Logging in on two different devices?

GenjiraX

What happens if I do this? Will my account be flagged as in violation of the ToS? I've never understood the official position on this.

I'm asking mainly in relation to Xbox (I want to play on both Xbox Series X and Xbox One X, not usually at the same time but I'm setting up the One X now while playing on the Series X - logged into Xbox Live on both consoles but still downloading the game on One X) but I could conceive of being in a similar situation between, say, my PC and Stadia on my Mac.

Thanks!

Calm_Fury

GenjiraX wrote: »

What happens if I do this? Will my account be flagged as in violation of the ToS? I've never understood the official position on this.

I'm asking mainly in relation to Xbox (I want to play on both Xbox Series X and Xbox One X, not usually at the same time but I'm setting up the One X now while playing on the Series X - logged into Xbox Live on both consoles but still downloading the game on One X) but I could conceive of being in a similar situation between, say, my PC and Stadia on my Mac.

Thanks!

Won't you get the "This account is already signed in" when you try logging in on the second one?

I know that when the game crashes, if I immediately try to log back, I'll get that warning. Sometimes I need to wait 10 to 30 seconds before being able to log back in.

My guess is that you can have the game in both, but if you log in on on Xbox, then try to log on the second at the same time you will get that same message and won't be able to log in until you log off the first one.

tmbrinks

You can be logged onto 2 separate ESO accounts at the same time from the same device, so shouldn't be an issue for 2 accounts from two devices.

GenjiraX

Thanks, @Calm_Fury - I think you’re right. I should’ve thought of that.

everseeing_njpreub18_ESO

I am on PC.

If its at the same time then as far as i know you cannot, it'll say already logged in.

However i play on my home and work computer, same account back and forth at various times with no issues.

Paulytnz

You can't log in to the same account. I know this because I recently bought a PS5 and so now my nephews/nieces play on my PS4. Last week I was logged in playing as normal and my nephew was playing Mafia 3 on my PS4 logged in on my account as it has all weapons etc unlocked and a ton of cash. He soon got bored with it and wanted to play ESO but he forgot to sign out of my account and log into his. Next thing I see the message on his screen "already signed in" or something and it kicked me out of the game on my PS5.

Needless to say I had to log back in and my nephew had to log in on his account.

GenjiraX

Hmm... to complicate it a bit (but I think this should be ok):

I log into Xbox Live on my Series X and launch ESO, logging in on my main account.

Next, I log into Xbox Live on my One X with the same Xbox Live account. I then log in again on a secondary Xbox Live account to share Xbox Live Gold. Then I launch ESO and login on a secondary ESO account.

That would be okay, right?

zelaminator

I sure hope you can't use the same account on multiple devices, at the same time.. that sounds quite a lot like an exploit

Paulytnz

GenjiraX wrote: »

Hmm... to complicate it a bit (but I think this should be ok):

I log into Xbox Live on my Series X and launch ESO, logging in on my main account.

Next, I log into Xbox Live on my One X with the same Xbox Live account. I then log in again on a secondary Xbox Live account to share Xbox Live Gold. Then I launch ESO and login on a secondary ESO account.

That would be okay, right?

I would think the same thing that happened to me would happen to you. First account would be kicked out. If you are saying this is not happening, be careful, I do not know what the rules are on this if it is indeed letting you play on the same account on 2 different machines at the same time.

kargen27

Paulytnz wrote: »

GenjiraX wrote: »

Hmm... to complicate it a bit (but I think this should be ok):

I log into Xbox Live on my Series X and launch ESO, logging in on my main account.

Next, I log into Xbox Live on my One X with the same Xbox Live account. I then log in again on a secondary Xbox Live account to share Xbox Live Gold. Then I launch ESO and login on a secondary ESO account.

That would be okay, right?

I would think the same thing that happened to me would happen to you. First account would be kicked out. If you are saying this is not happening, be careful, I do not know what the rules are on this if it is indeed letting you play on the same account on 2 different machines at the same time.

The way I read it he is logging in on separate accounts. is worded kind of confusing though.

I have two accounts and have been thinking about logging in on both at the same time just so I can copy my add-on settings to the 2nd account. I don't think anything would be wrong with doing that but I still get a little itchy and decide not to.

GenjiraX

kargen27 wrote: »

Paulytnz wrote: »

GenjiraX wrote: »

Hmm... to complicate it a bit (but I think this should be ok):

I log into Xbox Live on my Series X and launch ESO, logging in on my main account.

Next, I log into Xbox Live on my One X with the same Xbox Live account. I then log in again on a secondary Xbox Live account to share Xbox Live Gold. Then I launch ESO and login on a secondary ESO account.

