Is it goodbye to the cinematic trailers?

TenebrisEquitem · April 10

Since we usually always get a cinematic trailer during the chapter season reveal streams, and because they mentioned at the start of the stream that they enjoy doing in-game trailers because it better represents the game, do we have to assume that we'll no longer get any more of those CGI cinematic trailers featuring the three heroes?

They're what originally got me wanting to try out the game all those years ago and they have a reputation for being some of best cinematics in the industry, so the idea of not having them at all anymore is very sad to me. At very least, I hope it's not the last we'll see of those heroes.

Syldras · April 10

I want to be honest: I never liked those trailers much (and not only because the mer in them rarely look like mer). Most often it was some random fighting which only roughly had anything to do with the actual chapter content. Felt a little meaningless somehow.

But if they brought trailers back with actually a bit more of a connection to the chapter content (and more mer-looking mer

), why not?! I wouldn't complain either.

Twohothardware · April 10

I don't think trailers for Chapter releases does much to bring in new players. They should focus more on just general advertisement of the game and making the base game free to play on all platforms.

spartaxoxo · April 10

TenebrisEquitem wrote: »

Since we usually always get a cinematic trailer during the chapter season reveal streams, and because they mentioned at the start of the stream that they enjoy doing in-game trailers because it better represents the game, do we have to assume that we'll no longer get any more of those CGI cinematic trailers featuring the three heroes?

They're what originally got me wanting to try out the game all those years ago and they have a reputation for being some of best cinematics in the industry, so the idea of not having them at all anymore is very sad to me. At very least, I hope it's not the last we'll see of those heroes.

I agree. Also, that High Isle cinematic brought up a ton of hype to the game. It was actually to the point that I still see people occasionally hyping up the unknown warrior in that trailer in subreddits completely unrelated to ESO. When I say that these trailers got people excited, I mean it. I think some people liked them more than they did the actual game though and kept tabs on them without playing.

TenebrisEquitem · April 11

Twohothardware wrote: »

I don't think trailers for Chapter releases does much to bring in new players. They should focus more on just general advertisement of the game and making the base game free to play on all platforms.

The High Isle cinematics were (and sorta still are) so popular that it started a whole trend on TikTok and the Ascendant Lord for better or worse became the poster boy for all medieval knights overnight. It was an amazing marketing strategy and with the level of attention it received, I don't doubt that it did bring new players to the game. Same thing happened in 2014 when the Breton Hero became the guy everybody used to describe their rogues for their DnD campaigns. Cinematics are always good for grabbing people's attention I think.

Crimsonorion · April 11

Didn't the second Dragonguard cinematic spoil the ending? Cause it showed a certain character sacrificing themselves?

spartaxoxo · April 11

Crimsonorion wrote: »

Didn't the second Dragonguard cinematic spoil the ending?
Cause it showed a certain character sacrificing themselves?

No. There's no way anyone could guess that based on what was shown. Also use spoiler tags when discussing such a major plot point in a thread where someone wouldn't reasonably expect them.

Aliyavana · April 11

High Isle cinematic trailer created so much hype. People that don't even know where the trailer is from hype up the Ascendant Lord's combat skills. It was such lovely work the team did on it.

alternatelder · April 11

I was sorta surprised, and upset they didn't have one. They were always so good, some of the best in the industry. MS ruining everything nowadays.

PrayingSeraph · April 11

I loved the cinematic trailers. My favorite was the one heavily showcasing Dagon and the Valkynaz on the tower. Or the one that shows Hermaeus Mora at the end looking at the tiny arcanist mortal.

Parasaurolophus · April 11

Does this mean that Zos is no longer investing in promoting the game as much as before?

Syldras · April 11

Well, I too have seen screenshots of the Ascendant Lord being used in a totally different contexts somewhere. I'm doubting though that it's a success marketing-wise if these pictures are circulating as "some random medieval knight" without people knowing who it is and where it's from (and obviously not caring about that either)?

spartaxoxo · April 11

Syldras wrote: »

Well, I too have seen screenshots of the Ascendant Lord being used in a totally different contexts somewhere. I'm doubting though that it's a success marketing-wise if these pictures are circulating as "some random medieval knight" without people knowing who it is and where it's from (and obviously not caring about that either)?

I've seen plenty that do. And I've also seen people go "Awesome! Where's that from?" or something along those lines and then they get told about the game.

Arunei · April 11

As I understood it, this year's was a special cinematic for the ole anniversary thing going on, and in the future the idea of "you belong" would show up in more of their promotional stuff. But I don't remember hearing anyone say that the cinematic trailers are no longer going to be made/used.

tomofhyrule · April 11

A streamer friend of mine recently did a watch party of all of the cinematics in order so we could all reminisce about how cool they looked.

