Who would like to have another temporary platform transfer?

Brotherchaotic

I believe many people would like to see another platform transfer like when ESO first came out for console. Many people were unable to upgrade to next generation and are stuck behind. Some, myself, just went to PC. Others may have jumped from Xbox to PS or vice versa due to the unavailability of a console. Nobody wants to research every trait again or have to reacquire crown items such as motifs, houses, mounts, pets, and etc. This transfer could have a time window if 2 weeks and given to everyone for free. ZOS could charge a little bit of money ($5-$10) per account. I would be willing to pay that instead of buying the whole game (all dlc) again for myself and the wife.

pleximus

I agree

I wouldn't mind creating a new account in order to make the transfer seamless.

renne

I disagree

I'd prefer cross-saves so I could play on whatever platform I want when I want without having to be locked to a platform.

fizl101

I'm not interested in it myself, as I enjoy playing on playstation (I have on PC but I don't primarily play there).

The issues are more technical than just don't want to though, the initial transfer was to an empty database. it would be a lot of work to merge all those accounts into an existing db, deal with non unique primary keys etc, it wouldn't be worth their while for $5-10 dollars a pop

zaria

fizl101 wrote: »

I'm not interested in it myself, as I enjoy playing on playstation (I have on PC but I don't primarily play there).

The issues are more technical than just don't want to though, the initial transfer was to an empty database. it would be a lot of work to merge all those accounts into an existing db, deal with non unique primary keys etc, it wouldn't be worth their while for $5-10 dollars a pop

Agree, now the cold storage sounds a lot like an database transfer, however I'm pretty sure they don't move all the data, just the larger ones like achievements, inventory and furniture in houses.

fizl101

zaria wrote: »

fizl101 wrote: »

I'm not interested in it myself, as I enjoy playing on playstation (I have on PC but I don't primarily play there).

The issues are more technical than just don't want to though, the initial transfer was to an empty database. it would be a lot of work to merge all those accounts into an existing db, deal with non unique primary keys etc, it wouldn't be worth their while for $5-10 dollars a pop

Agree, now the cold storage sounds a lot like an database transfer, however I'm pretty sure they don't move all the data, just the larger ones like achievements, inventory and furniture in houses.

I wouldn't be surprised if the cold storage isn't per server too, so the conflicts are already dealt with

Suddwrath

I agree

The way I see it ultimately boils down to this: If I’m going to invest time and money into an MMO, I’m going to choose the one which respects my time and money. If an MMO doesn’t provide a method of server/platform transfers then it isn’t respecting my time. Investing hundreds, if not thousands, of hours and dollars into an MMO is no small investment.

Unfortunately, ZOS does not have a very positive record of respecting players’ time and money (no transfers, ESO+/DLC/chapter/store purchases are server specific, not upgrading existing MA/DSA weapons to the perfected versions, an exploitative gambling-based crown store, etc.)

Dagoth_Rac

I disagree

The initial PC-to-console transfers were into empty databases. Thus, no chance of database conflicts. You are asking for a "database merge" and, for better or worse, the megaservers were never designed for merging. We cannot even transfer characters to a different region on same platform (i.e, you cannot transfer from PC-NA to PC-EU). The PTS is constantly wiped clean and started over from scratch with an empty database so that players from NA or EU characters can be transferred into a clean database. Those two player bases never meet on PTS because of the risk of database corruption involved.

Trying to merge databases that were not designed for merging is an incredibly difficult, time-consuming, and risky endeavor. If ZOS could go back in time to 2007, when development started, would they have designed game for easier transfers and merges of data between servers? Probably. But that ship has sailed.

Is merging characters into different megaservers impossible? No. But it would be a major endeavor of time, money, and development hours. And very risky. A database merge is kind of like adding milk to coffee. That is easy. Taking milk out of coffee? Nope. You pretty much have to start over and brew a fresh cup of coffee. Once data is corrupted, you are really in a bad spot.

This is not like copying MyFile.txt to a different directory and renaming it to MyFile_Copy.txt. Not even close. Database mergers are some of the riskiest and scariest things you can do in data science. There are hundreds or thousands of unique ids, per player, that link things together. Accounts linked to characters linked to backpacks linked to banks linked to owned houses linked to achievements linked to quest status linked to storage coffers linked to craft bags linked to collected mounts linked to guild memberships, and a hundred other permutations and combinations. And on and on and on. Like a giant spider web. And a database merge is like trying to combine multiple spider webs, delicate and complicated, without in any way compromising or breaking the integrity of old or new spider webs.

