Studio Director’s Letter: 2025

Ruthless

How do you feel about the letter ?
Lets keep it simple

Reginald_leBlem

I mean, we don't have a clear idea of the direction yet. We DON'T KNOW what "seasons" will look like in terms of content quality or quantity, how much will be free, free with eso+, and how much will be purchased outright.

Without these questions answered, I cannot pass a fair judgement.

TaSheen

I am disapointed with the direction ESO is being Taken to

He lost me at "increasing overland combat difficulty".

ESO_player123

I am disapointed with the direction ESO is being Taken to

While I'm going to wait and see, the general feeling I'm getting after reading the letter is disappointment. I might have felt different if the letter was worded differently: more information and less vague words that may or may not mean what we think they mean.

tsaescishoeshiner

I'm waiting to see. People are making up stories in their head about what seasons mean and maintenance mode, etc. So far, these forum panics haven't really played out in reality in the past.

I'm looking forward to when we learn more about seasons (which sounds like it just means "themes" that last at least a quarter or two, but we'll see). I don't think they miscommunicated about it, people just run with the worst case scenario.

Tariq9898

TaSheen wrote: »

He lost me at "increasing overland combat difficulty".

Let’s hope that’s optional.

TheImperfect

I am happy with the direction ESO is being Taken to

Cautiously happy, but with questions.

RomanRex

I am disapointed with the direction ESO is being Taken to

1. Less new content.
2. More recycled old content which is somehow refreshed.
3. New monetization and FOMO strategies (rather than enjoyable, attractive gameplay) to extract money from the players who will tolerate repetitive tasks.
4. Promised QoL and bug fixes that have never previously been fulfilled, so don’t get excited.
5. No acknowledgement that 2024 has been one of the worst years ever from a server/connection standpoint.
6. Still no explanation why they cancelled the US 10 year celebration after paying all their staff to travel to Europe for a celebration most of us could never afford. Still makes zero sense financially, from a marketing perspective or business growth. Seemed to be a last hurrah for staff more than a celebration for a players.

Nothing innovative or fun. Just the same empty promises after a horribly disappointing year.

tomofhyrule

I can't say anything until we see what this will look like.

I will say that I have trepidations about this letter and what it means for the content we will get - will it mostly be minor things, or will we see large Systems come up every so often? Will the release schedule be sustainable for the developers, but also at a pace that will keep players interested? Will the players that join the game because of [insert feature here] be enough to offset the players who quit due to that same thing?

ESO's grown massive at this point, and the heavy release schedule is unsustainable. But I can't imagine "we're turning the wolf mobs into bullet sponges" is going to be enough to keep people playing that much longer either. There are a lot of unknown here, and barely any answers.

Even the scheme of getting rid of consistent updates also means that we can't predict what or when anything could happen.

I was disappointed with them cancelling the US event, and this letter didn't really do anything to help that. It could be good, but it could also be the beginning of the end. I think we need to just wait and see, which is a little uncomfortable right now.

(but if they say "surprise, new class!", then I'll be totally on board)

LunaFlora

I am happy with the direction ESO is being Taken to

excited mostly.

here's my intial comment:

LunaFlora wrote: »

waow!

those are some big changes!
i look forward to it, epecially the story content.

New Guild stories seem awesome and Seasons sound like a good change of pace.
(edited to add:
"Continuing the stories in existing zones and storylines and bringing back familiar characters
New stories focused on hallmark Elder Scrolls organizations like Dark Brotherhood, Thieves Guild, Fighters Guild, and Mages Guild
Splitting a large zone across multiple updates"
this is all really wonderful.)


I know it'll be a test, but i hope that "Increasing the difficulty of standard overworld combat" will have options instead of being an increase for everyone.

"Visually improving base game zones with updated textures and art assets, starting with the "starter islands" - these should start rolling out in March 2025 "
This specifically sounds very awesome too.

And i am happy to hear this "Freeing up the dev team from needing to adhere to a strict annual cycle means we will be able to have teams launch content when it is ready throughout the year and not work to a date in June – this will let us focus on a greater variety of content spread over the year. This supports the new Seasons model, and will enable us to release content, updates, fixes, and systems in a more efficient manner."

Will have to wait and see if I'll stay excited about the changes.

i like that ZOS will release stuff when it is ready instead of when they set deadlines, but it also makes a teeny tiny bit nervous due to not knowing when and how things happen.