And that was when I realized.

WHERE.
ARE.
THE.
ORCS!?!

I am disappoint. There were no Orcs in any of the cinematics, not even as minor side characters or player inserts. Pity we didn't have one for Wrothgar.

Adam_Chattaway · May 11

Syldras wrote: »

I want to be honest: I never liked those trailers much (and not only because the mer in them rarely look like mer). Most often it was some random fighting which only roughly had anything to do with the actual chapter content. Felt a little meaningless somehow.

But if they brought trailers back with actually a bit more of a connection to the chapter content (and more mer-looking mer ), why not?! I wouldn't complain either.

More mer... looking mer.... nah tuenhogh elf in tuencinemstocs is exactly how an elf should look... tokein style and hot asf.

randconfig · May 11

They'll absolutely bring more in the future, as it's great for advertising and hypes the entire playerbase. There's just not one right now because this is a transitional period.

joergino · May 11

randconfig wrote: »

They'll absolutely bring more in the future, as it's great for advertising and hypes the entire playerbase. There's just not one right now because this is a transitional period.

How do you know? They're downscaling everything, so I somehow doubt this.

Nemesis7884 · May 11

I always enjoyed the trailers...but if its between them and more content i much rather get more content (But i have 0 idea if such a trailer costs 20k or 200k to produce...).

Adam_Chattaway · May 11

Lack of named expansions is depressing... just season pass... imagine wow calling their expansions season pass 2025 or FFXIV calling em 2026... so cringe and not MMO like.

Adam_Chattaway · May 11

Nemesis7884 wrote: »

I always enjoyed the trailers...but if its between them and more content i much rather get more content (But i have 0 idea if such a trailer costs 20k or 200k to produce...).

Game milks players more than a dairy farm... let's be real, the cost of a Cinematic is half a day crown store sales... and the people making the cinematic are not the same people making game content.

Silaf · May 11

I personally prefer if ZOS would focus on a real TV series instead of trailers.

I'm sure an Elder Scrolls tv adaptation would sell well and increase the games sales too.

Nemesis7884 · May 11

Silaf wrote: »

I personally prefer if ZOS would focus on a real TV series instead of trailers.

I'm sure an Elder Scrolls tv adaptation would sell well and increase the games sales too.

Highly doubtful imo as tes lore hasnt really a strong tv story pull or characters

moderatelyfatman · May 11

I loved the cinematic trailers but I don't think ZOS can afford them any more.

Gilvoth · May 11

i hope so

Syldras · May 15

tomofhyrule wrote: »

I am disappoint. There were no Orcs in any of the cinematics, not even as minor side characters or player inserts. Pity we didn't have one for Wrothgar.

No elves either, only cosplaying humans

Desiato · May 15

I don't care about cinematic trailers at all. They do nothing for me directly. Although I do recognize they can help a game be more successful, which does indirectly benefit me.

However, the exclusion of a cinematic trailer -- especially when combined with the new traits of the annual major content update -- speaks to a reduced budget for the game and perhaps a change in how they position it to customers.

They desperately wanted to defeat the appearance of a transition to a 'maintenance mode', but I think it is a step in that direction.

The_Meathead · May 15

Silaf wrote: »

I personally prefer if ZOS would focus on a real TV series instead of trailers.

I'm sure an Elder Scrolls tv adaptation would sell well and increase the games sales too.

Man, I shudder to think what Amazon or Netflix would do with the Elder Scrolls.

There would be absolutely NO nuance or shades of grey, it would be 100% black and white/good vs evil, with "good" being a ham-fisted barely hidden representation of whatever chosen social agenda is on the current modern radar.

No thank you. Even ESO is starting to get hesitant with certain themes that have been present in ES games since inception, I cannot imagine the folks who ruined Wheel of Time or made Rings of Power getting a hold of it. Showrunners are hell on intellectual property.

Syldras · May 15

The_Meathead wrote: »

Man, I shudder to think what Amazon or Netflix would do with the Elder Scrolls.

I had always dreamed about a TES movie or show, but, yes, this is also the reason I'm not in favor of it anymore. I don't fear "agendas", but I see that they would not dare to mention topics anymore that someone might find "unsafe"; and when it comes to characterizing people, it would probably become very much cliché writing, which I don't enjoy much at all.

tsaescishoeshiner · May 15

I'm not that into the trailers, but they do help bring new players into the games. I've definitely played games after first being curious about the trailer, then finding out that the game looked good otherwise.

Given that they still advertise content and have something to sell, I'm sure we'll see some type of trailer. I wonder if there will be one for the big wall event in August.

whitecrow · May 15

I enjoyed the trailers and remember being blown away by some of them (Vvardenfell particularly stands out in my memory) but I supoose I can live without them.