Official Feedback Thread For 2025 ESO Direct & Seasons of the Worm Cult

Metallikaz

Wanted something different for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

I have waited a few days to think about things before I give my feedback.

I have been concerned about the chapters feeling like they have been shrinking in recent times, I pre-purchased Gold Road and after playing it wished I had waited for a sale, the content to price ratio didn't seem worth it.

The new questlines do appeal to me but not much else to be honest, so now the content to price ratio looks even worse especially as an ESO+ subscriber.

The furnishing vault idea is interesting, but it seems too small, I have multiple houses that I use as warehouses 500 seems like a drop in the ocean, and its definatley not enough compensation to make ESO+ still relevant with the changing model.

The 'season pass' model does not appeal to me, I can't see me buying a season pass.

I was really hoping for a full chapter with a great story line that couln't be completed in a week, I would rather wait a bit longer for great content than have overpriced content pushed out on a production line.

These preview streams always make me chuckle, you try and make it look like its all about the player and the play experience, but in the end its just about how much money you can squeeze out of our pockets. I love this game but my pockets are staying closed for the time being.

Sadras

Somewhat excited for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

Very excited for the subclasses: I've wanted freedom like in a single-player TES game ever since I started playing this game shortly after it came out on console back in the day. This is a massive step towards that, and I'm super happy about it and can't wait to try out whole new skill combinations all across the board.

The new zone looks really neat, and I'm very relieved that there is in fact a new zone and a new story. After the earlier very sparse communication, I was afraid this would be shelved.

Since I play TES games including ESO for story, lore and exploration and the sense of freedom you don't get elsewhere, this is all great news for the game proper.

I'm cautiously relieved to hear that increased overland content difficulty will "probably" be optional, but I do hope this will actually be the case, because if it's mandatory, that would most likely be the end of the game for me. Difficult overland combat is not what I'm looking for in this game; it doesn't sound fun to me, and depending on the degree of the hike, it may also simply lock me out. I know there are many of us, so I hope you keep this in mind.

The pricing model is still a matter of concern to me. I'm glad to hear the content ownership will be permanent; an ephemeral seasonal/battle pass model akin to Diablo and Destiny would also have been factors to drive me out; I've seen how this ruins perfectly good games. But I preferred paying for chapters separately and knowing what I get at a predictable price.
The furnishing vault in ESO+ is indeed a thing of great value to me (all that space I'll suddenly be having!), but it does feel somewhat off to have the dungeon DLC now basically as a forced redundant duplicate purchase for those of us who habitually get both ESO+ and the new chapters, which would now be the season pass. I normally buy ESO+ for a long time in advance because I know I'll be using it, and now with also getting the season pass, there is a feeling of, "Well, I did just buy a thing twice; that doesn't feel very smart, but such is the new offer."

Arunei

Arunei wrote: »

So now that the after show is over, yes, it was said several things (Sloth Pet, a Mount, several Motifs) could be earned BETWEEN update 46 and update 48 (till the end of the year).

@ZOS_Kevin
Does this mean that all content is NOT permanently available once a Season Pass is bought, then? Because it sure doesn't sound like it will be, unless I'm misunderstanding the phrasing.

Still waiting on clarification for this. We were told earlier in the year and then again in the stream and here that all content is yours to keep when you buy the Season Pass.

But can you still EARN those Collectibles after the Worm Cult Season Pass ends? Are those Collectibles more like the pre-order ones you only get if you pre-order in a way?

If I buy the Season Pass and for some reason don't get the Sloth Pet during the timeframe listed, does that mean I can no longer earn it at all despite still owning the content it comes from?

Was it just poor phrasing? Is it supposed to mean that you have that time period to get the Season Pass so you have the chance to earn the things but keep the ability to earn those things no matter how long into the future it is when you try to do so?

Cooperharley

Very excited for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

Arunei wrote: »

Arunei wrote: »

So now that the after show is over, yes, it was said several things (Sloth Pet, a Mount, several Motifs) could be earned BETWEEN update 46 and update 48 (till the end of the year).

@ZOS_Kevin
Does this mean that all content is NOT permanently available once a Season Pass is bought, then? Because it sure doesn't sound like it will be, unless I'm misunderstanding the phrasing.

Still waiting on clarification for this. We were told earlier in the year and then again in the stream and here that all content is yours to keep when you buy the Season Pass.

But can you still EARN those Collectibles after the Worm Cult Season Pass ends? Are those Collectibles more like the pre-order ones you only get if you pre-order in a way?

If I buy the Season Pass and for some reason don't get the Sloth Pet during the timeframe listed, does that mean I can no longer earn it at all despite still owning the content it comes from?

