Studio Director’s Letter: 2025 & Beyond

spartaxoxo · January 28

sans-culottes wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

And we don't know what ZoS feels about this because they have not made any statements that I have seen.

People who aren’t necessarily current players have purchased the game. This is if not explicitly then implicitly their primary tool for determining whether or not one should have access to their forums. The “claim” in this case being something like “a lack of some kind of definitive statement from ZOS means there’s some kind of ambiguity in need of clarification.”

Yup. We do know ZOS's opinion because they have a current stance. Anyone who posts has specifically been given permission to be here. This is not an open forum.

spartaxoxo · January 28

Warhawke_80 wrote: »

More focus on PVP
Increased overland difficulty
More zones like Craglorne

Well it was fun while it lasted...

I think there will still be some zone content this year. It's 2026 when the game will really fully change to the new content cadence.

Red_Feather · January 29

Haven't played in years, and I'm looking forward to challenging content and seasonal game mechanic experimentations.

sans-culottes · January 29

Red_Feather wrote: »

Haven't played in years, and I'm looking forward to challenging content and seasonal game mechanic experimentations.

Hopefully the changes they make will entice you back to ESO.

Surgee · January 29

SilverBride wrote: »

sans-culottes wrote: »

So it’s almost like you don’t think their opinions matter. You’re entitled to that opinion, but obviously ZOS disagrees.

I don't believe that anyone that hasn't played in a very long time can give accurate feedback on the current state of the game since they have not experienced it themselves.

And we don't know what ZoS feels about this because they have not made any statements that I have seen.

I just hope they see my feedback and take it into consideration.

From what I've read, even players who play daily aren't able to give accurate feedback. Just because you play more than others doesn't make you opinion any more important or accurate.

If there was update regarding some aspect of the game, that a person who didn't play for 3 months isn't aware of, you can always tell them "this was changed XYZ way recently". Instead, you want the forum to become some closed up club for monthly subscribers. Gating access to the (already dying) game and community is absolutely the best idea kill it faster.

SilverBride · January 29

Surgee wrote: »

...you want the forum to become some closed up club for monthly subscribers.

What I want is for the feedback being given on the forums to reflect actual player experience, not feedback from watching someone else play, or feedback of what other players have stated from their experiences. We can play the same content as the streamer or our friends and have very different experiences.

We have to actually experience the content to know how it works for us. We cannot give knowledgeable feedback on something we have no first hand experience with.

Arunei · January 29

To everyone still going on about FOMO because of 'seasons', they have said that once a season ends, all of its content is still available. It's the exact same as how it is now with Chapters, it's just going to have a different name.

Gargath · January 31

ZOS_MattFiror wrote: »

Additionally, we have many millions of players who return to the game every year after taking months to years off – and it is often confusing to them what they should be doing. We need to address this by making sure that the game’s map and other quest/informational UI areas clearly show the user where they were when they left, what has been added since then, and where they will find content they will love.

You could have addressed the Plaguebreak set to bring it back to it's full potential from before you made it useless. Your decision to do so completely broke my fun, I lost intention to daily logging and questing, forced me me stop subscribing and leaving the ESO for 17 months to date.
During that time I dedicated myself entirely to Star Wars The Old Republic, which I subbed for that time while also supporting the game in buying lots of cartel coins, since I see no problem in financially supporting games I love.
Currently owning 32 characters in SWTOR and playing every day.
Pity, because I could keep dedicating myself to ESO like I was doing before the nerf.
In conclusion, I could return any time, but I won't, unless the Plaguebreak is restored to PvE in it's original glory.
You can praise about your game how wonderful it is, about the plans and progress in creation new worlds, but it all pales when you nerf everything to the ground offering much worse substitutes and telling me that I need it so much.

Hurbster · January 31

Yeah, that happens, I've never really enjoyed the game as much as I did before Iceheart got nerfed to make a new set look better. Kinda ruined the Ice Warrior theme I had going. I carried on for a while, took extended breaks but it was never the same.

