PS4, a laggy ghost town now...

lokulin

Let me start this by saying I am sure ESO will be around for quite some time still, but Steam charts for ESO does show a steady decrease in active players online since a peak just after the Wolfhunter DLC came out. Google search trends for ESO related searches mirror this steady decrease. Of course these are not official figures but as proxies they might give us an idea of overall population health.

Anecdotally this trend seems to be what I experience as my guild and friends list is down, most zones are often quiet and most of the players I see in Murkmire are high level or max CP players. This suggests that player count is down but there is a core of loyal players that continue to play the new content.

There are still times on PC NA when the server feels busy and alive but I think the charts suggest that ESO may have exited its growth phase and entered its maturity phase. In my opinion, how long it can stay in a maturity phase will depend on how ZOS treats existing players rather than how much they spend to attract new ones.

kentgreigrwb17_ESO

I found performance below standard and moved back to PC

redlink1979

Empty?! Never saw ESO "empty"...

Prof_Bawbag

Yeah, whilst i still visit the forums, I haven't actually played the game for months now and really have no desire to come back any time soon, if at all. I get people love content and want to gorge on it, but for me personally, the more content that arrived, the more issues I ran into. Nothing of note seems to get fixed. PvP is worse, trials are still a lag fest according to these forums etc etc. The worst part of it is, before leaving I had purchased a 6 month sub and I've only used under a week of it. The money isn't the issue, it's ZoS thinking at least one more person is so content with how things are they think it's currently worth the sub fee.

lazerlaz

Performance is garbage in all aspects. Not sure what they need to do but I think my end days are near too. Tired of abilities not firing in PVP when needed and with the new changes to channeling abilities that do DD losing Los so easily and canceling themselves it's even worse.

Khrogo

The warning signs have been around for a while with all the free giveaways: daily rewards, Psijic Villa, Murkmire DLC. It doesn’t help that the a recent slew of high-profile releases like Red Dead 2, Fallout 76, Black Ops 4 have sucked oxygen out of the room. And while these distractions seems temporary, there is always the risk of a permanent exodus. Even though people will tire of RDR2, they may well never return to ESO.

I have been playing ESO since launch on Xbox. Initially, I played on the EU server. Eighteen months ago, when I felt the EU was underpopulated, I switched to the US server. At first, it was like night and day. The game felt alive again, public spaces bustled, lived, breathed. Recently, however, the NA server has reminded me of the EU one before my exodus. It is a worrying development.

So many players seem to think Zenimax is minting money with this game, that it’s an ever-giving cash cow. Generally, these beliefs are uninformed by any understanding of the market or its economy, and the believers will probably be spouting the same thing the day the servers are turned off. Hopefully, that day is not any time soon, but it’s not beyond the realm of possibility. There has been a steady decline in the population, and at some point, it will reach a tipping point.

I think ESO deserves to survive. The sheer wealth of content it offers is truly staggering. For three years, I have had little need to play anything else. It is a remarkable game, but a remarkably flawed one. Zenimax needs to prioritise fixing its problems before adding much more content. At this point, I fear if they don’t, the writing’s on the wall.

Knootewoot

Hostee wrote: »

Plus zos is currently developing a new mmo.

https://www.tweaktown.com/news/63561/zenimax-online-making-new-mmorpg/index.html

Hmm that's not what i make out of it.

It sais:

oin the team at ZOS and work on an exciting new IP! Based in Hunt Valley, Maryland, the team is hard at work developing new, compelling content and DLCs for The Elder Scrolls Online in addition to currently unannounced projects. The studio continues to grow and is hiring for multiple roles. Core Tech Programmer responsibilities: Implement core engine tech Turn engine architectural goals into reality Develop core engine components (threading, object system, memory management, file system, etc.) Work with engineers, artists, designers, world builders, and producers to match core engine features and performance to the game's vision Desired Skills: MMO development experience

Read more: https://www.tweaktown.com/news/63561/zenimax-online-making-new-mmorpg/index.html

The

Desired Skills: MMO development experience

might be because they also ask you to

developing new, compelling content and DLCs for The Elder Scrolls Online in addition to currently unannounced projects

The IP they work on might be just single player. But then it would be called Zenimax Offline.

Anyway, resources going to a new IP, whether single or mmo game are not busy on ESO sadly.

Odovacar

I still see zillions of people, so...

Knootewoot

Khrogo wrote: »

The warning signs have been around for a while with all the free giveaways: daily rewards, Psijic Villa, Murkmire DLC.

I played my share of mmo's. As soon as they started a shop or gave away free stuff... they soon closed the doors. Except for SWTOR which is still around though.

Khrogo

Meesha1170 wrote: »

I think a lot of it has to do with people waiting for the free version of Murkmire coming as a daily login reward. I'm sure after that it will be business as usual.

It’s a problem in itself if that many people don’t have ESO Plus. I’ve always wondered what percentage of players subscribe.

