PC/MAC: Do you play through Steam or the standalone launcher?

AlienatedGoat

Heya!

So I'm trying to understand how the PC/Mac playerbase splits with regards to Steam.

From my own observations, I estimated that the Steam portion of the player base is somewhere around 10-20%.

I'd like to narrow this down further. I'm hoping that by getting a ratio through survey, I can come to a modestly accurate representation of the total daily peak player count, by using existing daily peak data from Steam.

Please respond to the survey below and try to leave a comment below about whatever, such as why you prefer your launcher - it's insightful, and also helps bump the thread for a more accurate poll. Thanks!

AlienatedGoat

Oh, and if you have access to both, just choose the one you use the most or whichever is your main account if multiple accounts.

If you use ESO64.exe, vote standalone launcher since you'd fall under the regular PC group for the purposes of this survey.

Thanks!

Hippie4927

I have two accounts. One I access through Steam and the other with the regular launcher. I play them both daily so you have no option for me.

ZeroXFF

Hippie4927 wrote: »

I have two accounts. One I access through Steam and the other with the regular launcher. I play them both daily so you have no option for me.

Flip a coin. If everyone like you does that, it shouldn't make a difference for the intended purpose of this poll.

AlienatedGoat

Hippie4927 wrote: »

I have two accounts. One I access through Steam and the other with the regular launcher. I play them both daily so you have no option for me.

Having an option for both would be really difficult to quantify using maths.

Maybe choose the one you prefer? Or whichever one is your main account.

eso_nya

The poll would have been more funny with the options of:

- i play eso
- i sit in the forums and complain about steam issues

AlienatedGoat

eso_nya wrote: »

The poll would have been more funny with the options of:

- i play eso
- i sit in the forums and complain about steam issues

Lol, true. Maybe that'll be the followup poll.

driosketch

Game was not available on Steam when it launched, so that's why I've been on the stand alone all this time.

SirAndy

I voted "I play through the standalone launcher" even though i don't actually use the launcher, i start the game straight from the ESO folder.

The only time i use the launcher is when i have to download an update ...

Gythral

if in doubt
never use Steam
there are ways of adding the bloatware if you really do want it without the added issues

SpacemanSpiff1

Standard launcher. Accidentally linked my first account to Steam, but that was when Morrowind came out so I can still use the regular launcher. Second account is totally Steam-free.

whitecrow

I play through Steam unless Steam logins aren't working, in which case I start it via the launcher in the game folder.

Treat

This is actually a poll of how many forum users use which launcher.

Enemy-of-Coldharbour

Steam is evil.

Shezzarrine

I use steam but if I would have known I didn't need it when I first got the game (first game on PC) I would definitely not have gotten it through steam.

JumpmanLane

Steam mostly because I like to take pics, but I got a copy of the game from Bethesda so I can use the Bethesda launcher.

Minyassa

I don't prefer the Steam launcher, but that's where I bought my game and it was after whatever magical cutoff date so I'm bleeping stuck with it and I hate it. The game was on sale when I bought it and if I'd known I was signing up to permanently have to launch through Steam I would've paid full price for it instead. So much hate.

AlienatedGoat

Treat wrote: »

This is actually a poll of how many forum users use which launcher.

True, but since the forum is the closest thing I can get to an adequate representation of PC/Mac players, it's what I gotta use.

I still think it should be an accurate sample though, at least if there's enough responses.

More responses would increase overall representation in the survey, which should make it more accurate compared to real split.

MasterSpatula

Actually, I have the .exe shortcut on my desktop, and I use that. I only use the launcher for updates. Why use resources for software that just does the same thing clicking the .exe does?

cac1977ub17_ESO

driosketch wrote: »

Game was not available on Steam when it launched, so that's why I've been on the stand alone all this time.

My answer is the same.

OFFL1MIT

standalone, but i use steam to stream to my laptop

Viscous119

I would NEVER use STEAM for any games.

stojekarcub18_ESO

Personally banned Steam decades ago.

Sylvermynx

I started out with steam as a friend said that was the way to go. I had so many issues logging in/staying logged in though, I finally after about a month bought the game from ZOS on sale and got with CS to help me figure out how to get the standalone launcher to work (had to download new one it turned out).

I really dislike steam; always have. I'll never use it for anything other than Skyrim again.

And I too use the ZOS launcher only for updating the game.

AlienatedGoat

Sylvermynx wrote: »

I started out with steam as a friend said that was the way to go. I had so many issues logging in/staying logged in though, I finally after about a month bought the game from ZOS on sale and got with CS to help me figure out how to get the standalone launcher to work (had to download new one it turned out).

I really dislike steam; always have. I'll never use it for anything other than Skyrim again.

And I too use the ZOS launcher only for updating the game.

Slightly offtopic, but would you use the Bethesda.net launcher if ESO/Skyrim/etc were on there?

I ask because I feel it in my bones that it could happen. The Epic Games Store is probably going to make the smaller launchers tighten their grips on their respective IPs.

Sylvermynx

AlienatedGoat wrote: »

Sylvermynx wrote: »

I started out with steam as a friend said that was the way to go. I had so many issues logging in/staying logged in though, I finally after about a month bought the game from ZOS on sale and got with CS to help me figure out how to get the standalone launcher to work (had to download new one it turned out).

I really dislike steam; always have. I'll never use it for anything other than Skyrim again.

And I too use the ZOS launcher only for updating the game.

Slightly offtopic, but would you use the Bethesda.net launcher if ESO/Skyrim/etc were on there?

I ask because I feel it in my bones that it could happen. The Epic Games Store is probably going to make the smaller launchers tighten their grips on their respective IPs.

Absolutely, yes. Um. What's "the Epic Games Store"?

Trinity_Is_My_Name

Steam and ESO have a decent amount of problems so...no to Steam for me.

Lake

Every MMO I have played with a Steam launcher - the Steam launcher had endless problems, just like on ESO.
I always picked the official launcher from then on.

Atreidus

I play at the stand alone. Reason? I have bought it before the launch and steam wants a new purchase.
Steam is quiete ok if you pick a server for downloads which is having got an good download - rate.

StytchFingal

I use the standalone launcher.

Used to use Steam until I got so sick of the login issues that I bought another copy of Summerset via the ESO store in order to effectively free my account from Steam. I say effectively, because the account is still technically linked; but the version of the launcher that I use isn't.

Sylvermynx

StytchFingal wrote: »

I use the standalone launcher.

Used to use Steam until I got so sick of the login issues that I bought another copy of Summerset via the ESO store in order to effectively free my account from Steam. I say effectively, because the account is still technically linked; but the version of the launcher that I use isn't.

Yah, mine are still technically linked, but steam can DIAF now.