Hollyniss · February 6

Aliyavana 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”

I hope this means that we will get the newer khajiit furstocks in old elsweyr zones like Khenarthi’s roost, as it doesnt make sense lorewise they’d be missing.

I also hope they go and add direnni ruins in old high rock zones as they had a hegemony there and should have more ruins than the ayleids that came after.

This is good news to me. Base game needed a much needed visual update.

Yeah, I hope they add more variety of Khajiit in Khenarthi's Roost. As well as allowing us to play as the other Khajiit subraces. The bipedal variety (although playing as a Senche-raht would be awesome, not going to lie lol). Kind of surprised they didn't do that with Elsweyr. I wish though, they'd update/overhaul the character creation in general. Would love to make my Argonian and Orc characters look more like their Skyrim counterparts (they looked better in my opinion).

It'd be really nice too if they made the races feel more unique (outside of racials) for immersion. You don't really get different dialogue. Same how if you're a vampire, Verandis doesn't seem to notice (even if you're stage 4) and asks you not to be afraid...I wish races, vampires, and werewolves had special dialogue and quest options. Like it'd be cool as a vampire if you could join a coven (similar to Morrowind) and join a pack as a werewolf.

TaSheen · February 6

I don't think they can add the furstocks - no way to do all the armors.... Right now, all armor fits every race. Don't see that changing.

Hollyniss · February 6

TaSheen wrote: »

I don't think they can add the furstocks - no way to do all the armors.... Right now, all armor fits every race. Don't see that changing.

They could add more bipedal (two-legged) variants just by updating or overhauling character creation, so we'd have a wider variety of options. I wish I could make my character look more like a werelioness, I can get her to look kind of like a lioness but it could be so much better...the color and marking options also need improved on. Maybe also add a tail slider (like FF14).

TaSheen · February 7

Seems like an interesting race.... I'm not sure I'd ever want to play it, but I was pretty much an "elfess" player in WoW. Not so much here of course - actually have more Bretons and Redguards (Redguards are my absolute FAV race in TES, though I do love khajiit too).

ZOS_Icy · February 7

Greetings,

We have recently removed some off-topic posts. While we understand that you may have interest in other games, this forum was created to talk about ESO.

Thank you for your understanding.

OtarTheMad · February 11

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Warhawke_80 wrote: »

More focus on PVP
Increased overland difficulty
More zones like Craglorne

Well it was fun while it lasted...

I think there will still be some zone content this year. It's 2026 when the game will really fully change to the new content cadence.

Maybe. 2026 will definitely be better because we will have an actual idea of what happens and what to expect.

Sadly, as I predicted at least for myself, I find myself getting less interested. ESO is kind of on the back burner since we don't know anything about the future really... unless I missed something. Just too many other good games. Jan was once great because I don't like dungeons but I got a taste of what will be in Q2 and 3, which kept me excited. However, now Q1 is dungeons still but no major combat changes... so my meh class is still meh and so I just play other games or fill that time with other hobbies that are interesting.

Honestly, I am not sure I will be back to ESO. 2 months to go before we even get a hint at what the first "season" is but ESO is sadly already in my rear view. They really needed to drop some info, at least for me.

Daimonion82 · February 11

Well, I have mixed feelings...
Fist of all - "seasons" sounds disturbing. I like chapters, what can I say? I'm affraid we'll get small chunks of story/zones, probably only for ESO+ or for crowns. In general - less for more.
PVP - As always - expect nerfing classes and sets for everyone, because of "balance". Just make separate skills for PVE and PVP and be done with this endless cycle of ruining PVE fun.
Harder overland - If optional - big yes, if not optional - big no. Nymics are a nightmare and I really don't want to see anything similar. Ever.
More Craglorn-like zones - Eeee... Okay... Probably not going to work, but I will be very happy if you prove me wrong.
Updated older zones - Fantastic!
Updated animations - Templar jabs again?...
Messing with UI - Could be for better, could be for worse. We'll see.

Sarannah · February 13

Just wanted to add something, as you are stating to focus more on new and returning players. To do this, have more sales of account upgrade stuff(monthly): Exp scrolls, character slots, armory slots, outfit slots, mount training, inventory pets, inventory slots, bank slots, banker/merchant/deconstructor allies, etc. Basically everything in the upgrade category, as these are things useful for new accounts or returning players.