Was it just poor phrasing? Is it supposed to mean that you have that time period to get the Season Pass so you have the chance to earn the things but keep the ability to earn those things no matter how long into the future it is when you try to do so?

It'll probably just depend on what you have to do to earn it. If it's a drop from some live show, then probably not. If it's something you do in game, then you likely will as long as it's not tied to a limited time event. A vast majority of content is earnable forever after you get it, but there will always be, in some games, things that are limited time.

majulook

I am wondering if the new response choices to the NPC's in the prologue is part going to be part 2025 Content Pass or was it a one off?

Cooperharley

Very excited for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

majulook wrote: »

I am wondering if the new response choices to the NPC's in the prologue is part going to be part 2025 Content Pass or was it a one off?

I believe they said these will frequently be options in dialogue moving forward, but are not retroactive. That would take an incredible amount of voice acting for old content.

Arunei

Cooperharley wrote: »

Arunei wrote: »

Arunei wrote: »

So now that the after show is over, yes, it was said several things (Sloth Pet, a Mount, several Motifs) could be earned BETWEEN update 46 and update 48 (till the end of the year).

@ZOS_Kevin
Does this mean that all content is NOT permanently available once a Season Pass is bought, then? Because it sure doesn't sound like it will be, unless I'm misunderstanding the phrasing.

Still waiting on clarification for this. We were told earlier in the year and then again in the stream and here that all content is yours to keep when you buy the Season Pass.

But can you still EARN those Collectibles after the Worm Cult Season Pass ends? Are those Collectibles more like the pre-order ones you only get if you pre-order in a way?

If I buy the Season Pass and for some reason don't get the Sloth Pet during the timeframe listed, does that mean I can no longer earn it at all despite still owning the content it comes from?

Was it just poor phrasing? Is it supposed to mean that you have that time period to get the Season Pass so you have the chance to earn the things but keep the ability to earn those things no matter how long into the future it is when you try to do so?

It'll probably just depend on what you have to do to earn it. If it's a drop from some live show, then probably not. If it's something you do in game, then you likely will as long as it's not tied to a limited time event. A vast majority of content is earnable forever after you get it, but there will always be, in some games, things that are limited time.

That's usually true for certain things, but aside from Motifs that are CS only and have set release periods (like Frost Caller I think it is), Motifs have never been limited time to earn.

This is a possibility tho, maybe these will be CS exclusives as well or something? It's hard to tell because they just say you can get them in a time frame but don't tell you if they're from in-game content, from promotions, from the CS...if it's something like the latter two then it makes sense they might be limited time. But if they're earned from doing in-game stuff like questing or gathering fragments, we've never had the ability to earn them removed. If I want the one Ginger cat pet, I can still get the pieces. If I want the one Peryite robe, I can still go farm the pieces.

If it's like you say and it's just these things are tied to whatever limited event or something that would be fine. I'm just worried about losing the ability to earn stuff that's from gameplay.

Elvenheart

Very excited for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

tomofhyrule wrote: »

Lugaldu wrote: »

Tommy_The_Gun wrote: »

Classes will become irrelevant and there will be only 2 end-game builds - PvE & PvP one. That is it.

But... I mean, why shouldn't old builds continue to be just as effective? Maybe new, particularly effective combos will emerge, but that doesn't automatically mean they'll replace everything else. Ultimately, no one is forced to use subclasses at all. Perhaps many players will simply use the system for roleplaying reasons, because it allows them to better explore their character's backstory.

A noble concept, truly. And one that the devs share. I also think that giving people options is a good thing, and that people absolutely can do all content (by "all content," I'm saying "minimum clear," not "clear on vet HM") in any build.

Unfortunately, the world is not one where everyone sits around and sings Kumbaya.

A meta will emerge. Groups will be selective about who they bring, and people who don't adhere to that meta will not be accepted. PvE expectation will be to use as much power creep as possible, so that even current clears will no longer be 'sufficient' in the raid leads' minds. PvP players will bring their OP builds and people will be forced to build around that. Nerfs will be applied to certain skills to try to smack down the most oppressive combinations, but that will have the effect of also nerfing someone who is just using their pure class line and is not getting the benefits from multiclassing it with other things.

Like I've said a few times, I'm not wholly against the idea and I have several RP characters who could make use of it. But when it comes to more higher-level content, I can only see how this will lead to incredible balance issues and "all power-no drawbacks" unless you adhere to that meta (or, y'know, accept a a self-nerf by not multiclassing). And I also fear that this will make it much harder to put in a new Class, which is what I want to see most - there are so many Classes they could explore (like an Artificer), and now there are so many moving parts that it looks like that may never end up happening.

