Studio Director’s Letter: 2025 & Beyond

TechMaybeHic

For some reason, I didn't see this on dev tracker.

Feels like a pullback, but I do wish for focus on existing things that make the game great, getting more attention and care over just keep pushing forward to reach content goals. Of course; I'll believe it when I see it

gronoxvx

Meh.

I mean, thanks for the update. But ill believe it when it happens. Been through way too many of these letters and the results have been underwhelming in the past. I just hope the cyro stuff doesnt just become another round of testing with no results like the last batch.

KingNutella

I'm looking forward to most of these changes, particularly for combat, Cyrodiil, and overland difficulty. Literally my biggest gripes in the game by far.

I don't mind the change to seasonal format in theory. Many live service games including MMOs seem to be trending in this direction anyway. ESO is already a gigantic game, so adding more depth to existing zones and systems makes more sense than adding new ones in my opinion. I don't mind this as long as it means we get great stories and gameplay.

However, great ideas don't necessarily mean great execution. Hoping that for both our sake and the developers' sake that these plans go well.

Concerns:
- What will monetization look like for seasonal content?
- Will we get a roadmap?

Sakiri

sarahthes wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

If there are no chapters to purchase how are we going to fund this game? This is something players need to know before it goes live.

Well, the content they release certainly won't be free.

If it goes over the 60 dollars US a year that we pay for chapters, a lot of people gonna quit.

I pay enough for this game. I pay more for this game than I have, per year, than any other MMO, if only because the expansion releases are yearly rather than every two.

Frayton

I get the feeling that the new content will be old content with new objectives (a la Golden Pursuits), more reskins, more recolors, and maybe dusting off scrapped systems (a la Scribing). While technically "new", it's really not. Also, I don't really want to be a beta tester for experimental things that may or may not stay in the game. That just sounds like the live server is going to become the PTS.

A lot of people seem to be averse to the term maintenance mode, so call it whatever you want instead but it is what it is.

Calm_Fury

As someone with 5k+ hours in ESO since 2015 over Xbox and PC, I read a lot of the "right" sentences there, but still got the feeling like this is a corporate-speak way of saying ESO in heading into the start phase of maintenance mode. Kind of like instead of saying people are fired they say "we're allowing you to look for new opportunities" or something.

Maintenance mode doesn't necessarily mean the game will be frozen in time. Usually it starts with much lower scopes for changes and so on, which seems to be the case. 2024 was already a slower paced year, 2025 looks like will be even slower. That is ok if the changes are meaningful and actually change the game, but let's see.

ESO was the only game I've played for 3 years and I now see myself in the "returning player" category, and every time I come back I get the feeling "damn, the game is basically the same as when I last played 2 years ago", so this new focus on testing and experimenting seems good on paper. ESO does need a shakeup. ESO was way too formulaice for the last 4 or 5 years, with the exception of Infinite Archive.

If the words are true and there will actually be meaningful experiments, this is exciting. If those experiments just end up being the same old changes, just less frequent and more spread out, then it will be the same.

The last time I felt ESO truly tried to experiment was with IA. And I loved it (I came back to play because of it and played for a good 6 months before stopping again).

2024 was a huge disappointment and a lot of it was Zenimax's own making: creating huge HYPE for updates that clearly were very minor was a big mistake.

Here is for hope that 2025 is the year where the opposite happens and, while some of us think ESO is preparing for sunset, we actually get significant and interesting changes that make it worthwhile to come back to.

TheImperfect

Okay, I'm cautiously excited but also a little worried. I like big chapter drop areas and you say we will still get some, so good and maybe it will add in some surprises and hopefully it might be good. I've got questions though. Normally I pay for a chapter at the beginning of the year, job done, can relax and look forward to content release. With this new 3 month possibly six month releasing are we still going to be able to pay yearly or will it be annoying and have to pay when new stuff comes out every time? With my finances I prefer to be able to get it out the way so to speak so I know I'm covered for the year.

