Thoughts on the PC UI art style "modernization"?

SpiritKitten · June 10

I dislike it

Cambion2401 wrote: »

I came back from a short break and got a bit of a shocker seeing the new UI, but after a bit playing I'm actually quite positive about it. I'm good with the cleaner tighter look (although I'm also good with the original) and I really like the icon telling me if it's part of my collection. Now if only this could also work based on another character (so I can quickly see if my crafter already has a recipe instead of my current character it'll be perfect).

I'm still missing a lot of info which I would consider quite basic. Even a mini-map still needs an addon. And the only decent achievement tracker addon (Wykkyd Achievement Tracker) is broken nowadays since 43 (honestly it held up surprisingly long without updates). If only they would've added features like that natively.

The only thing I really hate is the shadow behind the group section. But since I rarely join groups and now have permanent summons on al my chars (long live subclassing) I'm using the pet health bar addon again and I just went and installed the fork with companion support and a second addon that disables the regular group section. That fits more with the new interface than the real interface (and for the lovers of the old interface, the addon has an option to match Zenimax's style as well which I suspect will match if you use that old-interface addon (without it matches the new bars)).

I mean common, this looks much better. Why we can't have proper pet health bars without addons is beyond me anyways. You get skills to heal them, but no health bar to see if and when they need healing.

Can I please have the names of these pet and companion addons?

wilykcat · June 10

I dislike it

I really loved the old ui. It was unique and a work of art which gave the game charm. The new ui looks too generic and overly simplified. For me, it's not really satisfying to look at.

Treeshka · June 11

I like it

I love it. It is better now. Maybe next step would be modernizing the map. Like a proper colored map that also shows terrain and shrines attached to it.

LesserCircle · June 11

I dislike it

Thrudra_Magia wrote: »

In summary, people don't like change even if it is for the best.

What makes it "for the best"? I have never seen anyone complain about the original UI and you can get UI addons that make it look very similar to what we got now with the update.

Cooperharley · June 11

Sounds like it’s received largely negative reactions across Reddit and the forums, but haven’t seen anyone complaining in game about it.

Side note, I believe it is not, but does anyone know if this UI update is coming to console?

I really would love it if DarkUI was one of the console addons coming. I know some people find the base UI cool, but I myself would LOVE more customization. I think bandits may be too much for console, but we shall see!

daim · June 11

I dislike it

Cooperharley wrote: »

Sounds like it’s received largely negative reactions across Reddit and the forums, but haven’t seen anyone complaining in game about it.

Side note, I believe it is not, but does anyone know if this UI update is coming to console?

I really would love it if DarkUI was one of the console addons coming. I know some people find the base UI cool, but I myself would LOVE more customization. I think bandits may be too much for console, but we shall see!

I'm surprised to hear it's not on console yet ?

I would imagine it comes with next patch, it would be really odd if they'd maintain the old UI style just for console.

Cooperharley · June 11

daim wrote: »

Cooperharley wrote: »

Sounds like it’s received largely negative reactions across Reddit and the forums, but haven’t seen anyone complaining in game about it.

Side note, I believe it is not, but does anyone know if this UI update is coming to console?

I really would love it if DarkUI was one of the console addons coming. I know some people find the base UI cool, but I myself would LOVE more customization. I think bandits may be too much for console, but we shall see!

I'm surprised to hear it's not on console yet ?
I would imagine it comes with next patch, it would be really odd if they'd maintain the old UI style just for console.

U46 hasn’t released for consoles yet. It will on June 18! It’s always 2 weeks behind PC

Maitsukas · June 11

I dislike it

daim wrote: »

Cooperharley wrote: »

Sounds like it’s received largely negative reactions across Reddit and the forums, but haven’t seen anyone complaining in game about it.

Side note, I believe it is not, but does anyone know if this UI update is coming to console?

I really would love it if DarkUI was one of the console addons coming. I know some people find the base UI cool, but I myself would LOVE more customization. I think bandits may be too much for console, but we shall see!

I'm surprised to hear it's not on console yet ?
I would imagine it comes with next patch, it would be really odd if they'd maintain the old UI style just for console.

Gamepad UI remains unchanged on PC, so I don't think ZOS plans to overhaul it for consoles in the near future.

code65536 · June 11

I have mixed feelings about it

Cooperharley wrote: »

Sounds like it’s received largely negative reactions across Reddit and the forums, but haven’t seen anyone complaining in game about it.

That's because most people are fine with these changes. People who take the time to post about it are most likely people who are displeased with the changes, so what you see on the forums is almost always skewed.

