Update on ESO Launcher and Catalina OS

ZOS_GinaBruno

Hi everyone,

Today, a new Operating System – Catalina – came out for Mac players. While this OS was in beta, we discovered some compatibility issues with it and the ESO launcher. We’ve been working on an update for the launcher to support Catalina, and plan to release it in the very near future.

In the meantime, our Mac players have a couple possible options. If you have not yet updated your OS, you will still be able to play the game normally. If you’ve already updated your OS to Catalina, you can temporarily launch ESO through the executable file. We hope to have an update for everyone later this week. Thanks for your patience.

demerdecanswrath

Thanks for the update! Just for reference, this is what you'll see on macOS Catalina.

morwynne

Or

keto3000

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Today, a new Operating System – Catalina – came out for Mac players. While this OS was in beta, we discovered some compatibility issues with it and the ESO launcher. We’ve been working on an update for the launcher to support Catalina, and plan to release it in the very near future.

In the meantime, our Mac players have a couple possible options. If you have not yet updated your OS, you will still be able to play the game normally. If you’ve already updated your OS to Catalina, you can temporarily launch ESO through the executable file. We hope to have an update for everyone later this week. Thanks for your patience.

So, functions like patch downloads & game repair won't work on current 32-bit launcher if you upgrade to Catalina before updated 64-bit launcher becomes available.

Is there a workaround to download & repair game until new launcher is ready??

Vapirko

morwynne wrote: »

Or

I’ve been seeing this since the last OS update.

raffaeleg

Surely it works via launching the executable, but will work just until the next update, you’re warned. The launcher is still 32-bit, won’t update the game

Alienoutlaw

keto3000 wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Today, a new Operating System – Catalina – came out for Mac players. While this OS was in beta, we discovered some compatibility issues with it and the ESO launcher. We’ve been working on an update for the launcher to support Catalina, and plan to release it in the very near future.

In the meantime, our Mac players have a couple possible options. If you have not yet updated your OS, you will still be able to play the game normally. If you’ve already updated your OS to Catalina, you can temporarily launch ESO through the executable file. We hope to have an update for everyone later this week. Thanks for your patience.

So, functions like patch downloads & game repair won't work on current 32-bit launcher if you upgrade to Catalina before updated 64-bit launcher becomes available.

Is there a workaround to download & repair game until new launcher is ready??

dont think that there is as the updates and such are done via the launcher

FierceSam

I would hope that this is why there is no patch update scheduled for this week.

I would also hope that ZOS’s priority here would be ensuring the game is playable for all Mac users, whether they are launching from the existing launcher, the executable, using High Sierra or Catalina.

Given pretty much all of the programmes I use on my Mac for work are saying “Do not update as our software will not work on Catalina at present”, I think ZOS are doing it right. They have had a long time to prepare for this, but I’m happy not to update to Catalina for a while.

What I do want is regular, effective communication about this and its status.

Carmina

This is the most ridiculous thing ever. "during Beta we discovered".... There is a thread here going on for MONTHS, and it was clear for more than a year that the Launcher would not work. This is a bloody smokescreen, it was predicted in the thread Catalina would come out and there would be no working ESO, and here we go.

They are not doing it right.

They have a working 64 bit version for months. The apps that say "do not update" most of the times collide with new security features, a changed iTunes Music app and stuff like that. Not 32-bit.

BTW the only way to keep playing if you updated and there is a patch is to find someone who will upload the whole game to some website (76GB), and you download it from there. Tried that, it will work. But seriously, this is ridiculous.

C.

Elsonso

FierceSam wrote: »

I would hope that this is why there is no patch update scheduled for this week.

Next week is Week 5 of the PTS cycle... 5.2.4... and (normally) they release the new Update the week following. So, no Live patch because all of the potential fixes are in the 5.2.5 patch coming out in 2 weeks.

Cathrisa

Well, I think we aren't too surprised the ESO-launcher update hasn't made it in time. The lack of response from ZOS on this and other issues didn't really leave a lot of optimism.

So no, I am not really upset that ESO has no real support for MacOS any more. At least not for now and who knows for how long.
But I am surprised at the form of the official confirmation that there is now a problem: "Mac players have a couple possible options" is kind of a very euphemistic view on the situation. Strangely, I sort of miss the apology for having messed up. The continued lack of an awareness that happy customers need to find support where it is necessary, promises little improvement for future issues.
And to ZOS (Gina): I sit here marvelling why you so easily give away a "well done" from us all: The big update away from OpenGL(which came with macOS Catalina too) you managed to implement in time. And now you are stumbling over what looks like a small issue in comparison.