Are we going to get any indication of what we will be getting into when paying because we have previews in January each year previously? Although it does spoiler content a bit it does give us a taster of what we are getting to look forward to. I'm just curious because if we don't we are paying for a mystery which although not necessarily bad if it's a good surprise and doesn't spoiler stuff it does mean if you don't release much content people might be disatisfied. I can't see you going lazy and not giving us stuff when we are paying but it is a concern at the back of my mind.

Aldoss

I'm going to be honest, I don't really know what I just read.

I will say that I've been writing on these forums for years that the update schedule needs to go, but maybe it's just me, but I don't really know what the difference is between Q1-Q4 updates and "seasons" are. There's still deadlines involved with this.

I'm skeptically optimistic about the verbiage regarding "experiments". Do they need to happen? Yes, but you've done experiments in the past (you do remember the "year of performance", right?) and shockingly, nothing happened.

For anyone who remembers the week where they disabled cross-healing, you'll remember a week that was quite unlike any other, where skills fired, players actually died, and no ball groups plagued Cyro. It was so apparent to everyone what the problem was after that week. What happened from it? Nothing. Literally nothing. We're still here, years later, still shouting at ZOS to remove cross-healing from Cyro.

Forgive me for not jumping up and down when I read @ZOS_MattFiror casually say that they're thinking about replacing all skills with PvP specific ones. Who is going to design those skills? Who is going to balance them? Is it the same combat team that brought us Jabs and Flurry 2.0? The same team that doesn't see a problem with Polar Wind? The same team that brought us the most amazing skill of all... Grave Lord's Sacrifice?

Sorry. I'm not on board.

ZOS makes a lot of money. They put $100+ houses in the crown store and people buy them like crazy. It seems apparent to me that Chapters cost a lot of money and create a lot of stress on the team and someone in finance realized that they could just do away with the chapters and the update schedule, put more resources on making $100+ houses and $20 skill reskins and likely make more money doing it.

This letter screams end of life to me. It makes me think that ZOS is shifting focus away from regular players and onto the whales that are left.

Am I missing something here?

I was really hoping to see some sort of apology for the disaster that's been this patch and some sort of explanation as to why that is and what he, as the head director of this company, is going to do about it to ensure it doesn't happen in the future. Maybe him declaring that they're doing away with Chapters and quarterly updates is that? I don't know. This letter still doesn't inspire me to open my wallet. We'll see.

Muizer

About 'maintenance mode', it's possible but I think it is likely that the year long story cycle + new systems cadence was just not sustainable anyway. Some systems come with an obligation to keep providing content for them. It adds up. What if it was getting to the point where almost all dev resources were already booked in before they could even start to think of things other than the story, like other systems, let alone fixing issues with old content? If so, this change of course is simply necessary to make sure the game does not become a drag for devs to work on and to keep players engaged.

TheImperfect

Just want to say it will kill me waiting until April for details - people need deets!!! The curiosity is insane.

SilverBride

I don't know how these seasons will work but I don't want to pay for content in a zone I already paid for previously. So I hope it's not like that.

We really need answers. This is too much to have to wait 4 months for.

tinythinker

I read this earlier, and at least in general terms, this a big chunk of my wish list for the past several years. Obviously each person vary in which of these things matter to them or how they hope the ones they like are implemented, but, at least from this outline things are looking up.

Might add more later, but for now, very interested in what will happen with ESO in 2025...

gariondavey

DeathStalker wrote: »

So what I read is,
1. no more big content releases.
2. bigger focus on pvp.
3. make things harder.

If that is the goal, do not be surprised when the population of this game decreases even more. This game's content should be made easier, not harder. PVP should not be a primary focus ever. All I read from this is a disaster in the making. Please stop listening to the vocal minority or you will lose a lot more people.

No offense but they listened to people who say similar things to this and targeted solo questers as a demographic for years. This helped cause the disintegration of their veteran pve and pvp communities. This game started as an mmo pvp rpg. Deviating from that is where it started going south.