It is hard. It is really hard.

zaria

fizl101 wrote: »

zaria wrote: »

fizl101 wrote: »

I'm not interested in it myself, as I enjoy playing on playstation (I have on PC but I don't primarily play there).

The issues are more technical than just don't want to though, the initial transfer was to an empty database. it would be a lot of work to merge all those accounts into an existing db, deal with non unique primary keys etc, it wouldn't be worth their while for $5-10 dollars a pop

Agree, now the cold storage sounds a lot like an database transfer, however I'm pretty sure they don't move all the data, just the larger ones like achievements, inventory and furniture in houses.

I wouldn't be surprised if the cold storage isn't per server too, so the conflicts are already dealt with

My guess is that its server based, for one they need to maintain the cold storage data and players come back with new chapters and they might require database changes. PC is first out and suddenly some who come back on console before the update to get ready can not log in because database is for the new chapter.

Also I assume its incomplete, this also keep accounts and characters so no issues with duplicate names.
And yes having transfer as an service would be nice, not that I need one but if I needed $100 would been obvious.
Just as important it would let ZoS back up accounts and letting them roll back if some got hacked.

zaria

Dagoth_Rac wrote: »

The initial PC-to-console transfers were into empty databases. Thus, no chance of database conflicts. You are asking for a "database merge" and, for better or worse, the megaservers were never designed for merging. We cannot even transfer characters to a different region on same platform (i.e, you cannot transfer from PC-NA to PC-EU). The PTS is constantly wiped clean and started over from scratch with an empty database so that players from NA or EU characters can be transferred into a clean database. Those two player bases never meet on PTS because of the risk of database corruption involved.

Trying to merge databases that were not designed for merging is an incredibly difficult, time-consuming, and risky endeavor. If ZOS could go back in time to 2007, when development started, would they have designed game for easier transfers and merges of data between servers? Probably. But that ship has sailed.

Is merging characters into different megaservers impossible? No. But it would be a major endeavor of time, money, and development hours. And very risky. A database merge is kind of like adding milk to coffee. That is easy. Taking milk out of coffee? Nope. You pretty much have to start over and brew a fresh cup of coffee. Once data is corrupted, you are really in a bad spot.

This is not like copying MyFile.txt to a different directory and renaming it to MyFile_Copy.txt. Not even close. Database mergers are some of the riskiest and scariest things you can do in data science. There are hundreds or thousands of unique ids, per player, that link things together. Accounts linked to characters linked to backpacks linked to banks linked to owned houses linked to achievements linked to quest status linked to storage coffers linked to craft bags linked to collected mounts linked to guild memberships, and a hundred other permutations and combinations. And on and on and on. Like a giant spider web. And a database merge is like trying to combine multiple spider webs, delicate and complicated, without in any way compromising or breaking the integrity of old or new spider webs.

It is hard. It is really hard.

An database merger, agree forget it, account transfer is much easier but still an decent project, it also need to be updated and this is an issue, done it for an much much smaller project and it took weeks and its not maintained as an customer paid for it

Gray_howling_parrot

I agree

Dagoth_Rac wrote: »

The initial PC-to-console transfers were into empty databases. Thus, no chance of database conflicts. You are asking for a "database merge" and, for better or worse, the megaservers were never designed for merging. We cannot even transfer characters to a different region on same platform (i.e, you cannot transfer from PC-NA to PC-EU). The PTS is constantly wiped clean and started over from scratch with an empty database so that players from NA or EU characters can be transferred into a clean database. Those two player bases never meet on PTS because of the risk of database corruption involved.

Trying to merge databases that were not designed for merging is an incredibly difficult, time-consuming, and risky endeavor. If ZOS could go back in time to 2007, when development started, would they have designed game for easier transfers and merges of data between servers? Probably. But that ship has sailed.

Is merging characters into different megaservers impossible? No. But it would be a major endeavor of time, money, and development hours. And very risky. A database merge is kind of like adding milk to coffee. That is easy. Taking milk out of coffee? Nope. You pretty much have to start over and brew a fresh cup of coffee. Once data is corrupted, you are really in a bad spot.