Tan9oSuccka

Odovacar wrote: »

I still see zillions of people, so...

I do too. I think we’re playing different games than the OP.

This is completely unscientific, but at 0100 CST (1 AM) this morning there were 71 members of my guild online and playing.

Sevn

Why is this in general discussion? This is clearly about cyro, because BG'S are exploding with activity. Que's pop back to back every single day. You looking for a fight? Man up and lose the cp and come to BG'S.

This thread should be moved to alliance war. Sick of clicking on titles that are very specific and don't belong in GD. Most of the damn GD is filled with complaints about cyro or some form of pvp complaint. You win some, you lose some, you don't come running to the damn forums to cry about it.

I'm clicking on this bs thinking it's important...

Jimmy

This game will never survive long term on console. It just simply isn't a console game. The reason ZOS pushed this game out to the consoles is only for money. That is it, nothing more. Eventually ZOS will stop supporting consoles and focus on PC only.

TequilaFire

Actually it is the PC that is on the way out, being replaced by dedicated devices like smartphones tablets and IoT boxes.
In homes and the work place.

Odovacar

Tan9oSuccka wrote: »

Odovacar wrote: »

I still see zillions of people, so...

I do too. I think we’re playing different games than the OP.

This is completely unscientific, but at 0100 CST (1 AM) this morning there were 71 members of my guild online and playing.

Yeah I only play at night due and generally log in around 11-12 EST (ps4 na) and I almost always have the same population experience I do on the weekends.

Bhaal5

I must be logging into another ps4 NA, because lagwood (an other trading hubs) at 6am est theres only 3-4 people and anywhere out of there is pretty close to 0 (still laggy as hell though).

starkerealm

WrathOfTheRipper wrote: »

If they cared, they wouldnt have launched new content before fixing old content first.

You know how to kill an MMO?

Here's a fun answer: Don't put out new content. Do that one simple trick, and the game will die. The only way to keep it healthy is to make sure there's a steady supply of new content in release.

New stuff comes out, clearly the game isn't dead. No new stuff... yep, stick a fork in it. Content freezes are the first step towards life support and death for an MMO.

So, yeah, keep crying about how stuff isn't getting fixed fast enough for you, but remember you're complaining about this on a day when a patch that did fix things dropped.

Bhaal5

starkerealm wrote: »

WrathOfTheRipper wrote: »

If they cared, they wouldnt have launched new content before fixing old content first.

You know how to kill an MMO?

Here's a fun answer: Don't put out new content. Do that one simple trick, and the game will die. The only way to keep it healthy is to make sure there's a steady supply of new content in release.

New stuff comes out, clearly the game isn't dead. No new stuff... yep, stick a fork in it. Content freezes are the first step towards life support and death for an MMO.

So, yeah, keep crying about how stuff isn't getting fixed fast enough for you, but remember you're complaining about this on a day when a patch that did fix things dropped.

What did they fix? Hard to tell when the game rans like a windows 98 screensaver

(Im actually interested in "what did they fix"?)

[Deleted User]

Hello there,

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DaveMoeDee

craftycarper73 wrote: »

The world of tamriel is full, the game is super smooth and bug free, the devs balance combat so brilliantly well.

Thats what a Zo$ fanboy see's.

In reality, players are leaving because the game is broken, the lag is at its BEST unreal, the server is a potato patch.

Thats what a rational person see's

False dichotomy. Not everything needs to be hyperbolic. The world if full of nuance.

Regarding the topic, while I'm not on PS4 and claims of the games decline have been non-stop since beta, I personally take seriously people claiming that many well-established (if that is what they are claiming) guilds are closing shop. Guilds close shop all the time, but big, long term ones closing feels more like a bellweather to me.

That being said, I'm enjoying the game just fine and guilds are active.

DaveMoeDee

Khrogo wrote: »

The warning signs have been around for a while with all the free giveaways: daily rewards, Psijic Villa, Murkmire DLC. It doesn’t help that the a recent slew of high-profile releases like Red Dead 2, Fallout 76, Black Ops 4 have sucked oxygen out of the room. And while these distractions seems temporary, there is always the risk of a permanent exodus. Even though people will tire of RDR2, they may well never return to ESO.

I have been playing ESO since launch on Xbox. Initially, I played on the EU server. Eighteen months ago, when I felt the EU was underpopulated, I switched to the US server. At first, it was like night and day. The game felt alive again, public spaces bustled, lived, breathed. Recently, however, the NA server has reminded me of the EU one before my exodus. It is a worrying development.

So many players seem to think Zenimax is minting money with this game, that it’s an ever-giving cash cow. Generally, these beliefs are uninformed by any understanding of the market or its economy, and the believers will probably be spouting the same thing the day the servers are turned off. Hopefully, that day is not any time soon, but it’s not beyond the realm of possibility. There has been a steady decline in the population, and at some point, it will reach a tipping point.

