How would you streamline the release schedule?

JHartEllis · April 17

There's been a lot of confusion about the timing of things. This gets extra complicated when PTS is thrown in the mix. Even in the graphic here, it's sort of like Updates happen outside of Seasons, despite seasons continually rolling into each other.

I think we had all gotten used to Updates being the anchor to base things around, but maybe it would be better if Seasons were treated as the anchor. You'd then have a Season launch (with new Tome, seasonal Gold Coast Bazaar offerings, and maybe a new feature or two) and then mid-season feature launches, mid-season events, and one mid-season update. It would be best to then clearly distinguish what launches with the Season and what does not. Verbiage could talk about "with season launch", "early in the season", "towards the middle of the season", or "late in the season".

U49 launching before Seasons but then being lumped in with them complicated this further, so it could just be that U51 would be Season One's mid-season update and then stay consistent going forward.

Or would you rather seasons and updates just happen at the same time?

tomofhyrule · April 17

Honestly, I’d have the Season and the Update drop simultaneously. The idea that one patch has content for two seasons and some part of something gets arbitrarily delayed just adds confusion.

It’s much easier to handle if one patch happens and it’s done.

*note that event areas like the Writhing Fortress and whatever this new High Seas thing is would still open on a time-based event. But I have my own issues with them existing in the first place considering it feels icky to spend a lot of dev time on encounters and set pieces that are designed to go away, and would much prefer them as permanent Dungeons or Trials.

LunaFlora · April 17

i would not change it, ZOS is releasing things when they are ready which seems best to me.

i am guessing it will likely be the same kind of schedule every year.
- January, first season of the year (except this year)
- March, first update.
- April, second season.
- June, update.
- July, third season.
- late August or early September, update.
- October, fourth season.
- late October or early November, fourth update.

Each update adding the next Season. Features like Class or Werewolf refresh release with update launch.

Each season is 3 full months, events and some features like trials or stories release after their update during the season.
got the above picture from the Seasons intro post:
https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/69137

ZOS also released a season roadmap with the launch of season 0, the same will likely happen with each future season.
They have gotten better with giving dates for things in advance, we know Zeal of Zenithar's dates 2 months in advance.

https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/roadmap

hopefully my comment helps a bit.

Emeratis · April 17

I'm honestly actually liking we have less downtime between content and testing and things feel more active. Years ago I complained that the quarterly patch cycle with a huge burst of content then nothing for a few months in the downtime was not a good system and I'm glad they're finally adjusting it some. I also like the increase flexibility.

I do understand though how the new system and the unpredictability of it can be stressful and frustrating for some so my suggestion is for them to perhaps a more up front/transparent list of what's coming and when earlier? Maybe even a page/section on the website with countdown timers and/or a list of time/date that things release?

spartaxoxo · April 17

The only thing I'd change atm is for them to put the roadmap up in annoucements or on the help menu. Or perhaps they could add an event calendar. It would make it easier for people to keep track. But other than that, I think it's fine for them to release stuff as it finishes since it's more bite sized pieces than one chapter.

DoofusMax · April 17

As far as I'm concerned, it's working reasonably well as it's currently set up. Probably my biggest and perhaps only major gripe is that the PTS cycle got shortened by a week in order to have consoles and PC update at the same time. Rather than starting it a week earlier to keep it at five weeks, it got cut to four. There is a lot of stuff involved in making that simultaneous release happen and all of it is above my paygrade, but more pre-release testing is better than less in my experience.

The new system seems to be releasing something new every month or six weeks. It might be packaged in an update, but it stays locked for a little while after the update. That's fine with me and perhaps it keeps some players engaged to a greater extent than showing up for the new chapter and then disappearing until the next one.

Nemesis7884 · April 17

the one thing i personally would like is if the weekly refresh for tome challenges was on friday / saturday / sunday instead of tuesday