Well, I wait until "later this week" and then start hoping again for good support.

FreshlyB8ked

Whoops! Mac users must have not met their Crown Store quota this year.

idk

Cathrisa wrote: »

. And now you are stumbling over what looks like a small issue in comparison.

This sentence says it all. Looks like a small issue but no one here actually knows what the issue really is outside of how it affects the player base. Yes it sucks but none of us know why Zos was not able to deliver a fix before the OS update was available.

Carmina

idk wrote: »

Cathrisa wrote: »

. And now you are stumbling over what looks like a small issue in comparison.

This sentence says it all. Looks like a small issue but no one here actually knows what the issue really is outside of how it affects the player base. Yes it sucks but none of us know why Zos was not able to deliver a fix before the OS update was available.

Sorry, that is utter nonsense. There are enough people here who know exactly what the issue is. Apart from that other chronic ZOS issue, of course: No information whatsoever.

Mainman99

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hi everyone, just letting you know we are working on making sure the 64-bit launcher is functional for when Catalina officially launches.

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hi everyone,
Today, a new Operating System – Catalina – came out for Mac players. While this OS was in beta, we discovered some compatibility issues with it and the ESO launcher. We’ve been working on an update for the launcher to support Catalina, and plan to release it in the very near future.

So much for "making sure"...

How about some transparency on the way? Or did you just realize the bug when Catalina went live?

Elsonso

Mainman99 wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hi everyone, just letting you know we are working on making sure the 64-bit launcher is functional for when Catalina officially launches.

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hi everyone,
Today, a new Operating System – Catalina – came out for Mac players. While this OS was in beta, we discovered some compatibility issues with it and the ESO launcher. We’ve been working on an update for the launcher to support Catalina, and plan to release it in the very near future.

So much for "making sure"...

How about some transparency on the way? Or did you just realize the bug when Catalina went live?

I said once a while back that I don't think that the Mac launcher is a ZOS product. My thought was that it was something they purchased, and Catalina support is something that has to come from that vendor, then verified by ZOS, and if something needs to be fixed, fixed. If the fix is a vendor fix, it could take time. "Upgrade the launcher to 64-bit" It's never as easy as it sounds. Short story is that this is not unexpected.

raffaeleg

This year the update to Catalina is faster than ever. I have automatic updates and just had the chance to change it, if I didn't the Mac was automatically upgrading overnight imagine how many people will have the same. Please don't underestimate the number of ESO's Mac players! We're many

cwestpha_ESO

Checked now that I have the official release version and alas I get a white screen when trying to play the game having bypassed the launcher. Even letting the game patch on another mac and copying the files over results in the same white screen.
Hope this can be fixed soon. Been a few months since I have last played because my job required I test the beta releases before launch for day 1 support.

Slackalope

@cwestpha_ESO

From the thread:
https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/6384731?

This worked for me, but I have to do this every time I play. Not ideal, but it works till they get things figured out.

-Slackalope

Marvilius wrote: »

For all of you that ran into the same trouble:

1. save your Usersettings.txt file
2. Under Documents/Elderscrollsonline/live delete the Usersettings.txt file
3. relaunch the Game with eso.app

This willl allow the game to launch again

Now you will be prompted the first start asking like gamma, server, and will be headed to login screen

Only downside is, that die to not working launcher will reset language to English

Cheerio and thx @ZOS_BillE for not being very helpful.

Narbe my post helps the one and other user

Jeth

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Today, a new Operating System – Catalina – came out for Mac players. While this OS was in beta, we discovered some compatibility issues with it and the ESO launcher. We’ve been working on an update for the launcher to support Catalina, and plan to release it in the very near future.

In the meantime, our Mac players have a couple possible options. If you have not yet updated your OS, you will still be able to play the game normally. If you’ve already updated your OS to Catalina, you can temporarily launch ESO through the executable file. We hope to have an update for everyone later this week. Thanks for your patience.

Thanks for the update. I fortunately held off but please make it happen soon.

Carmina

lordrichter wrote: »

Mainman99 wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hi everyone, just letting you know we are working on making sure the 64-bit launcher is functional for when Catalina officially launches.