This is not like copying MyFile.txt to a different directory and renaming it to MyFile_Copy.txt. Not even close. Database mergers are some of the riskiest and scariest things you can do in data science. There are hundreds or thousands of unique ids, per player, that link things together. Accounts linked to characters linked to backpacks linked to banks linked to owned houses linked to achievements linked to quest status linked to storage coffers linked to craft bags linked to collected mounts linked to guild memberships, and a hundred other permutations and combinations. And on and on and on. Like a giant spider web. And a database merge is like trying to combine multiple spider webs, delicate and complicated, without in any way compromising or breaking the integrity of old or new spider webs.

It is hard. It is really hard.

Dagoth_Rac wrote: »

The initial PC-to-console transfers were into empty databases. Thus, no chance of database conflicts. You are asking for a "database merge" and, for better or worse, the megaservers were never designed for merging. We cannot even transfer characters to a different region on same platform (i.e, you cannot transfer from PC-NA to PC-EU). The PTS is constantly wiped clean and started over from scratch with an empty database so that players from NA or EU characters can be transferred into a clean database. Those two player bases never meet on PTS because of the risk of database corruption involved.

Trying to merge databases that were not designed for merging is an incredibly difficult, time-consuming, and risky endeavor. If ZOS could go back in time to 2007, when development started, would they have designed game for easier transfers and merges of data between servers? Probably. But that ship has sailed.

Is merging characters into different megaservers impossible? No. But it would be a major endeavor of time, money, and development hours. And very risky. A database merge is kind of like adding milk to coffee. That is easy. Taking milk out of coffee? Nope. You pretty much have to start over and brew a fresh cup of coffee. Once data is corrupted, you are really in a bad spot.

This is not like copying MyFile.txt to a different directory and renaming it to MyFile_Copy.txt. Not even close. Database mergers are some of the riskiest and scariest things you can do in data science. There are hundreds or thousands of unique ids, per player, that link things together. Accounts linked to characters linked to backpacks linked to banks linked to owned houses linked to achievements linked to quest status linked to storage coffers linked to craft bags linked to collected mounts linked to guild memberships, and a hundred other permutations and combinations. And on and on and on. Like a giant spider web. And a database merge is like trying to combine multiple spider webs, delicate and complicated, without in any way compromising or breaking the integrity of old or new spider webs.

It is hard. It is really hard.

I wonder if, when the new hardware is put in place, this will be a more realistic possibility. But I agree for the time being that it is simply not possible, even if I myself would love it.

Kiralyn2000

I disagree

I have no reason or desire to transfer. (never done it in any other game either)

I also know that it's never going to happen.

ArchMikem

I disagree

See the FAQ Article below.

https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/25807/~/can-i-transfer-my-eso-account-and-characters-between-different-platforms-or

phileunderx2

I agree

I would love to move my PS4 account over to PC. I do know that it is sadly impossible.

EozZoe1989

I agree

CROSSPLAY

renne

I disagree

Jaustink wrote: »

Dagoth_Rac wrote: »

The initial PC-to-console transfers were into empty databases. Thus, no chance of database conflicts. You are asking for a "database merge" and, for better or worse, the megaservers were never designed for merging. We cannot even transfer characters to a different region on same platform (i.e, you cannot transfer from PC-NA to PC-EU). The PTS is constantly wiped clean and started over from scratch with an empty database so that players from NA or EU characters can be transferred into a clean database. Those two player bases never meet on PTS because of the risk of database corruption involved.

Trying to merge databases that were not designed for merging is an incredibly difficult, time-consuming, and risky endeavor. If ZOS could go back in time to 2007, when development started, would they have designed game for easier transfers and merges of data between servers? Probably. But that ship has sailed.

Is merging characters into different megaservers impossible? No. But it would be a major endeavor of time, money, and development hours. And very risky. A database merge is kind of like adding milk to coffee. That is easy. Taking milk out of coffee? Nope. You pretty much have to start over and brew a fresh cup of coffee. Once data is corrupted, you are really in a bad spot.

This is not like copying MyFile.txt to a different directory and renaming it to MyFile_Copy.txt. Not even close. Database mergers are some of the riskiest and scariest things you can do in data science. There are hundreds or thousands of unique ids, per player, that link things together. Accounts linked to characters linked to backpacks linked to banks linked to owned houses linked to achievements linked to quest status linked to storage coffers linked to craft bags linked to collected mounts linked to guild memberships, and a hundred other permutations and combinations. And on and on and on. Like a giant spider web. And a database merge is like trying to combine multiple spider webs, delicate and complicated, without in any way compromising or breaking the integrity of old or new spider webs.

It is hard. It is really hard.

