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Fantastic news

Moomins
Moomins
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There have been lots of comments around the web about Elder Scrolls, and the possible subscription numbers for the game. Many people predicted that the game would quickly become free to play as they were emphatic that the subscription model would not work.

Well, that opinion set seems to be contradicted by the new report from SuperData Research on the state of the the subscription-based MMO (pay-to-play) market.

The Elder Scrolls Online seems to be doing well despite the overall MMO market decline in both players and total revenues, as the average ESO revenue per user continues to rise according to SuperData which cites 772,374 ESO subscribers.

The data doesn't explicitly state where the figures have come from, however SuperData's MMO earnings are compiled from "the monthly spending of 36.9 million digital gamers, worldwide, collected from developers, publishers, and payment service providers." We can presume the numbers have come from the same source.

SuperData says:
Despite an ongoing decline in both players and total revenues (across the entire MMO market), the average revenue per user continues to rise. The subscription-based MMO market, now a mature market, is expected to stabilize in the next few years, as free-to-play alternatives reach saturation. With the value of an average pay-to-play player going up, we expect more ferocious competition among Western and Eastern publishers, offering higher quality gameplay and new narrative settings.

When Bethesda Softworks released Elder Scrolls Online, the industry took notice as the publisher fearlessly announced a subscription model, rather than going free-to-play like its direct competitor Guild Wars 2 (NCsoft). So far, a subscriber base of 772,374 indicates that its strategy is working. And perhaps its because of this that NCsoft released its own subscription-based title, Wildstar, over one month ago.

If these figures are correct, or even close, then Zenimax are doing something right, and deserve praise!

Now to fix those pesky bugs!

http://www.superdataresearch.com/blog/us-digital-games-market/
"Dragons? Oh, they're everywhere! You must fly very high to see most of them, though. The ones nearer the ground are very hard to see, being invisible."
M'aiq the Liar
  • Moomins
    Moomins
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    I was hoping this would be about the dog

    You'd be looking for this news then: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/120722/doggies-for-everyone#latest
    "Dragons? Oh, they're everywhere! You must fly very high to see most of them, though. The ones nearer the ground are very hard to see, being invisible."
    M'aiq the Liar
  • Mr.Turtlesworth
    Mr.Turtlesworth
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    I was hoping this would be about the dog

    You'd be looking for this news then: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/120722/doggies-for-everyone#latest

    seen it. I'm looking for a date instead of " in the future "

    That doesn't seem promising to me...
    I r robot
    hear me roar
  • Alphashado
    Alphashado
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    Considering the rocky start and the competitive environment of MMOs today, those are actually very solid numbers. It could be much higher though if you consider how many people have left. It's a young game though and while making mistakes, ZoS doesn't seem to be afraid to throw money and resources at fixing them.
    Edited by Alphashado on July 19, 2014 8:10AM
  • Moomins
    Moomins
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    Well, it is one of those I'll believe it when I see it situations - it isn't going to be a high priority addition, so you'll probably have to wait for some time...
    "Dragons? Oh, they're everywhere! You must fly very high to see most of them, though. The ones nearer the ground are very hard to see, being invisible."
    M'aiq the Liar
  • DeLindsay
    DeLindsay
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    This post and the others you commented on mean nothing without an official comment from ZoS. All numbers from this and the other linked thread are only generalized guesstimates based on market sales that they may not even have full access to. ESO is doing fine and that's all anyone needs to know.
  • ers101284b14_ESO
    ers101284b14_ESO
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    I was hoping this would be about the dog

    You've been posting so much about the dang dog I'm going to laugh when they give everyone except you the brown dog.
    dog dog dog

    You want another mudcrab? Ok I'm sure ZOS can swing that.
  • isengrimb16_ESO
    isengrimb16_ESO
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    DOGGIE IN A CHEF OUTFIT!

    Can I hire that?
  • crislevin
    crislevin
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    Where are these number from? Sales? Server log? ZoS rep?

    It's hard to comment on a number without knowing the detail.
  • Moomins
    Moomins
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    crislevin wrote: »
    Where are these number from? Sales? Server log? ZoS rep?

    It's hard to comment on a number without knowing the detail.

    The data doesn't explicitly state where the figures have come from, however SuperData's MMO earnings are compiled from "the monthly spending of 36.9 million digital gamers, worldwide, collected from developers, publishers, and payment service providers." We can presume the numbers have come from the same source.
    "Dragons? Oh, they're everywhere! You must fly very high to see most of them, though. The ones nearer the ground are very hard to see, being invisible."
    M'aiq the Liar
  • williamburr2001b14_ESO
  • DuelWieldingCheesyPoofs
    They still have consoles to hit yet, so dnt count the chickens yet
  • Lyrro
    Lyrro
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    crislevin wrote: »
    Where are these number from? Sales? Server log? ZoS rep?

    It's hard to comment on a number without knowing the detail.