Lyraen_Skyforge

SilverBride wrote: »

I don't know how these seasons will work but I don't want to pay for content in a zone I already paid for previously. So I hope it's not like that.

You won’t pay for the zone, you’ll pay for the opportunity to do new quests it seems.

If Golden Pursuits turn into ticketed, seasonal events… it’s the end of ESO as we have all known it. No one I know will stay around for that regardless of the prize at the end of the grind.

Noerra

Optimistic with the plans going forward.

@ZOS_MattFiror I think a lot of people are interpreting the PvP-Specific Abilities replacing our current ones thing. Was replaced the right word? Is this going to be similar to FFXIV pvp skills? Is this simply going to be that the abilities will be balanced and scaled differently than they are in PvE?

Would love some clarity on that.

As for PVP feedback:

The number one thing that would improve the PvP experience for me and many others is to address Heal Stacking!
-Solution: When Battlespirit is active, make it so that you can't have more than 2 of the same healing ability active on you. Or make each stack of the same healing ability do a % less for each stack of the same healing ability.

I can't think of any pvp player that would disagree with this.

NeoniKa

All good but I think "visually improving base game zones" is an absolute terrible idea. At least for me the base game zones are the ones I like most. You should be spending time in creating new zones instead of damaging the "base game zones". Specially the light and color in all base game zones is way way better and much more accurate than in all newer zones. So, I'm afraid that touching the base game zones at this point will be a massive downgrade. Bring new zones and leave the classic ones in peace. But if you really feel the need to damage the base game zones with new textures and unneeded changes, please please please... don't forget to leave us an option to play those zones in the way it looks now. The main reason I play ESO is due to those base game zones, that still looks better to most new games with the new awful visual trends.

Jaraal

NeoniKa wrote: »

All good but I think "visually improving base game zones" is an absolute terrible idea. At least for me the base game zones are the ones I like most. You should be spending time in creating new zones instead of damaging the "base game zones". Specially the light and color in all base game zones is way way better and much more accurate than in all newer zones. So, I'm afraid that touching the base game zones at this point will be a massive downgrade. Bring new zones and leave the classic ones in peace. But if you really feel the need to damage the base game zones with new textures and unneeded changes, please please please... don't forget to leave us an option to play those zones in the way it looks now. The main reason I play ESO is due to those base game zones, that still looks better to most new games with the new awful visual trends.

Yeah, I can't wait to see how Wayrest looks with all the new chained up doors!

Dax_Draconis

ZOS_MattFiror wrote: »

So, we will be experimenting with a Cyrodiil campaign where all classes will have PvP-specific (and more performant) skills that replace the standard player skills with the expectation that we can support more players per campaign.

So, does this mean that there will finally be separation between PvP and PvE skill balancing?

TeruKisuke

As someone heavily invested in Housing, what will this mean for the fate of it? Will we get the specific furnishings that we've asked for time and time again but never got? Will there be a focus on refreshing older styles? Revisit older dlcs like Summerset, one of the most popular zones aesthetically, with adding structure plans to dailies there? Will we still get new styles? Requested houses, instead of those that seemingly come out of left field? We still don't have an official Dawnwood themed home, despite the new furnishings. Will we still get structure furnishings related to them, too? Ayleid? Many questions.

Fata1moose

Just like a lot of others I'm wary this is just the game going into maintenance mode, one might argue it already has but there are some intriguing things brought up that I've wanted in the letter that I'd like to give feedback on. Also some things that were not mentioned that I hope we can still get.