I've been on the forums long enough to have witnessed a lot of negative backlash threads. And as far as negative backlashes go, this one is pretty mild and the number of people complaining are small (only 11 pages after two weeks? rookie numbers). (Again, this is relative to previous controversial changes.)

Dack's revert-to-old addon has only had about 500 downloads, which is small in comparison to the monthly download figures (which were in the thousands) for "modern conversion" addons like DarkUI or PerfectPixel prior to U46.

Most people outside of this thread's echo chamber think that the changes are fine (not withstanding specific issues like the notification icon, but ZOS has also said that they're working on fixing those).

daim wrote: »

I'm surprised to hear it's not on console yet ?
I would imagine it comes with next patch, it would be really odd if they'd maintain the old UI style just for console.

Console has never had the "old" UI style. Console, from the beginning, was stylistically "modern" (by that, I mean lacking the skeuomorphic grunge). Since console's style has always been "modern", what U46 did was to bring that styling to PC so that PC and console are now stylistically consistent with each other.

NotaDaedraWorshipper · June 11

I dislike it

Maxxermax wrote: »

I once talked to Gemini about the new, flat UI. This is what came out of it.
(This is the result of a conversation based on my subjective opinion and not the "opinion" of an AI.)

I can fully understand your anger and disappointment. Your experiences with the "modernization" of your favorite game, Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), are classic examples of how flat design can go wrong in practice and why it frustrates so many users.

The disappointment with Elder Scrolls Online

The transition in ESO is particularly bitter, as it's not just about functionality, but also about aesthetics and immersion. A game thrives on its atmosphere, and the user interface is an important part of that.
Loss of the "used" look and 3D bars: Many players love the feeling that their gear and user interface fit the game world. A worn look or slightly three-dimensional elements enhance the feeling of being part of this fantasy world. Replacing them with smooth, flat elements can destroy immersion.

The color clash (gold vs. blue): Replacing the golden shimmer with a blue one, while the UI itself has golden tones, is a classic design flaw in terms of color harmony. This can actually be visually painful because it creates a jarring effect and is jarring to the eye. It demonstrates that aesthetic decisions were made here that contradict the overall composition and the game's existing brand identity.

The Responsibility of Design Pioneers

Your resentment toward those who made flat design "state of the art" is also understandable. As I already mentioned, Microsoft was certainly the most prominent pioneer of the consistently flat approach with Windows Phone 7 and the Metro Design. Apple and Google later followed suit.
The problem isn't flat design itself, but its unreflective and often poor implementation. Many designers have adopted the trend without considering the fundamental rules of usability and user psychology. They have placed the aesthetics of minimalism above practicality. A truly good design always strikes a balance between aesthetics and functionality.
It's a challenge for the design community to learn from these mistakes. The pendulum often swings, and we're already seeing many modern designs returning to subtle shadows, gradients, and animations to improve readability and interaction cues (e.g., Google's Material Design). It's a sign that people have realized that flat design ultimately serves no one—least of all the user.
I can imagine that such experiences are frustrating.

I like Gemini. It makes me feel heard. 🙂

Is this a thing now? Asking "AI", that are not intelligent, about the slighest thing? It's like asking autocorrect or an algorithm.

Maxxermax · June 11

I dislike it

tomofhyrule wrote: »

I am noticing that the difference between 'selected' and 'unselected' or 'available' and 'unavailable' isn't as obvious now.

Yes, you are right...

Golden Pursuits Pin Old UI

Golden Pursuits Pin New UI

Can anyone tell which one was selected?

Soarora · June 11

I dislike it

Cooperharley wrote: »

Sounds like it’s received largely negative reactions across Reddit and the forums, but haven’t seen anyone complaining in game about it.

Side note, I believe it is not, but does anyone know if this UI update is coming to console?

I really would love it if DarkUI was one of the console addons coming. I know some people find the base UI cool, but I myself would LOVE more customization. I think bandits may be too much for console, but we shall see!

I have, actually. Just one person who was ranting for quite some time.

josefcifkaeb17_ESO · June 11

I dislike it

I'm sorry but the new UI looks horrible, please make it optional. It's intrusive, doesn't fit a TES game or a fantasy game, the outlines are... just disgusting. If someone told me it was a free engine asset, I would totally believe it.

Danikat · June 11

I dislike it

Soarora wrote: »

Cooperharley wrote: »

Sounds like it’s received largely negative reactions across Reddit and the forums, but haven’t seen anyone complaining in game about it.

Side note, I believe it is not, but does anyone know if this UI update is coming to console?

I really would love it if DarkUI was one of the console addons coming. I know some people find the base UI cool, but I myself would LOVE more customization. I think bandits may be too much for console, but we shall see!

I have, actually. Just one person who was ranting for quite some time.