That would be okay, right?

I would think the same thing that happened to me would happen to you. First account would be kicked out. If you are saying this is not happening, be careful, I do not know what the rules are on this if it is indeed letting you play on the same account on 2 different machines at the same time.

The way I read it he is logging in on separate accounts. is worded kind of confusing though.

Yes, correct. Main Xbox Live account and main ESO account on Series X, then main Xbox Live account, secondary Xbox Live account (to share Xbox Live Gold) and secondary ESO account on One X.

Xbox Live is fine with that scenario. I just wasn’t sure about ESO.

Tandor

ZOS don't like multi-boxing, especially with third-party apps designed to enable two accounts to run together. They're fine with logging both accounts in for trading items etc between them but beyond that they tend to assume you're using unauthorised means to run the characters together so I'd advise against running both accounts in a dungeon, for example.

GenjiraX

tmbrinks wrote: »

You can be logged onto 2 separate ESO accounts at the same time from the same device, so shouldn't be an issue for 2 accounts from two devices.

Ah, ok. So ESO isn’t concerned that both accounts are presenting with the same IP address, so no ToS issues. I suppose I’ll just have to try it in terms of the port forwarding rules on my router.

JJOtterBear

IT says that playing multiple accounts using either software OR hardware is not allowed simultaneously. so i guess as long as its not at the same time, you should be good. but if you're playing on 2+ accounts at the same time whether on the same device or not, is in violation of the ToS.

https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/23701/~/can-i-multibox-in-the-elder-scrolls-online?

GenjiraX

JJOtterBear wrote: »

IT says that playing multiple accounts using either software OR hardware is not allowed simultaneously. so i guess as long as its not at the same time, you should be good. but if you're playing on 2+ accounts at the same time whether on the same device or not, is in violation of the ToS.

Well that throws a spanner in the works. I think I read a comment by Gina [Edit: it was Jessica] on the subject. I'll try to find it.

starkerealm

Calm_Fury wrote: »

GenjiraX wrote: »

What happens if I do this? Will my account be flagged as in violation of the ToS? I've never understood the official position on this.

I'm asking mainly in relation to Xbox (I want to play on both Xbox Series X and Xbox One X, not usually at the same time but I'm setting up the One X now while playing on the Series X - logged into Xbox Live on both consoles but still downloading the game on One X) but I could conceive of being in a similar situation between, say, my PC and Stadia on my Mac.

Thanks!

Won't you get the "This account is already signed in" when you try logging in on the second one?

No, the second login will go fine, but the first login will be bumped out, with a, "this account is already signed in."

I don't know why it works that way.

Also, you can clear a, "this account is already signed in," by switching between the EU and NA server, start a login on the other one, then back out from character selection, and log back in on your main server. (You can't be logged into NA and EU at the same time either.)

starkerealm

Tandor wrote: »

ZOS don't like multi-boxing, especially with third-party apps designed to enable two accounts to run together. They're fine with logging both accounts in for trading items etc between them but beyond that they tend to assume you're using unauthorised means to run the characters together so I'd advise against running both accounts in a dungeon, for example.

Yeah, about as far as I've ever gone with this is biting myself, and sharing quests. I would really, emphatically, recommend against putting both of your accounts into the same dungeon, even if you're just soloing it on one of them.

Olauron

It is OK if you are manually controlling both characters on both accounts. It is a violation if you use any means to automate anything (movement, attacks, etc) on any account. Since you can't manually control both accounts at the same time, your gameplay will look like "moved one character, stopped, moved another character, stopped, attacked something from one character (another is idle), stopped, attacked anything from another character (the first one is now idle)".

GenjiraX

As @Olauron said, Jessica posted:

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

Just to follow up on this, @Dread_Viking and I spoke via DMs so we could talk through some questions we had and what they've described is okay to do (though may not result in the most optimal game performance.) In this player's instance, they have two separate accounts and are logging into them separately but on the same PC. They aren't simultaneously playing the two characters or using any hardware or software to automate movement, gameplay, etc. Rather, they're playing one character at a time while the other character is standing idle nearby, then alt-tabbing to switch over when they need to control the other character. And they're doing so for basic personal convenience, such as to access their Merchant or Bank Assistants that they have on only one account.

While this may be a little clunky and could result in some PC slow-down, the general idea is fine. Now that said, if we find that someone is doing this as a means to violate our EULA or other Terms of Service rules in other ways, we may deem it actionable.