I’m thinking this will open up the possibility for them to offer new skill lines, like a dwarven artificer skill line that we could use to essentially create our own new class.

Cooperharley

Very excited for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

Arunei wrote: »

Cooperharley wrote: »

Arunei wrote: »

Arunei wrote: »

So now that the after show is over, yes, it was said several things (Sloth Pet, a Mount, several Motifs) could be earned BETWEEN update 46 and update 48 (till the end of the year).

@ZOS_Kevin
Does this mean that all content is NOT permanently available once a Season Pass is bought, then? Because it sure doesn't sound like it will be, unless I'm misunderstanding the phrasing.

Still waiting on clarification for this. We were told earlier in the year and then again in the stream and here that all content is yours to keep when you buy the Season Pass.

But can you still EARN those Collectibles after the Worm Cult Season Pass ends? Are those Collectibles more like the pre-order ones you only get if you pre-order in a way?

If I buy the Season Pass and for some reason don't get the Sloth Pet during the timeframe listed, does that mean I can no longer earn it at all despite still owning the content it comes from?

Was it just poor phrasing? Is it supposed to mean that you have that time period to get the Season Pass so you have the chance to earn the things but keep the ability to earn those things no matter how long into the future it is when you try to do so?

It'll probably just depend on what you have to do to earn it. If it's a drop from some live show, then probably not. If it's something you do in game, then you likely will as long as it's not tied to a limited time event. A vast majority of content is earnable forever after you get it, but there will always be, in some games, things that are limited time.

That's usually true for certain things, but aside from Motifs that are CS only and have set release periods (like Frost Caller I think it is), Motifs have never been limited time to earn.

This is a possibility tho, maybe these will be CS exclusives as well or something? It's hard to tell because they just say you can get them in a time frame but don't tell you if they're from in-game content, from promotions, from the CS...if it's something like the latter two then it makes sense they might be limited time. But if they're earned from doing in-game stuff like questing or gathering fragments, we've never had the ability to earn them removed. If I want the one Ginger cat pet, I can still get the pieces. If I want the one Peryite robe, I can still go farm the pieces.

If it's like you say and it's just these things are tied to whatever limited event or something that would be fine. I'm just worried about losing the ability to earn stuff that's from gameplay.

Have we ever completely lost the ability to earn stuff from gameplay? Not including things like golden pursuits and limited time events? Like one day we could earn the godslayer mount and the next we couldn't for instance? I dont think so... but I could be mistaken.

Vonnegut2506

Need to hear more/try it out before I decide

I'm not a big fan of ESO+ folks being double-dipped with the dungeons if they want to get the new zone for $10 more than the Gold Coast chapter. The inclusion of a furniture vault does absolutely nothing as housing is just glorified wayshrines for me.

I am interested in subclassing as I think that will open up some fun possibilities. Will there be a meta for the min-max people to gravitate to; of course there will be. Meanwhile, people who don't get real worked up about a video game will have more choices in building characters.

I'm not a big fan in renaming chapters to something else just so they can milk subscribers for more money than they were paying for the same, or probably less, content.

BasP

Very excited for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

On the one hand, I’m really interested in the subclassing feature and can’t wait to experiment with different combinations on the PTS next week! On the other hand, I have to admit I’m also a little bit anxious about the upcoming patch notes.

Some abilities - like Radiant Destruction, Daedric Prey, and certain class passives - would probably be overpowered when combined with certain skill lines from other classes. I just hope that in balancing for subclassing, base classes won’t be penalized or nerfed simply because certain skills ended up being too strong in the hands of a different class.

MoonPile

Somewhat excited for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

MoonPile wrote: »

Q: Will the Content Pass non-dungeon content be unlocked for ESO Plus / ESO+ subscribers a year later, the same as Chapter zones currently are?

...

@ZOS_Kevin or someone could you please confirm?

ArchMikem

Somewhat excited for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

Maythor wrote: »

Also with sub-classing being added to base game, this year we are seeing no new "chapter" system, are we? So that's yet another thing lacking for our cash.

Edit: honestly we're getting the supermarket treatment here ... shrinkflation with the addition of simply moving things about so they seem fresher .. all the while being told a corporation is our friend :P

Solstice is the adventure zone this year, so yes we're still getting our "chapter".

SeaGtGruff

Very excited for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

Cambion2401 wrote: »

I saw it yesterday and I'm mainly a bit confused. I thought the point was more freedom and flexibility? But now you're still planning the whole year ahead... Only difference is that's it's not "dungeon, chapter, dungeon, smaller PvE" format. But then, those wheren't set in stone, just always done. There wasn't anything stopping you from switching that up, just like you made the last story last 2 years instead of 1.