It is nice to see ZOS make such big changes though, there is a lot there that i know lots of people have been wanting, me included.
- like base game zone updates, Cyrodiil updates, and new Guild stories.

alpha_synuclein

Cautiously interested. Need details.

manukartofanu

I am disapointed with the direction ESO is being Taken to

Thou hast chosen a most inopportune hour to raise this matter.

Silaf

Too early to say. In 2024 we lost the small dlc release (clockwork, murkmire ecc.) and in exchange we got infinite arkive and a bad revisitation of battleground. Not a good trade of so far.

Rkindaleft

I am disapointed with the direction ESO is being Taken to

I honestly suspect we'll just get the same amount of content as a Q4 Zone would have (in terms of the amount of quests and delves, etc) just spread out over a period of the "season" instead of dropping it in a single update so people can then claim that we're getting "consistent" updates. Most of the other stuff is going to be reworks of repeatable and older systems in order to pad out play time.

Also, they should've just made it a difficulty slider. I also want a more engaging and challenging overland but for the people who want it to remain a more casual experience they should also get to play the way they want to. Doesn't make any sense to lump everyone together.

NobleX35

I am disapointed with the direction ESO is being Taken to

Trying not to be pessimistic, but without more information and the general disconnect between the development team and the community over the last several years, the main takeaways I got from the article are:

-Three to six month content windows, which means we could have to deal with a bad balance patch for at minimum the same amount of time as now, but potentially up to twice as long as we do now…

-The “solution” they want to test to “fixing” pvp is limiting build diversity and theory crafting (the aspects that make this game interesting) instead of addressing the root problems such as hybridization and poor balance decisions.

-Seasons sound like a soft introduction towards a battle pass model with more micro transactions.

Syldras

In general, I don't want to judge the new plans yet as there wasn't any info yet how the new releases will look like in terms of quality, quantity, and what exactly they will consist of.

I have to admit though that I'm tendentially a bit worried right now that it might lead to less new content and higher costs for the players. With the old schedule, we at least knew what we would get. Giving us more info could probably help alleviating these worries.

TheImperfect

I am happy with the direction ESO is being Taken to

Will Stuga get a new job? I'm worried how she will make a living. She might need to join the thieves guild now.

valenwood_vegan

I mean, the letter was a lotta words and no info. Ask me again in April I guess.

BananaBender

I am happy with the direction ESO is being Taken to

I don't understand how people are drawing so wild conclusions and forming strong opinions based on ANY actual information or facts. I'm hopeful, but reserved until we actually get info on how things are going to play out.

RomanRex

I am disapointed with the direction ESO is being Taken to

BananaBender wrote: »

I don't understand how people are drawing so wild conclusions and forming strong opinions based on ANY actual information or facts. I'm hopeful, but reserved until we actually get info on how things are going to play out.

years of experience seeing obtuse, vaguely positive public communications from ZOS and knowing what actually happens.

AzuraFan

I'll see how it all plays out before passing judgement.

There should be more than two poll choices. I'd say I'm happy with some of it and not so thrilled with some of it.

Taril

The simple answer is...

I have absolutely no idea what any of the content of the letter will actually materialize as.

As is the case with these kinds of things, they are too vague to give any actual insight into what will happen.

Given that my usual approach to things is wtih an (Un)healthy level of cynicism (Whereby studios still manage to perform worse than I expected...) I'll simply sit back and see how things unfold.

As far as my thoughts on various points:

- Chapters > Seasons: Personally, I don't much care how content is delivered, just that it is delivered and isn't monetized poorly. Seasons could be implemented terribly or they could work fine (And reduce the amount of generic "Event reruns" in lieu of actually new things)

- Cyro performance: Great. So long as I don't have to actually go there for any reason.

- Overland difficulty: Can be implemented poorly depending on scope and actual design. It's already prohibitively annoying to do DLC WB's and Incursions for things like Leads, Dailies and item drops due to their difficulty and lack of players in older zones. While overland mob farming is pretty terrible efficiency compared to grinding in a Public Dungeon as is. It's way too possible that these things become worse for little to no benefit at all.

- Combat enhancements: Hard to say much about this. My cynicism says this is just more skill styles (To put into the Crown Store...). Though it could be quite interesting if they do things like, actually find a way to remove LA weaving (Which is jank af) and improve some lame animations (Like staff attacks...)