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Hi everyone,
Today, a new Operating System – Catalina – came out for Mac players. While this OS was in beta, we discovered some compatibility issues with it and the ESO launcher. We’ve been working on an update for the launcher to support Catalina, and plan to release it in the very near future.

So much for "making sure"...

How about some transparency on the way? Or did you just realize the bug when Catalina went live?

I said once a while back that I don't think that the Mac launcher is a ZOS product. My thought was that it was something they purchased, and Catalina support is something that has to come from that vendor, then verified by ZOS, and if something needs to be fixed, fixed. If the fix is a vendor fix, it could take time. "Upgrade the launcher to 64-bit" It's never as easy as it sounds. Short story is that this is not unexpected.

I wonder if you ever read what other people, in this case me, write. The Launcher is written by Solid State Networks. I have contacted them months ago, and they have told me that they had provided ZOS with a 64 bit version already. Makes sense, SSN specialises in this stuff, why in the world would they not do their job and update their Launcher? It is ZOS who fail to pass it on....

FierceSam

Yes it’s annoying that ZOS haven’t brought out a Mac launcher/updater that will work with Catalina. As with all new OSs it’s highly advisable NOT to be a very early adopter.

Double annoying that Apple should launch Catalina the same time ZOS are launching the Dragonhold prologue, which means that all the ZOS backstage people will either be monitoring and bodge-fixing that or monitoring and bodge-fixing the PTS.

As I have many other potential Catalina issues, I’ve set up a test environment. I’m hoping that the potential issue is not the game, but the launcher/updater. And hoping ZOS will actually release a new version prior to the next patch update.

To put things into perspective, exactly none of the companies who produce software I use for work have yet produced a working Catalina update. So I won’t be updating any time soon.

FierceSam

Happy to say that the latest maintenance (09 Oct) didn't introduce a new patch and the game, launched from the actual game exe, works fine on Catalina.

Well I say works fine, but I mean works and still has all the same niggly bugs and whistles and 16fps and 118 ping it did previously

The launcher just craps out with a dialogue box saying talk to the developer... so here I am

(equally amazingly, most of the software I use for working also works on Catalina, which was a nice surprise. I'm still not updating though and I wouldn't advise anyone else to except for testing purposes on a separate testing system)

boramil

I have not upgraded to Catalina yet. The Launcher did, in fact, get updated to 64-bit in today's maintenance. Not the game itself, but the launcher:



The eso executable is already 64-bit, so it looks like things should be ok for Catalina, at least where the 32-bit-ness of the launcher was concerned.

Qanubis

Where I am lost is, sorry if this is a stupid queston, how do ininstall the launcher, and then reinstall it as the 64-bit launcher?
There is no way to update the launcher as is, so I assumed I need to remove it and reinstall it, but I don't want to uninstall the entire game.

I tried to download the game, and start installing, thinking the launcher is installed first AND then the game from there, but after downloading and opening that file it says cannot be opened. ( I DLed it from my account page)

FierceSam

Any idea how I download just the launcher?

Cos I can't update it because the old one doesn't work on Catalina

raffaeleg

boramil wrote: »

I have not upgraded to Catalina yet. The Launcher did, in fact, get updated to 64-bit in today's maintenance. Not the game itself, but the launcher:



The eso executable is already 64-bit, so it looks like things should be ok for Catalina, at least where the 32-bit-ness of the launcher was concerned.

Can you share any link, please? Can't find it so easily

Slackalope

I couldn't find a way either. Downloading the whole 87GB install again from steam. We'll see if it's the updated one. Hooray for unlimited internet.

raffaeleg

I don't have Steam, the installer doesn't open on Catalina anyway

Slackalope wrote: »

I couldn't find a way either. Downloading the whole 87GB install again from steam. We'll see if it's the updated one. Hooray for unlimited internet.

So where can we download this 64-bit launcher?

AyeshaBelladonna

your launcher, when you go to open it, should automatically pop up a window saying the launcher has an update ready and you click the button to ok it and it updates. mine just did no problem.

raffaeleg

AyeshaBelladonna wrote: »

your launcher, when you go to open it, should automatically pop up a window saying the launcher has an update ready and you click the button to ok it and it updates. mine just did no problem.

So you still need Mojave I guess, because with Catalina, doesn't even open