ZOS, We Need a Console PTS

Aurielle

Dear ZOS,

This point has been raised before, but with players on PS4 and Xbox One STILL experiencing game-breaking freezing, crashing, significant FPS drops, and invisible players — in PVE, but especially in Cyrodiil — it is evident now, more than ever before, that we need our own test servers. I realize that issues found on the PC PTS frequently make their way to the live servers on all platforms, but a PTS is at least a good starting point for identifying issues.

PC players on the PTS likely have much better hardware specs on average than those of us on console, so performance on the PC PTS surely cannot give you anything approaching an accurate sense of what the console player base will experience when an update goes live. A PTS for both console platforms might make a difference, assuming that game performance is indeed something you still prioritize.

Myself and other console players (as evidenced by the beta monkeys I occasionally see on PS4) beta-tested this game for you in 2014; please make it possible for us to continue testing the game for you on our preferred platform.

shadowwraith666

good idea, however there is the issue of updates though, from what i've read in the forum the PTS server is updated very frequently, on consoles updates can take upto 2 weeks to get through certification which ZOS has no control over.

Aurielle

shadowwraith666 wrote: »

good idea, however there is the issue of updates though, from what i've read in the forum the PTS server is updated very frequently, on consoles updates can take upto 2 weeks to get through certification which ZOS has no control over.

Both Sony and Microsoft offer rapid, same-day patch certification. I was told by Gina in another thread that we, as players, “don’t have all the details” regarding this feature. If patching certification is the reason why we don’t have a console PTS, and why we aren’t able to test patches before they’re launched on the live servers, perhaps we need more insight as to why ZOS cannot avail of Sony and Microsoft’s rapid patching certification?

MEBengalsFan2001

The reason why developers of online console games do not offer a test server is there is a cost to them to maintain and update the test server. They also have to get Sony and Microsoft approval with each update. On the PC side, the devs can quickly adjust/adept changes to the test server if something is a major issue.

The request for a console test server has been discussed in other MMO games and like those other games, I don't think ESO will get one due to the cost and the process that Sony and Microsoft has in place that protects their online gaming network.

Jailbirdy

Wargaming.net has console test servers....

Strider__Roshin

Lol why? Did you want your feedback ignored as well?

TequilaFire

I hate to be a wet noodle but on the last update of the PC PTS I started experiencing the stutter and freeze but it got released to the live server anyway and had to be patched later.

Sandman929

Daus wrote: »

Lol why? Did you want your feedback ignored as well?

Exactly, once you see how much of the PTS feedback on PC is completely ignored you'll see there's really no point. Unless there's some visual glitch in a new trial that gets reported on console during the cycle, they'll patch that up before release maybe.

Aurielle

Guys, please read posts in their entirety before commenting with snark.

Aurielle wrote: »

I realize that issues found on the PC PTS frequently make their way to the live servers on all platforms, but a PTS is at least a good starting point for identifying issues.

Also, some other online console games have managed to have PTS’s in recent years. Other console games are also availing of Sony and Microsoft’s rapid patching certification options. I understand that it’s probably expensive, but hey, you’ve got all those whales blowing thousands on gamble crates, so...