That’s what I’d be doing - putting one controller down and picking up the other. Interestingly, she implies that they can group up: “doing so for basic personal convenience, such as to access their Merchant or Bank Assistants that they have on only one account.”

Paulytnz

JJOtterBear wrote: »

IT says that playing multiple accounts using either software OR hardware is not allowed simultaneously. so i guess as long as its not at the same time, you should be good. but if you're playing on 2+ accounts at the same time whether on the same device or not, is in violation of the ToS.

https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/23701/~/can-i-multibox-in-the-elder-scrolls-online?

Yeah but if this is taken in this way that would kill the idea of:

Husband/Wives playing together on their own accounts/their own machines.

Father/Son - again same deal.

You get the idea. This rule needs to be more specific and stated clearly. They should be saying something like "you can NOT have 2 accounts logged in at the same time and being used by just 1 person". Something along those lines otherwise they are not doing themselves any service if they do not allow couples/family members to play together.

starkerealm

Paulytnz wrote: »

JJOtterBear wrote: »

IT says that playing multiple accounts using either software OR hardware is not allowed simultaneously. so i guess as long as its not at the same time, you should be good. but if you're playing on 2+ accounts at the same time whether on the same device or not, is in violation of the ToS.

https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/23701/~/can-i-multibox-in-the-elder-scrolls-online?

Yeah but if this is taken in this way that would kill the idea of:

Husband/Wives playing together on their own accounts/their own machines.

Father/Son - again same deal.

You get the idea. This rule needs to be more specific and stated clearly. They should be saying something like "you can NOT have 2 accounts logged in at the same time and being used by just 1 person". Something along those lines otherwise they are not doing themselves any service if they do not allow couples/family members to play together.

I think we all know the reason the rule is written the way it is. It's specifically to deal with bots running on automated setups, but the language is kept vague enough that a botter would be hard pressed to weasel out of it.

NylAR

Paulytnz wrote: »

JJOtterBear wrote: »

IT says that playing multiple accounts using either software OR hardware is not allowed simultaneously. so i guess as long as its not at the same time, you should be good. but if you're playing on 2+ accounts at the same time whether on the same device or not, is in violation of the ToS.

https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/23701/~/can-i-multibox-in-the-elder-scrolls-online?

Yeah but if this is taken in this way that would kill the idea of:

Husband/Wives playing together on their own accounts/their own machines.

Father/Son - again same deal.

You get the idea. This rule needs to be more specific and stated clearly. They should be saying something like "you can NOT have 2 accounts logged in at the same time and being used by just 1 person". Something along those lines otherwise they are not doing themselves any service if they do not allow couples/family members to play together.

What... Did we both read the same thing???

Paulytnz

NylAR wrote: »

Paulytnz wrote: »

JJOtterBear wrote: »

IT says that playing multiple accounts using either software OR hardware is not allowed simultaneously. so i guess as long as its not at the same time, you should be good. but if you're playing on 2+ accounts at the same time whether on the same device or not, is in violation of the ToS.

https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/23701/~/can-i-multibox-in-the-elder-scrolls-online?

Yeah but if this is taken in this way that would kill the idea of:

Husband/Wives playing together on their own accounts/their own machines.

Father/Son - again same deal.

You get the idea. This rule needs to be more specific and stated clearly. They should be saying something like "you can NOT have 2 accounts logged in at the same time and being used by just 1 person". Something along those lines otherwise they are not doing themselves any service if they do not allow couples/family members to play together.

What... Did we both read the same thing???

Yes we did, now if we both comprehended what is written that may be another question. Key thing is however to read what the poster wrote that I quoted and take that with what the rule about Multiboxing says and you can see the rule can be used in different ways to punish both legit and non legit use....

Calm_Fury

Paulytnz wrote: »

JJOtterBear wrote: »

IT says that playing multiple accounts using either software OR hardware is not allowed simultaneously. so i guess as long as its not at the same time, you should be good. but if you're playing on 2+ accounts at the same time whether on the same device or not, is in violation of the ToS.

https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/23701/~/can-i-multibox-in-the-elder-scrolls-online?

Yeah but if this is taken in this way that would kill the idea of:

Husband/Wives playing together on their own accounts/their own machines.

Father/Son - again same deal.

You get the idea. This rule needs to be more specific and stated clearly. They should be saying something like "you can NOT have 2 accounts logged in at the same time and being used by just 1 person". Something along those lines otherwise they are not doing themselves any service if they do not allow couples/family members to play together.

I think if you have 2 people it is automatically not multiboxing.

With you interpretation, then any 2 players playing at the same time would fit this rule.

It is pretty clear here that this is not what the rule means / wants to address.