Dagoth_Rac wrote: »

The initial PC-to-console transfers were into empty databases. Thus, no chance of database conflicts. You are asking for a "database merge" and, for better or worse, the megaservers were never designed for merging. We cannot even transfer characters to a different region on same platform (i.e, you cannot transfer from PC-NA to PC-EU). The PTS is constantly wiped clean and started over from scratch with an empty database so that players from NA or EU characters can be transferred into a clean database. Those two player bases never meet on PTS because of the risk of database corruption involved.

Trying to merge databases that were not designed for merging is an incredibly difficult, time-consuming, and risky endeavor. If ZOS could go back in time to 2007, when development started, would they have designed game for easier transfers and merges of data between servers? Probably. But that ship has sailed.

Is merging characters into different megaservers impossible? No. But it would be a major endeavor of time, money, and development hours. And very risky. A database merge is kind of like adding milk to coffee. That is easy. Taking milk out of coffee? Nope. You pretty much have to start over and brew a fresh cup of coffee. Once data is corrupted, you are really in a bad spot.

This is not like copying MyFile.txt to a different directory and renaming it to MyFile_Copy.txt. Not even close. Database mergers are some of the riskiest and scariest things you can do in data science. There are hundreds or thousands of unique ids, per player, that link things together. Accounts linked to characters linked to backpacks linked to banks linked to owned houses linked to achievements linked to quest status linked to storage coffers linked to craft bags linked to collected mounts linked to guild memberships, and a hundred other permutations and combinations. And on and on and on. Like a giant spider web. And a database merge is like trying to combine multiple spider webs, delicate and complicated, without in any way compromising or breaking the integrity of old or new spider webs.

It is hard. It is really hard.

I wonder if, when the new hardware is put in place, this will be a more realistic possibility. But I agree for the time being that it is simply not possible, even if I myself would love it.

I don't think hardware makes a difference, unfortunately. I think of it like buying a new computer and running ESO on it - the computer is new, but the software is still the same. The physical stuff isn't the issue, it's the software running on it.

blktauna

I disagree

The thought of a database merge of this level and complexity and ancientness makes my blood run cold.

redspecter23

This is a situation where it doesn't matter what players want or even how much we would pay. It's currently not possible to do so. The platform holders don't want it to happen so ZOS can't do it.

This might change in the future but for now it's the same as more storage in houses. It just can't be done.

PrimusTiberius

I agree

Make it happen, 5+ years on PS, would love to jump onto PC

Amottica

I disagree

I do not care either way as I have no interest or need to transfer. However, there is clearly a reason why Zenimax has never offered transferring characters or accounts to a live server. It is bigger than just not wanting to build the tool to accommodate this as there are likely legal contractual reasons this is not going to happen.

To OP, what generation console is no longer supported by ESO? I ask since that is the premise of the request here.

I will also add that the minimum requirements for PC have been increased multiple times since the game launched. The players who had machines that played the game well enough at first but no longer can run the game had one choice to make. Upgrade, buy a new machine or play something else.

kargen27

I agree

I am on the platform and server I want to be on but if it were possible I think it would be good for the game to allow a transfer.

I would like to vacation on Mars also but at this time neither is possible.

FluffWit

Don't want pc people coming to console, they're too damn rich.

They should do transfer between consoles if they're not going to merge the servers. Then get the older console versions running nicely and stop supporting them with new content so they focus on current gen and pc.

Brotherchaotic

I agree

I never said the game wasn't supported on my console. Just with not having a series S or X I sure am getting dropped and froze a lot. I honestly don't care if i don't get my characters. Redoing all the trait research will take forever. I wouldn't have a big house for my guild mates if we all swapped. All the crafting benches would be gone. If have to rebuy the entire game and my merchants.

Amottica

I disagree

Brotherchaotic wrote: »

Many people were unable to upgrade to next generation and are stuck behind.

@Brotherchaotic

This second sentence of the OP heavily suggests the game is not supported.

If you are having problems then create tickets and create threads explaining the issues in detail. They may be able to provide relief.

Even then Zenimax has the right to cease supporting older equipment as they have on PC with which they have done nothing to help those who could no longer play the game on their PC when minimum requirements were upgraded. Also, as I stated in my previous post the reason Zenimax does not offer transfers is likely a contract issue that prevents them from doing so as they have never done a transfer to a live server.

Good luck but it appears the chance is slim to none this will happen anytime soon.

Gaeliannas

I disagree

I can just imagine all the ticked off players who rerolled on to PC from Console or vice versa over the years and didn't get to keep their stuff. It would be a nightmare.