    The data doesn't explicitly state where the figures have come from, however SuperData's MMO earnings are compiled from "the monthly spending of 36.9 million digital gamers, worldwide, collected from developers, publishers, and payment service providers." We can presume the numbers have come from the same source.

    It is a sad world when you're willing to accept something that someone else tells you because you assume to know their source despite that someone being unwilling to tell you where they got their info.

    http://www.healio.com/hematology-oncology/news/print/hematology-oncology/{241d62a7-fe6e-4c5b-9fed-a33cc6e4bd7c}/cigarettes-were-once-physician-tested-approved
  • Moomins
    Moomins
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    I don't think the game will be free to play any time soon. Nor do I want it to be. I am happy with the subscription as it is.
    "Dragons? Oh, they're everywhere! You must fly very high to see most of them, though. The ones nearer the ground are very hard to see, being invisible."
    M'aiq the Liar
  • BBSooner
    BBSooner
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    While I'd be happy with these numbers, as others have said without an official ZOS statement we can't put any faith in to the numbers at all.
  • kieso
    kieso
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    Is that a dog hireling from provisioning?
  • rbenkepub19_ESO
    rbenkepub19_ESO
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    Tremulous wrote: »
    1460203_555783664499014_1691330948_n.jpg

    /head asplode

  • Samadhi
    Samadhi
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    Tremulous wrote: »
    1460203_555783664499014_1691330948_n.jpg

    I read through that and then went "phew, at least I didn't lose the game....ffffffuuuu--"
    "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." -- the 14th Dalai Lama
    Wisdom is doing Now that which benefits you later.
  • Innocente
    Innocente
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    This is about the same number of paid subscribers that EQ1 had back in 2001.

    How can this possibly be 'Good News' for the companies involved, given how many hundreds of millions of dollars are invested into ESO?

    As a AAA MMO, this game is failing. And, as a privately held company that does not actually release subscription data, all these numbers are just speculations that someone pulled out of their rear end.

    I think it is far more telling that the game, after just 4 months, is now on sale for from $10 to $30, depending on where you shop. World of Warcraft, by comparison, maintained its $40 box price all the way through the Burning Crusade expansion, and beyond.
  • Victus
    Victus
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    WoW was also released at a time where there wasn't much MMO competition. There are many more titles to choose from currently.

    The people who immediately dismiss these numbers as being "pulled out of one's butt" are just as bad as those who deem it gospel. Lets have some healthy skepticism all around. While I have no idea if this game is doing better than anticipated, I also doubt it is going down the toilet either.
    Throm the First - Redguard Dragon Knight - Daggerfall Covenant
  • Innocente
    Innocente
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    "...Wasn't much MMO Competition." ?!?!?

    EQ1, DAoC, EQ2, EVE, and many more AAA games. WoW cleaned their clocks. And all the ones that came after.

    Hell, WoW is cleaning ESO's clock right now.
  • vyndral13preub18_ESO
    vyndral13preub18_ESO
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    Innocente wrote: »
    This is about the same number of paid subscribers that EQ1 had back in 2001.

    How can this possibly be 'Good News' for the companies involved, given how many hundreds of millions of dollars are invested into ESO?

    As a AAA MMO, this game is failing. And, as a privately held company that does not actually release subscription data, all these numbers are just speculations that someone pulled out of their rear end.

    I think it is far more telling that the game, after just 4 months, is now on sale for from $10 to $30, depending on where you shop. World of Warcraft, by comparison, maintained its $40 box price all the way through the Burning Crusade expansion, and beyond.

    It is strange when i look up EQ 1 subs the best i found was in june 2001 eq signs its 400,000 subscriber! Notice it doesn't say active just that it has had a total of 400,000 subscribers.

    And while i do think you are correct about WoW, i do think it is strange that you didn't mention any of the other MMOs to come out after WoW... Wonder why that is... Oh that is right because they all had the same price drop.
  • Thechemicals
    Thechemicals
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    Game is a hit guys....stop looking for something otherwise.
    Vr14 Templar since release- dual resto
    Vr14 Dk bow/2h

    Brayan Blackthunder
    Goddick
    Daggerfall Covenant

  • Innocente
    Innocente
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    Heh. Your definition of '...a hit...' is certainly different from my definition. From the perspective of what makes an MMO a 'hit'.
  • Innocente
    Innocente
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    Vyndral, Yes, I think you are correct 450k subs for EQ1 is about the max they had. That being said, 450k for EQ1 14 years ago, and 750k for ESO now, does not bode well for ESO, I am thinking.
  • WebBull
    WebBull
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    The Elder Scrolls Online seems to be doing well despite the overall MMO market decline in both players and total revenues, as the average ESO revenue per user continues to rise according to SuperData which cites 772,374 ESO subscribers.

    There are only 2 ways that revenue PER user can rise.

    1) More users are paying the full monthly sub instead of the discounted longer term options.
    2) cash shop purchases.

    Neither tells us anything about the health of the game. In fact 1) is more of a negative than a positive.

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