Rungar · March 17

The game already has more overland content than it will ever need but most people never see it because of the following:

1) arcane combat system ( high apm weaving/ Animation cancelling) required at a certain point.
2) poor trader/guild structure
3) inaccessible dlc dungeon content due to problem 1 and over reliance on raid style mechanics and group finder
4) inaccessible pvp content due to ball groups etc.
5) overly complex and unnecessary cp system
6) lack of integration of achievements with levelling/cp systems.

you need buzzwords like:
-improved combat ( regression to standard combat with more utility)
-revamped dungeons ( radial dungeons as opposed to linear dungeons)
-improved character advancement ( integrated achievements with cp aka ACP)
-better guild experience (Npc guilds integrated with acxhievements, the way elder scrolls was supposed to me)
-more accessible and better pvp experience ( campaigns split by account based alliance rank/ better performance)

ole Rungar has it all ready to go for you lol.

if your truely interested in changing it up and getting new blood... read through my signature and try something new

. You dont need a huge team to make the game better. Just lots of small things. You wont get new blood or returning players without a grand overhaul and you dont need new areas for that. just smart choices.

flaxegg · March 18

If they do utilize existing zones for some new stories, that could actually be a really cool way to breathe new life into some more abandoned areas, especially if paired with visual revamps like we saw with the starter islands. I do like when we get to explore new places though haha, hope new zones aren't too few and far between.

Pixiepumpkin · March 18

Daimonion82 wrote: »

Well, I have mixed feelings...
Fist of all - "seasons" sounds disturbing. I like chapters, what can I say? I'm affraid we'll get small chunks of story/zones, probably only for ESO+ or for crowns. In general - less for more.
PVP - As always - expect nerfing classes and sets for everyone, because of "balance". Just make separate skills for PVE and PVP and be done with this endless cycle of ruining PVE fun.
Harder overland - If optional - big yes, if not optional - big no. Nymics are a nightmare and I really don't want to see anything similar. Ever.
More Craglorn-like zones - Eeee... Okay... Probably not going to work, but I will be very happy if you prove me wrong.
Updated older zones - Fantastic!
Updated animations - Templar jabs again?...
Messing with UI - Could be for better, could be for worse. We'll see.

Craglorn is the second most hated zone in the game for me. Cryrodiil is 1st.

I would absolutely not want to see more craglorn stype stuff. No thanks.

Thysbe · March 19

flaxegg wrote: »

If they do utilize existing zones for some new stories, that could actually be a really cool way to breathe new life into some more abandoned areas, especially if paired with visual revamps like we saw with the starter islands.

Currently doing the quests of the new compaions. The whole, "we put a new story into the old zones" is nothing more than adding a few entrance doors. One quest where you can see ruins in their original prime state is visually interesting, the rest ist like housing combined with a few fetch quests.

It´s a difficult situation to introduce new content in existing areas people came to love and know for years. If you can see and feel it, it will destroy the original area for others and if you keep the old look and feel intact there is not much room for new storytelling. If you want quality stories you make new zones, this decision only makes sense from a cost cutting perspective and devalues the experience for the quester.

After the Cataclysm desaster, where the redesigned many WOW zones, they gave up on the idea and you had a NPC who let you switch between old and new look of the zone since developers got roasted no matter how good or bad the changes were.

I expect even less content in the future based on the content reduction over the last years. Even more interesting things like new zones, new big quests - I really enjoyed having a 2 chapter arc again) will be replaced by recycling things you did already a hundred times by puting new furnishing plans and mythic leads into the same old loot tables.

Inyhel · March 22

1. Please keep the overland difficulty increase sensible (and preferably optional).

2. Been waiting almost a decade for new Brotherhood content, give it!

AlexanderDeLarge · April 5

Sakiri wrote: »

CoolBlast3 wrote: »

Choices in difficulty is good. But telling people who want difficult overland to just "go do trials/dungeons/etc" is ridiculous. Plenty of people who want difficult overland ENJOY story content and the tales ESO has to give, we just don't like one shotting literal gods with a single light attack.
There's room in ESO for both "normal" and "veteran" overland.