ADarklore

There is really NO POINT to this thread as ZOS has said repeatedly that it is NOT POSSIBLE to transfer between platforms. The ONE and ONLY time they did so was just before consoles went Live... they were able to transfer PC accounts to the empty console system before it went Live.

Clearly they cannot transfer accounts on a Live system, besides that, there are contractual obligations that go along with any transfer. Sony/Microsoft don't want to lose revenue from players who transfer from console to PC and vice versa. So not only is it a logistical impossibility, but also contains financial considerations for the respective parties.

Mesite

I disagree

My alts are totally different people for every account or platform. Merges and transfers would be self defeating and very confusing for all my alts.

LalMirchi

If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.
If turnips were swords, I'd have one at my side.
If "ifs" and "ands" were pots and pans,
There'd be no work for tinkers' hands.

Danikat

I disagree

I voted no, but not because I'm against the idea of people transfering.

ZOS said they could only allow it once, when the console servers were new because they're unable to transfer account information into an existing database the way other games can, they can only do it with a new, blank database.

If they're able to figure out a way around that so they can transfer some people's data without having to wipe everything that's already there first then there's no reason to restrict it to a one-time transfer, they could allow players to transfer as and when they choose the way other MMOs do. That would almost certainly be a paid service, but I don't think that would be a problem for most players (especially if there was the option to pay with crowns).

renne

I disagree

FluffWit wrote: »

Don't want pc people coming to console, they're too damn rich.

They should do transfer between consoles if they're not going to merge the servers. Then get the older console versions running nicely and stop supporting them with new content so they focus on current gen and pc.

On the other hand it would be VERY funny to see PC players come to console and have to play content as intended (aka learning stuff like mechanics - I remember seeing someone over on reddit talking about how as a tank they had 3 GHs on a post where someone posted Z'maja's hand signs that indicate the mechanics and they'd never learned to recognise a single one because their addons told them what to do instead).

Serenez

I would totally like cross save which is different than cross play. This would allow for players to continue playing on their preferred platform.

Things to consider though is that the economy is much different on each platform and certain things cannot carry over between platforms like Guilds.

If a player had restrictions knowing they could take only their achievements, collections, their characters, only items equipped on their characters between the different platforms it could potentially be integrated as 'cross save'. This would mean though that a player would start with no gold, nothing in craft bag, nothing in bank or personal inventory. These items would be exclusive to the platform they are playing on as well as their Guilds/friends would remain completely separate.

Why? Items are of different value on each platform and people could just easily buy low on one platform and bring over to the platform where it sells for double and make gold. This would create an imbalance to the economy.

Only other resolution is to have a min/max gold value on items. Kind of like a MRSP (manufacturer's recommended sales price). Meaning that people could sell items for the cost they choose as long as it fit into a range set by ESO. This could cause some push back from sellers, but on the same notion may pacify those that believe inflation is causing issues in the game.

If people want a straight up transfer to never go back to their original platform again, then there likely would be a significant charge for this to account for the extra time and technical work involved.. This would need to be done on a mass scale and not just a select few, to account for the cost and time. There is also the issue where account names/character names may also be duplicated on other platforms so this may also be a case of transferring your account/characters but having to change your names.

If ESO PLUS included the ability to 'cross save' and you could share your ESO PLUS between platforms it would be a selling feature and additional value and benefit to 'play anywhere'. It could increase sales revenue as more people would be incentivized to buy a membership for the benefits. If your membership lapses then your cross save benefits end. Even if there was an additional expense to the ESO PLUS to allow for it to be upgraded to be 'shared' between the platforms, it would still be cheaper for the player, than buying two individual subs. If people recognize value in something they will put forth the additional money for it. Although it may look like ESO would lose money by allowing shared sub, I believe it would do the opposite and encourage more people to subscribe. More subs = more revenue.

Why do people buy in bulk? They see value. Ironically they end up spending more. People see something that is half price and stock up. Would they buy the same item if it was full price? That is the question. Why are things priced at 9.99 rather than 10. It looks cheaper and a better value. If there was an ESO PLUS upgrade .. yes it cost more but that could give you increased benefits on multiple platforms like shared ESO Plus and 'cross save'.

For any company to make changes there needs to be a WIIFM factor (What is in it for me). Can a company justify the time and expense for certain changes. If there could be a potential for increased revenue than it would justify the time and expense. The money needs to come from somewhere to pay the employees to monitor the technical side, the account side, the cloud server integration.