I think ESO deserves to survive. The sheer wealth of content it offers is truly staggering. For three years, I have had little need to play anything else. It is a remarkable game, but a remarkably flawed one. Zenimax needs to prioritise fixing its problems before adding much more content. At this point, I fear if they don’t, the writing’s on the wall.

I, too, find the many presumptuous commands about revenue naive and off-putting. It isn't so much that they are right or wrong that annoys me -- it is their ability to talk like they actually know something when they have negligible information on the topic.

JumpmanLane

I wouldn’t play an mmo on a console. If I did play on Xbox or PS4 I’d have BEEN gone. On PC on some unconscious level due to modding, one soldiers on through a buggy mess of a game. On console one expects a better experience or plays better games.

The daily login rewards are exactly what the seem, a means to doctor the player base numbers. ZOS is in a pretty sticky situation. The combat team has ideas. Yet doesn’t play the game. Sad really. If Bethesda ever releases a new Elder Scrolls game half as good as Skyrim, ESO will definitely be in trouble.

_Salty_

Everyone and their dog is playing Red Dead redemption. Once people finish it they will come back. Releasing a DLC around the same time as RD2 release is crazy.

We will see what happens when Path of Exiles drops next month. I for one will be taking my first break from ESO since console launch to play it.

Zos has stiff competition on the PS4 for the first time in years.

starkerealm

Bhaal5 wrote: »

starkerealm wrote: »

WrathOfTheRipper wrote: »

If they cared, they wouldnt have launched new content before fixing old content first.

You know how to kill an MMO?

Here's a fun answer: Don't put out new content. Do that one simple trick, and the game will die. The only way to keep it healthy is to make sure there's a steady supply of new content in release.

New stuff comes out, clearly the game isn't dead. No new stuff... yep, stick a fork in it. Content freezes are the first step towards life support and death for an MMO.

So, yeah, keep crying about how stuff isn't getting fixed fast enough for you, but remember you're complaining about this on a day when a patch that did fix things dropped.

What did they fix? Hard to tell when the game rans like a windows 98 screensaver

(Im actually interested in "what did they fix"?)

The fixed spam casting for channeled abilities. They fixed the part where you couldn't claim a login reward on the last day of the month. They supposedly improved performance substantially on the Mac client, so again, you're crying about performance issues on a day when performance issues were in the patch. Even if they were fixes that don't affect either of us.

starkerealm

_Salty_ wrote: »

Everyone and their dog is playing Red Dead redemption. Once people finish it they will come back. Releasing a DLC around the same time as RD2 release is crazy.

We will see what happens when Path of Exiles drops next month. I for one will be taking my first break from ESO since console launch to play it.

Zos has stiff competition on the PS4 for the first time in years.

Yeah, the DLC schedule is pretty set in stone. Which is fine, honestly. Every quarter gets a DLC. Which, really, that's for the best.

Path of Exile though... I mean, really? It's a top down ARPG in the tone of Diablo 2. I get people like it. I mean, Grim Dawn is more my thing in that genre, so, no judgement here. But, you really think a F2P top down dungeon crawler will kill ESO? Really?

Especially when it already exists on PC? And has not killed ESO here?

This make sense to you?

Synnastix

Mostly it depends on what I’m in the mood for - if I have something else to do then that gets the attention. I took some time away from ESO when MHW came out but it got tired after a while, so I came back to hang out. Game is a mess right now with lag, skills not firing, bar swap not triggering, rando load screens, etc and even as a non-sorcden I think the nerfs were shite, so I’m not defending it. I’m just saying I’m here until something more interesting comes around, then we see if I come back after I get bored with that. As long as they keep openig new parts of the world I prob keep playing until ES6 comes out.

Prof_Bawbag

Unless ZoS offer mass migration when the proper next gen consoles hit, then that's when the game will die on console. The next PS is expected to be announced next year and no idea about the next Xbox. That won't be too far behind the next PS.

_Salty_

starkerealm wrote: »

_Salty_ wrote: »

Everyone and their dog is playing Red Dead redemption. Once people finish it they will come back. Releasing a DLC around the same time as RD2 release is crazy.

We will see what happens when Path of Exiles drops next month. I for one will be taking my first break from ESO since console launch to play it.

Zos has stiff competition on the PS4 for the first time in years.

Yeah, the DLC schedule is pretty set in stone. Which is fine, honestly. Every quarter gets a DLC. Which, really, that's for the best.

Path of Exile though... I mean, really? It's a top down ARPG in the tone of Diablo 2. I get people like it. I mean, Grim Dawn is more my thing in that genre, so, no judgement here. But, you really think a F2P top down dungeon crawler will kill ESO? Really?

Especially when it already exists on PC? And has not killed ESO here?

This make sense to you?

I never said POE would kill eso. I said it will draw people away for a while.

Rak_am

vos this evening...

akl77

Um op, what’s your point? If you don’t wanna play just leave, no need for those leaving goodbye threads.
And fact is I have not seen ps4 population drop, you just not seen new people coming.