usual PR jargon. It's not been a good year for the game.

ZOS_Kevin

code65536 wrote: »

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Like Gina mentioned, please look forward to Matt's letter on Feb. 17th.

I assume that's a typo and you meant to write Dec instead of Feb.

Thanks for the catch. I was working on something for Feb. right before following up here. Had my months crossed!