Why do console players get updates and expansions 2 weeks after PC?

XSTRONG

The other games I played/playing you get updates and expansions the same day as PC.

Is it some kind of PC exclusivity?

Danikat

They can't use the 'extra time' for additional bug fixing because verification takes 2 weeks from the time ZOS (or other developers) send the files, if they make changes after that they go back to the end of the queue and it will be another 2 weeks from the point they send the updated files. That means it can potentially take much longer than 2 weeks for a release to be approved, but experienced companies usually know what they need to do to get approved and make sure what they send is ready on the first go.

All console software goes through that verification process BTW, so if another game updates everything at the same time it will be because they hold the PC version back until the console version is ready.

There's pros and cons to the process, the downside is it takes longer for stuff to come out on consoles and it limits the availability of 3rd party software (without going through homebrew/other hardware modding routes), the upside is you don't need antivirus software on a console and never have to worry about games, other programs or updates being fake, harmful or genuinely completely broken. (And no I don't mean "this balance patch broke my build, this game is unplayable for me now!" I mean games which are literally impossible to play because some key component is missing or broken, or with serious bugs like if you play for more than 86 minutes at a time your save is permanently corrupted.)

It's also part of the reason console gaming recovered from the Game Industry Crash of 1983 and part of the reason something like that hasn't happened since.

ghastley

Yes, the PC players are the guinea pigs. Consoles get it after the bugs are shaken out (or further in).

belial5221_ESO

Also takes time for the process Sony and Microsoft take to accept it.

XxCaLxX

That and I'm pretty sure console updates take longer due to verification process by Microsoft and Sony.

boi_anachronism_

XxCaLxX wrote: »

That and I'm pretty sure console updates take longer due to verification process by Microsoft and Sony.

Yes. Honestly though im glad. We tend to get fewer bugs as a result. Its always still buggy but less so I feel.

Grizzbeorn

There is an approval process conducted by Sony and MS with regard to update files to which the consoles are subject that PC is not.

LunaFlora

i dont remember exactly but i think it was because sony and microsoft need time to make sure the updates don't do anything bad

Aurielle

The delay between PC updates and console updates is a big part of the reason why I'll never play ESO on console again. It was always frustrating when some major bug occurred with an update, and we had to wait weeks (sometimes months) for a fix that PC got relatively quickly by comparison. I vaguely remember some bug with the Torugs set a few years back that every WW premade group was abusing in BGs... that went on for WAY too long on console. Same thing with Necro bash builds in Cyrodiil.

It would be nice if they could get updated at the same time, but that would mean major bugs would be in game longer for everyone, not just console players, due to the long console patch authentication process.

ArchMikem

ghastley wrote: »

Yes, the PC players are the guinea pigs. Consoles get it after the bugs are shaken out (or further in).

Try to stop perpetuating that wive's tale. Consoles get the same bug filled builds PC does.

The reason is content verification via Microsoft and Sony. It's bureaucracy and regulation.

Khami

belial5221_ESO wrote: »

Also takes time for the process Sony and Microsoft take to accept it.

This is the sole reason, nothing to do with PC beta testing new content for consoles. Being the code is different with each platform.

Both consoles take two weeks to certify anything that gets added to their platform.

Four_Fingers

Because the content is worked on right up to the minute of PC release because of tight schedule, then it is summitted to MS/Sony which takes 1 to 2 weeks.
Some game companies wait and sync both releases by just giving one release date when both are ready, PC players don't even know it because the release date is after console certification.

XSTRONG

LunaFlora wrote: »

i dont remember exactly but i think it was because sony and microsoft need time to make sure the updates don't do anything bad

Why dont console have to wait 2 weeks for updates and expansions on every game thats playable on pc and console then?

Danikat

XSTRONG wrote: »

LunaFlora wrote: »

i dont remember exactly but i think it was because sony and microsoft need time to make sure the updates don't do anything bad

Why dont console have to wait 2 weeks for updates and expansions on every game thats playable on pc and console then?

Because other developers choose to delay the PC update so it can come out at the same time.

LunaFlora

XSTRONG wrote: »

LunaFlora wrote: »

i dont remember exactly but i think it was because sony and microsoft need time to make sure the updates don't do anything bad

Why dont console have to wait 2 weeks for updates and expansions on every game thats playable on pc and console then?

other comments above you already gave the reason and the one above the comment im typing right now.
other games delay the pc update

XSTRONG

Danikat wrote: »

XSTRONG wrote: »

LunaFlora wrote: »

i dont remember exactly but i think it was because sony and microsoft need time to make sure the updates don't do anything bad

Why dont console have to wait 2 weeks for updates and expansions on every game thats playable on pc and console then?

Because other developers choose to delay the PC update so it can come out at the same time.

Ok so in other words Zos can release updates and expansions to all their players at the same time but choose not to.

In my opinion a update/expansion should be released when both console and PC can play the new content.

LunaFlora

to me it's fine that we have to wait two weeks for the update simply because then people usually have already written guides for new content like dungeons, trials, or in this case the Endless Archive