There's room alright, so long as the more difficult one has 0, and I mean ABSOLUTELY NO benefit for doing it.

No additional rewards, no nothing. Just the satisfaction of doing something harder.

We'll see how many people actually want it that way.

Veteran dungeons have enhanced rewards. Veteran trials have enhanced rewards. Veteran arenas have enhanced rewards. They're even BIS. Not sure why veteran overland having associated rewards is a step too far all of a sudden?

VoxAdActa wrote: »

Soarora wrote: »

I don't think it should just be a difficulty toggle unless there's increased rewards for toggling it on (ex. higher gold drops, mat drops, etc).

So you wouldn't do harder content just for the challenge?

Or you don't think enough other people would to make it worth the dev effort?

Weird, it's almost like lots of people don't want harder content, and even the people who claim to want harder content just want more skill-gated rewards.

Strange how this logic doesn't translate to every other PvE category in the game.

sans-culottes · April 5

AlexanderDeLarge wrote: »

Sakiri wrote: »

CoolBlast3 wrote: »

Choices in difficulty is good. But telling people who want difficult overland to just "go do trials/dungeons/etc" is ridiculous. Plenty of people who want difficult overland ENJOY story content and the tales ESO has to give, we just don't like one shotting literal gods with a single light attack.
There's room in ESO for both "normal" and "veteran" overland.

There's room alright, so long as the more difficult one has 0, and I mean ABSOLUTELY NO benefit for doing it.

No additional rewards, no nothing. Just the satisfaction of doing something harder.

We'll see how many people actually want it that way.

Veteran dungeons have enhanced rewards. Veteran trials have enhanced rewards. Veteran arenas have enhanced rewards. They're even BIS. Not sure why veteran overland having associated rewards is a step too far all of a sudden?

VoxAdActa wrote: »

Soarora wrote: »

I don't think it should just be a difficulty toggle unless there's increased rewards for toggling it on (ex. higher gold drops, mat drops, etc).

So you wouldn't do harder content just for the challenge?

Or you don't think enough other people would to make it worth the dev effort?

Weird, it's almost like lots of people don't want harder content, and even the people who claim to want harder content just want more skill-gated rewards.

Strange how this logic doesn't translate to every other PvE category in the game.

@AlexanderDeLarge brings up an important point here. Reward structures already exist for difficulty scaling in other parts of the game. Veteran content across dungeons, trials, and arenas isn’t just harder for its own sake; it offers tangible incentives, whether it’s gear, achievements, or cosmetics.

Why should Overland content be uniquely exempt from this logic?

There’s an underlying inconsistency when people argue that difficulty options for Overland must come with no rewards “whatsoever” while simultaneously benefiting from tiered rewards in every other PvE mode. Optional difficulty doesn’t mean mandatory hardship; it just means giving players who want more out of combat a reason to engage more deeply. That could be as simple as bonus XP, cosmetics, or achievement tracks.

Nobody’s asking to take anything away. The goal is to enrich the game for those who find current Overland trivial without impacting those who enjoy it as-is. The binary framing—difficulty versus fun, or rewards versus purity—misses what many of us are actually advocating: choice with meaning.

Elvenheart · April 8

I have to confess I’m very excited about Thursday’s reveal! It’s hard for me to focus on work today, and I know tomorrow and then Thursday morning is going to be even more difficult!

SilverBride · April 8

I'm actually dreading the reveal.

GatheredMyst · April 8

The "2025 and Beyond" letter was like a wish list of stuff that I have been hoping to see the game address for a very, very long time.

To say i'm eager to see this stuff revealed in detail is an understatement. I'm legit counting down the days.

Bring on the livestream!

sarahthes · April 8

I'm neither dreading nor excited for it, but I am intensely curious.

DeathStalker · April 8

SilverBride wrote: »

I'm actually dreading the reveal.

You are not alone in feeling this way

sans-culottes · April 8

I am curious to find out what is planned.