I've seen a lot of discussion about it in-game, but all in guilds, it's not really the kind of thing you can discuss in zone chat. Also the conversations usually get cut short by someone letting them know there's an addon to fix it, without that I suspect there would be a lot more complaining, but once you know you can put it right there's not really a lot more to say.

tomofhyrule · June 11

I dislike it

Look, even if we're gonna argue about "silent majorities" and "nobody really has a problem with it, only the whiners here," there's one thing that nobody can deny:

This is not a finished product.

Seriously. Every week of PTS updated something here or there, and now we still have so many examples of text overshooting the borders of their boxes. Can we all agree that this is not a final version?

In which case, why was it rolled out before it was done?

I'll even say that the difference between the Week 4 PTS version and the Week 1 PTS version made me not hate it as much. If ZOS had delayed this to finish it before releasing it (y'know, like Matt's letter said was the plan...), then people wouldn't likely be so up in arms about it.

licenturion · June 11

I have mixed feelings about it

code65536 wrote: »

Console has never had the "old" UI style. Console, from the beginning, was stylistically "modern" (by that, I mean lacking the skeuomorphic grunge). Since console's style has always been "modern", what U46 did was to bring that styling to PC so that PC and console are now stylistically consistent with each other.

Some things are blending over already.

The boss health bars are in the new style in controller mode, and group members (only 4) and companion health bars are also in the new style.

I assume the resource bars will be changed over time as well because controller mode looks like the old controller layout with some new style sprinkled in.

Cooperharley · June 11

code65536 wrote: »

Cooperharley wrote: »

Sounds like it’s received largely negative reactions across Reddit and the forums, but haven’t seen anyone complaining in game about it.

That's because most people are fine with these changes. People who take the time to post about it are most likely people who are displeased with the changes, so what you see on the forums is almost always skewed.

I've been on the forums long enough to have witnessed a lot of negative backlash threads. And as far as negative backlashes go, this one is pretty mild and the number of people complaining are small (only 11 pages after two weeks? rookie numbers). (Again, this is relative to previous controversial changes.)

Dack's revert-to-old addon has only had about 500 downloads, which is small in comparison to the monthly download figures (which were in the thousands) for "modern conversion" addons like DarkUI or PerfectPixel prior to U46.

Most people outside of this thread's echo chamber think that the changes are fine (not withstanding specific issues like the notification icon, but ZOS has also said that they're working on fixing those).

daim wrote: »

I'm surprised to hear it's not on console yet ?
I would imagine it comes with next patch, it would be really odd if they'd maintain the old UI style just for console.

Console has never had the "old" UI style. Console, from the beginning, was stylistically "modern" (by that, I mean lacking the skeuomorphic grunge). Since console's style has always been "modern", what U46 did was to bring that styling to PC so that PC and console are now stylistically consistent with each other.

Yea fair enough. That’s pretty much everything in game too that is highly divisive on social platforms.

Really hoping regardless for some cool console UI addons come later this month

SerasWhip · June 11

I dislike it

Just logged on today since the update dropped. What a terrible day to have eyes.

Elvenheart · June 12

I dislike it

Personally, I don’t think it really matters if it’s a thousand players or just ten or even one player that this unnecessary UI change affects. If it hadn’t have happened, the players already using modern looking UI addons would still be happy, and the people who liked the way the interface looked as-is would still be happy. That’s why this was such an unnecessary change - it’s not like this is going to bring in new players. And for players who REALLY don’t like how it looks and for whatever reason do not like using UI addons it can actually drive them away.

DreamyLu · June 12

I like it

Generally, don't forget that:
- Big changes can't be perfect within the next minute. Phases after a change are always the same: Reactions, collection of feedback out of the different complains, and after a while, implementation of some adjustments until a good enough status is reached.
- Now no matter what, it will never be perfect for all. There will always be some who like and some who dislike, and at the top of it, it's a game, so there will always be bugs/flaws.

Fortunately, the world keeps spinning...

Side note: I personally don't believe that a UI we don't like can be a reason sufficient to leave a game.

daim · June 12

I dislike it

DreamyLu wrote: »

Generally, don't forget that:
- Big changes can't be perfect within the next minute. Phases after a change are always the same: Reactions, collection of feedback out of the different complains, and after a while, implementation of some adjustments until a good enough status is reached.
- Now no matter what, it will never be perfect for all. There will always be some who like and some who dislike, and at the top of it, it's a game, so there will always be bugs/flaws.

Fortunately, the world keeps spinning...

Side note: I personally don't believe that a UI we don't like can be a reason sufficient to leave a game.

Big changes? In terms of work hours it was a literally max weekend of reskinning (if you can even call it a reskin). But in terms of appearance it was a big change for sure.