- More Craglorn-esk group zones: Cool. Gear chase: Ugh...

- Guild improvements: Meh...

- New/Returning player reworks: Could be neat. Especially if this more curated content system means that new questlines can actually feel like a new adventure for a veteran character, rather than every returning character acting like the 500 other stories we've done together haven't happened...

- Expanding on old zones and guilds: Cool. But we'll have to see its implementation. Especially with the aforementioned "Raz forgot who we are for the 8 millionth time"

ThoraxtheDark

I am disapointed with the direction ESO is being Taken to

Sounds like they want to take one zone and sell it in multiple different purchases to me.

Weird as well as we normally get announced the new content in January. Wonder why it's pushed back so long now.
Less transparency on that note.


Also less updates throughout the year is what I also read , and that's probably not good. They just unionized so this is their work model I'm assuming. Much different than what they were doing before .

Im glad you guys unionized, I think that's the only good thing out of this. Unfortunately it looks like eso is slowly closing the curtains

KingNutella

I am happy with the direction ESO is being Taken to

Cautiously optimistic. It's nice to hear that my main critiques are being addressed (mindnumbingly easy overland, poor performing Cyrodiil, pool noodles feeling combat), but execution is everything. If those things go well, it'll be my perfect MMO. But I also feel like I've seen that "performance" will be addressed and better since 2021 - hence the very cautious optimism.

That said, I am concerned about this seasonal model. What will monetization look like? Making the game deeper rather than wider is a fine idea, but how much is actually being added? Can we expect the same quantity (and hopefully better quality) we were getting in previous years? How will this impact trials (I don't remember seeing those mentioned at all in the letter)?

April is an awfully long time away, so I hope we get some substantive details well before then.

OtarTheMad

I am disapointed with the direction ESO is being Taken to

I am cautious but I can't be happy or too excited because there is just too many questions I have.

Personofsecrets

I am disapointed with the direction ESO is being Taken to

The letter lacked the enthusiasm that I wanted to find.

NotNi.ya

I am disapointed with the direction ESO is being Taken to

read it and uninstalled, will most likely keep lurking in here to see updates but for now, im freeeeee

blktauna

I am happy with the direction ESO is being Taken to

No one here knows even what the specifics are so there's nothing really to be pleased or upset about.

Over the years I've discovered ZOS needs more help in word choice and presentation than they are getting and the misunderstanding from that alone is boggling. They seem extremely reluctant to be clear and upfront.

BlessingsofAkatosh

I am disapointed with the direction ESO is being Taken to

I wish there was a "mixed feelings" option. On the one hand I have some tempered optimism about the idea of overhauling basegame areas and adding new story content that makes them worth visiting for more than just the occasional daily quest or odd challenge that might need you to go to one zone or another.

Then I'm kind of neutral to the idea of slowing down on the story-based content, simply because we're running out of space on Tamriel and I hope this means they're really trying to wait and save certain regions for something special.

And then the negative is the shift to a "seasonal" model, which left a bitter taste in my mouth after reading simply because I got sucked into Destiny 2 for a couple years and like a lot of people I grew to resent the season model that Destiny and so many other live service games shifted to. Who knows though, ESO could implement it in a way that works and I'd be overjoyed to be proven wrong, but at the same time I just have such a general apprehension to the idea of seasonal-based content that if I had to choose between happy and disappointed, I'd lean slightly to the latter.

LadyGP

I am happy with the direction ESO is being Taken to

Reginald_leBlem wrote: »

I mean, we don't have a clear idea of the direction yet. We DON'T KNOW what "seasons" will look like in terms of content quality or quantity, how much will be free, free with eso+, and how much will be purchased outright.

Without these questions answered, I cannot pass a fair judgement.

Fair.

Destai

I am disapointed with the direction ESO is being Taken to

I agree with you OP. Ultimately, I worry that content delivery is going to be stretched out and sold a la carte. Some of the ideas sound appealing, like new guild quests and craglorn-esque zones. Others like, carte blanche harder overland sound less appealing. I didn’t really hear much about trials, so I wonder how those will be handled.

Overall, with their track record on things like “The Year of Performance” and the recent year’s commitment to QoL quarters, I worry about what we’re actually going to see. And with a fluid release cadence, it’s really hard to be confident one way or another.

I hope it all pans out well.