Increasing the difficulty of standard overworld combat
Been asking for this for years so glad to see it mentioned, I hope mobs are tougher and it's not just some banners at bosses, it needs to be harder across the board. Hard to strike the right balance but prefably not just making the enemies too spongey but having them output decent damage as well. And for those who don't want it, hopefully it's a toggle

Improving the overall feel of combat with animation, FX, and potentially audio work
Also something I've wanted for years. People say they don't like ESO because the combat is too floaty and it lacks impact so the goal should be to improve on that. Hit stop, PC turning towards the targets they're attacking instead of being off skew, subtle twitching or hit feedback on enemies. More FX such as blood, decapitations, poisons, etc. Sound design can really help here too different hit sounds for medium versus light armor and the type of weapon you're using. Also bows light attacks are the worst and lack any impact, would be cool to see arrows sticking out of enemies and a less dinky arc on arrows.

Visually improving base game zones with updated textures and art assets, starting with the "starter islands" - these should start rolling out in March 2025
Excellent to hear and a good place to start! I hope you keep in mind it's not just textures but detail density that sets newer content apart from old stuff. I hope when you get to areas that are in mainline games such as Mournhold, Rift, Cyrodiil, Eastmarch, etc. you improve continuity in terms of layout, topography, architecture and visuals to make them closer to the mainline games. Also since capital cities are the most active hubs I hope these see extra love and care with new furnishings, better streamlined crafting areas and even stuff like a proper guild hall for the Undaunted. It would also be nice to see actual dense forests and not just a field with a few trees scattered about.

Continuing the stories in existing zones and storylines and bringing back familiar characters
Hopefully more Naryu, Quen, Razum Dar, Darien. Would like to see returning characters made into companions with romance and older companions expanded with new arcs and romance as well.

New stories focused on hallmark Elder Scrolls organizations like Dark Brotherhood, Thieves Guild, Fighters Guild, and Mages Guild
I missed smaller scaled guild stories with chapters so would be happy to see guild quests again after all these guilds exist across the continent and don't just take place in one city which is how the TG and DB feel like now.

On the subject of new areas
I'd much rather you take your time to make a large zone in 2 years as opposed to making a small zone in 6 months. I wish there were less loading screens between zones not more so breaking up the map into a bunch of small DLC size zones does not sound appealing. Ideally, each province is one load zone so all of Skyrim for example would be seamless. Not sure if it's technically possible to stitch zones together as you visually upgrade them but it would be neat! If not with ESO, make it a goal for ESO 2 each province = one seamless zone.

One thing not mentioned that I want is new weapons skill lines!

• Spears
• Crossbows
• One hand + Destruction
• Alchemical firepots and other throwables

dkblight

I'm not going to go in deep on my comments atm, I just want to make sure something is done to include Werewolves.

WW builds can't use scribing, they have a lot of recent disadvantages, yet you charge 5,000 crowns despite most getting it for free.

I know a few people who desperately love WW, but hate they can't do heavier content as people have a natural distrust of WW being any good.

JoeCapricorn

I'm a glass half full fellow. Or, at least right now, a glass 1/4th full but it is with a heavily peated Port Charlotte 10yo single malt.

I don't think this is nearly the "end" of ESO, not even close, but maybe a change in pace is just what the developers need in the background. They did unionize not too long ago, and perhaps a yearly Chapter schedule was introducing periods of crunch. A looser schedule could be all that Matt is referring to. And guess what? Happy developers make happy gameplay. I support that.

But there will come a day when ESO might face its sunset era. I hope not for a long time. But when that does come, I really hope in the interest of game preservation that it is somehow put in the hands of the community. That it doesn't just... vanish.

There's a very old MMO that is still going after 27 years, and though it has changed hands a few times, it's still online. I never played it, and I never got the chance to because my dad never wanted to pay a subscription fee. Back in 1997 that was unheard of! Ultima Online would have been my first MMO otherwise. It still enjoys thousands of concurrent players and I've seen videos of people talking about getting started in it - in 2024! I really hope the same for Elder Scrolls Online.

And I hope an in-person anniversary event on the East Coast of the United States is reconsidered because I was kinda hoping to go to that myself.

Dark_Lord_Kuro

Seasons
Im worried. It quite often dilute the value of content or just make less of it. At the very least they already confirmed that quest and zones arent planned to be remouved at the end of the season like many seasonal content game.