And no, it's probably not a reason to leave a game you've put hundreds of hours in but it's freaking annoying change.

grin3671 · June 12

I dislike it

I don’t want to argue but honestly can't understand people who like and defend these changes. My opinion about new UI? Disgusting.

Overall bad feeling about these UI changes (Wrong direction of "improvments" and no devs feedback).
Feels random and lack of art direction. Unprofessional and rough.
Simple gradient without grain of texture looks too cheap. Out of game style.
It's not even flat as console UI (looks simple but has unified style and stylish icons in my opinion). Not even comparable.
Too many bugs. Blocky gradients. Text overflows. Style of crown store icon in top menu doesn't match the others. Some icons has awful quality (e.g. mail icon above chat). Blue shadows over outlines. Pixeleted and clipped.

I’ve been playing since the beta test and have never written on the forum before, as I’ve always been neutral or positive about previous game changes. When I first started playing, I felt the UI wasn’t very typical for the MMO genre, but it was acceptable. There were ways to functionality improvements but aestetic and style were good. Now, I feel like all the good aspects of the UI will be thrown away. It's really sad.
I use addons but always try stick to the game UI and really appreciate addons like LibAddonMenu and Extended Journal that integrate to default UI. For many players new UI don't even replace addons due to the lack of functionality and customization. But people who don't like new UI now forced to download more than 1Gb addon to barelly fix that mess what devs calls improvements. Moreover it can't fix all (like crown store or character selection menu) and future UI changes will likely make things even worse due to textures overlays.
I’ve heard that the devs are planning to test more features and game changes and new UI may be part of these fast and furious changes on live server. But how is testing possible without ANY communication from the devs to the community?

SpiritKitten · June 12

I dislike it

So, the addon to only change the companion bar doesn't work. I waited a few days before saying anything in case it would get fixed, but it hasn't been. If you have time, Dack, can you fix it?

Adremal · June 12

I dislike it

Horrible. A blatant downgrade.

Gaebriel0410 · June 12

I liked the old one better, but it is not terrible.
At least, as far as I have seen on pictures.

Since I still use the Oblivion UI mod haha, it hasn't been updated in years and gives a single error message when entering game but... it still works!

fizzylu · June 13

I have mixed feelings about it

code65536 wrote: »

Cooperharley wrote: »

Sounds like it’s received largely negative reactions across Reddit and the forums, but haven’t seen anyone complaining in game about it.

That's because most people are fine with these changes. People who take the time to post about it are most likely people who are displeased with the changes, so what you see on the forums is almost always skewed.

Or.... the majority of people still playing ESO will be fine with anything Zenimax does (and that's not even including the fact that most zone and guild chats are dead). Like I'm not in-game complaining about it because I'm barely playing the game anymore, and yes, the new UI is playing a part in that. It really turned me away from giving this update a chance (partially because it's really just not good now and I'm really just not cool with supporting a game where I feel like the devs are extremely misguided when it comes to their choices for it).

Dack_Janiels · June 13

I have mixed feelings about it

SpiritKitten wrote: »

So, the addon to only change the companion bar doesn't work. I waited a few days before saying anything in case it would get fixed, but it hasn't been. If you have time, Dack, can you fix it?

What doesn’t work? I tested it with an account that does not have companions and one that does, and it was working correctly. Are there errors or any other details you can give me to reproduce this issue?

Maxxermax · June 13

I dislike it

grin3671 wrote: »

... 1Gb addon ...

I know you want to use this as an argument against the new UI, because an add-on of this size can't be considered an alternative. That's why you might say, "Shush," to me when I say that the add-on to restore the old UI is no longer 1 GB in size.

However, I must clarify that the latest version from https://www.esoui.com/downloads/info4130-Pre101046UI.html on ESOUI.COM is "only" 31 MB in size when downloaded. Unpacked on your hard drive, it's about 132 MB. Furthermore, it's now available for download via Minion.

SpiritKitten · June 13

I dislike it

Dack_Janiels wrote: »

SpiritKitten wrote: »

So, the addon to only change the companion bar doesn't work. I waited a few days before saying anything in case it would get fixed, but it hasn't been. If you have time, Dack, can you fix it?

What doesn’t work? I tested it with an account that does not have companions and one that does, and it was working correctly. Are there errors or any other details you can give me to reproduce this issue?

It does nothing. So it's like the add-on isn't even there. I'm no longer getting that error message since you put that update out but it's like the add-on doesn't exist. Maybe I should uninstall it and reinstall it. I'll try that when I log in next time.

Nemesis7884 · June 13

I have mixed feelings about it

After playing a while with it, im warming up towards it...