This is just speculation, but rumour has it that Microsoft shut down Blackbird because they didn't want another MMO to compete with the existing ones it owned.
If ESO were shut down by Microsoft to consolidate their customer based, would you simply switch over and start playing WoW?
Edited by ZOS_Kevin on 24 July 2025 15:17
If ESO were to shut down would you switch to WoW? 127 votes
Not sure how one leads to another in someone's mind and how closing ESO could get them anything in that regard. If it's not more profitable - sure thing, but it is so they're more about not risking with some new game (no matter if some thought it was to be a hit, no one will know that and build a good reputation for something never existed is quite an easy task) that can potentially flop and focus on what's already on a table and where the audience still exists - just like ESO.
PC-NA : 19 Khajiit and 1 Fishy-cat with fluffy delusions. cp3600
GM of Imperial Gold Reserve trading guild (started in 2017) since 2/2022
Come visit Karth's Glitter Box, Khajiit's home. Fully stocked guild hall done in sleek Khajiit stylings, with Grand Master Stations, Transmute, Scribing, Trial Dummies, etc. Also has 2 full bowling alleys, nightclub, and floating maze over Wrothgar.(Pariah's Pinacle)
GW2 would be the only current mmo I would consider similarly attractive but do prefer ESO because of the lore, stories, voice acting... but honestly i'd probably just exit the mmo game and wait for GW3 or anything else to come along
I think you forgot a few possible answers, wow and eso aren't the only mmos available.
Seems like perhaps the point is to demonstrate whether it would be a reasonable business strategy for M$ to shut down ESO in the hopes of moving the population over to Wow.
PC-NA : 19 Khajiit and 1 Fishy-cat with fluffy delusions. cp3600
GM of Imperial Gold Reserve trading guild (started in 2017) since 2/2022
Come visit Karth's Glitter Box, Khajiit's home. Fully stocked guild hall done in sleek Khajiit stylings, with Grand Master Stations, Transmute, Scribing, Trial Dummies, etc. Also has 2 full bowling alleys, nightclub, and floating maze over Wrothgar.(Pariah's Pinacle)
i play Elder Scrolls Online with a Playstation 5. i have no interest in World of Warcraft and it is not available for PlayStation, so i could not choose it even if i wanted to.
How would Microsoft consolidate their customer base by shutting down ESO? WoW is only for PC and is not Elder Scrolls.
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I play TES games because they have the best werewolf gameplay of any video game I can think of. The open world, the combat, the feeding mechanic, and the general aesthetics of "horror werewolf" tropes that TES werewolves exemplify. Some werewolf games get close, but they're generally hack-and-slash games or MOBAs/fighting games with no real way to customize your werewolf form and roleplay what it'd be like to be a monster.
Compare that to the Worgen of WoW. They're basically no different from regular humans — they stand fully upright, they wear armor and wield weaponry/magic, and they speak in the common tongue. In WoW, they're considered a character race, so they're not really a "subclass" the way Werewolf in ESO replaces the way your Class plays. In ESO, a character of any Race/Class/Faction can become a werewolf, whereas in WoW, you must pick the Worgen Race, which locks your Faction and Class choices. There's also the fact that in WoW, you cannot be "chaotic evil" or attack with your claws, whereas that's what's expected of werewolves in TES.
And, finally, the art style of WoW is far more toony for my liking; even ESO's werewolves (as much as they need a visual overhaul) are preferable. The one thing I wish ESO had that WoW has in that department is the level of customization for the Werewolf/Worgen form. You can really customize your Worgen characters in WoW, and I wish ESO's Werewolf had even the bare minimum level of customization, which could happen via Skill Styles for the Werewolf Transformation ability.
WoW's Worgen do get to stay permanently transformed without a timer minigame (actually, they're forced to transform when they enter combat) so that would be another thing I wish ESO's Werewolf had.
PC/NA — Lone Werewolf, the EP Templar Khajiit Werewolf
Why would I change to another MMO run by the same parent company, if I was unhappy with how this one was handled? There's other MMOs on the market and I prefer to play on my PlayStation anyway so it would be easy to avoid other MS games.
I was actually thinking this last night too - I'm sure some 'genius' suit in Microsoft's HQ is sitting there wondering why they have two 'medievalish fantasy' MMOs under their umbrella, and I'm sure this idiot is convinced that everyone who plays one would obviously play the other.
Wait, an out-of-touch executive? Really? Who'da thunk?
I would be in the "hell no" camp ... but I have no interest in WoW. Never have, tried it for a bit to appease my guild master, disliked it, never repeated the experience.
The poll definitely raised eyebrows if you think WoW is the only alternative to ESO.
I play WoW off and on but it just is not nearly as much fun as it was 10+ years ago. I would not increase my playtime in WoW if ESO shutdown, more likely I would play LOTRO and New World more. Or find a new game.
I'd probably just quit playing MMO's altogether and spend the rest of my existence constructing a life size replica of myself made out of different colored dyed rice.
Nope. I was hardcore EQ for 10 years, then off and on as I had the time for 5. I tried wow but couldn't get into the lore(and I'll admit I was biased. Wow was a "carebear" solo friendly game, watered down, easy play and easy rewards. ) With a disabled daughter needing 24/7 care I barely get time for ESO now so would probably just go back to Diablo 3 or single player games.
Personally I would be heartbroken if ESO were to shut down. Not that other MMO's wouldn't get my attention, but not like ESO has now. Would probably go back to path of exile or path of exile 2, as I love ARPG's.
Not sure what I would do though, maybe play all those single player games I bought and still have to play.
PS: No MMO is competing with other MMO's, they all have their specific audiences. So I think shutting down an already in development MMO, is wasting that already used money and possible future income.
PPS: Have played many MMO's in the past: xenimus(oldschool, but still the best/fastest PvP mmo ever, if you are a true PvP lover you have to try this game), ultima online, rappelz(miss that pet system, no other game has this sadly), WoW, Guildwars 2, everquest 1, everquest 2, conquer online, EVE online, and many many more.
Absolutely not. I played WoW through Warlords of Draenor I think. And I popped back in maybe 2 years ago, after having some nostalgia. Not at all the same.
If ESO shutdown, I'm not sure I'd dive into another MMO anyways. I'd probably just dive into Minecraft more, or single player games. I'm mostly a console gamer and there's not many other console MMOs that appeal to me. With a small family now, I really can't sit in front of a computer for hours outside of work.
I play ESO because it's Elder Scrolls, not because it's an MMO. If (Mara preserve us) it were to shut down, I don't care how many MMOs there are out there, I will just alternate between other SP RPGs.