Cyrodiil
Great, can we get the good old player cap in place, i miss having three battle of hundreds of player, often at chalman.

Harder zones
Depent on how it goes, will we get a toggle? If not how will it be ballanced? Like pre one tamriel zones? Wich would be good, like present craglorn? Wich would be meh, like solo arena? Wich would be too hard for many. Wich zone will be affected? All of them, only the new ones or

Craglorn type zone
Well that is just an awefull idea, they reworked old craglorn and canceled old murkmire for a reason. Being forced into a group to do quest is just awefull. Not worth playing.

Tallon_IV

ZOS_MattFiror wrote: »

• Visually improving base game zones with updated textures and art assets, starting with the "starter islands" - these should start rolling out in March 2025 

This is really great to see. I remember a while back you said you guys didn't want to do this because of the "Redguard armor debacle" so I'm really glad to see you've changed your minds.

Jaraal

Tallon_IV wrote: »

ZOS_MattFiror wrote: »

• Visually improving base game zones with updated textures and art assets, starting with the "starter islands" - these should start rolling out in March 2025 

This is really great to see. I remember a while back you said you guys didn't want to do this because of the "Redguard armor debacle" so I'm really glad to see you've changed your minds.

I wonder if they will finally fix the Timbercrow Wanderer's diaper/granny panty/flayed fur visuals? Would be nice, if they are actually going to update art assets.

shadyjane62

I had already given up and had decided not to sub again after ten straight years. This year I will sign up for one month at anniversary time and then go on to see what all this means.

I honestly have no idea what they are talking about but I am hopeful.

Sakiri

Tallon_IV wrote: »

ZOS_MattFiror wrote: »

• Visually improving base game zones with updated textures and art assets, starting with the "starter islands" - these should start rolling out in March 2025 

This is really great to see. I remember a while back you said you guys didn't want to do this because of the "Redguard armor debacle" so I'm really glad to see you've changed your minds.

the what debacle?

TaSheen

Sakiri wrote: »

Tallon_IV wrote: »

ZOS_MattFiror wrote: »

• Visually improving base game zones with updated textures and art assets, starting with the "starter islands" - these should start rolling out in March 2025 

This is really great to see. I remember a while back you said you guys didn't want to do this because of the "Redguard armor debacle" so I'm really glad to see you've changed your minds.

the what debacle?

The original Redguard light chest was "tweaked" because of "too much boobs". Actually, I really would have preferred it to anything currently extant.

Fata1moose

Tallon_IV wrote: »

ZOS_MattFiror wrote: »

• Visually improving base game zones with updated textures and art assets, starting with the "starter islands" - these should start rolling out in March 2025 

This is really great to see. I remember a while back you said you guys didn't want to do this because of the "Redguard armor debacle" so I'm really glad to see you've changed your minds.

Makes me wonder if they will update clothes even if it's just switching out stuff for ancestor motifs it could be a huge improvement. Some of those 2D clothing assets look dire just a painted on shirt lol.

Sakiri

Tallon_IV wrote: »

ZOS_MattFiror wrote: »

• Visually improving base game zones with updated textures and art assets, starting with the "starter islands" - these should start rolling out in March 2025 

This is really great to see. I remember a while back you said you guys didn't want to do this because of the "Redguard armor debacle" so I'm really glad to see you've changed your minds.

the what debacle?

TaSheen wrote: »

Sakiri wrote: »

Tallon_IV wrote: »

ZOS_MattFiror wrote: »

• Visually improving base game zones with updated textures and art assets, starting with the "starter islands" - these should start rolling out in March 2025 

This is really great to see. I remember a while back you said you guys didn't want to do this because of the "Redguard armor debacle" so I'm really glad to see you've changed your minds.

the what debacle?

The original Redguard light chest was "tweaked" because of "too much boobs". Actually, I really would have preferred it to anything currently extant.

You know, I was here at launch and have absolutely no memory of this.

And there's no such thing as too much boobs.