I think that's because this is a transitional year, as they've put it. From what we learned from a presentation during a previous year (last year?), it was taking them nearly two years (18 months?) to plan and develop the content for each year. My memory is hazy, but hopefully I got that right. So they probably started working on this year's content in 2023. And if they didn't decide to switch from "chapters" to "seasons" until 2024, this year's content was already planned and in development. So I'm thinking we probably won't begin to see the full effects of the new development cadence until 2026. During the 2025 ESO Direct and ESO Live, they said something along the lines that future seasons might last for 3 months, 6 months, or other lengths of time.

Vonnegut2506

Need to hear more/try it out before I decide

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

Cambion2401 wrote: »

I saw it yesterday and I'm mainly a bit confused. I thought the point was more freedom and flexibility? But now you're still planning the whole year ahead... Only difference is that's it's not "dungeon, chapter, dungeon, smaller PvE" format. But then, those wheren't set in stone, just always done. There wasn't anything stopping you from switching that up, just like you made the last story last 2 years instead of 1.

I think that's because this is a transitional year, as they've put it. From what we learned from a presentation during a previous year (last year?), it was taking them nearly two years (18 months?) to plan and develop the content for each year. My memory is hazy, but hopefully I got that right. So they probably started working on this year's content in 2023. And if they didn't decide to switch from "chapters" to "seasons" until 2024, this year's content was already planned and in development. So I'm thinking we probably won't begin to see the full effects of the new development cadence until 2026. During the 2025 ESO Direct and ESO Live, they said something along the lines that future seasons might last for 3 months, 6 months, or other lengths of time.

I'm fine with transitioning away from Chapters, but this new pricing model seems half-baked and purposely confusing.

Maythor

ArchMikem wrote: »

Maythor wrote: »

Also with sub-classing being added to base game, this year we are seeing no new "chapter" system, are we? So that's yet another thing lacking for our cash.

Edit: honestly we're getting the supermarket treatment here ... shrinkflation with the addition of simply moving things about so they seem fresher .. all the while being told a corporation is our friend :P

Solstice is the adventure zone this year, so yes we're still getting our "chapter".

I was remarking on a system, not the zone e.g. like last year we got scribing in the chapter along with the zone.

tomofhyrule

Wanted something different for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

Maythor wrote: »

ArchMikem wrote: »

Maythor wrote: »

Also with sub-classing being added to base game, this year we are seeing no new "chapter" system, are we? So that's yet another thing lacking for our cash.

Edit: honestly we're getting the supermarket treatment here ... shrinkflation with the addition of simply moving things about so they seem fresher .. all the while being told a corporation is our friend :P

Solstice is the adventure zone this year, so yes we're still getting our "chapter".

I was remarking on a system, not the zone e.g. like last year we got scribing in the chapter along with the zone.

Yeah, we're not technically getting a "chapter" exclusive System this year. It would be Subclassing, but that'll be basegame, which means that there isn't anything exclusive to the Chapter outside of the zone.

We also technically have had one System-less Chapter too: Blackwood didn't have anything exclusive. At the time it was Companions, but then they got added to other Chapters and didn't have Blackwood as a requirement, so Blackwood also had no new System added (and even then the Blackwood Companions are severely lacking compared to the others.

Maythor

.. and it seems we are going to be also lacking companions this year too ..

SeaGtGruff

Very excited for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

Maythor wrote: »

.. and it seems we are going to be also lacking companions this year too ..

We don’t know that for sure, yet. They didn’t mention anything about it for the update in June, but last year the new companions were not released until later in the year IIRC.

Syldras

Maythor wrote: »

.. and it seems we are going to be also lacking companions this year too ..

Kevin has made a statement about this:
https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/8293110/#Comment_8293110

Elvenheart

Very excited for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

BasP wrote: »

On the one hand, I’m really interested in the subclassing feature and can’t wait to experiment with different combinations on the PTS next week! On the other hand, I have to admit I’m also a little bit anxious about the upcoming patch notes.

Some abilities - like Radiant Destruction, Daedric Prey, and certain class passives - would probably be overpowered when combined with certain skill lines from other classes. I just hope that in balancing for subclassing, base classes won’t be penalized or nerfed simply because certain skills ended up being too strong in the hands of a different class.

I have to assume that every potentially overpowered combination they can think of has been tested by now and deemed within acceptable limits. It may be what determined the limit of not being able to swap in two skill lines from the same other class. I’ve always assumed they did this with scribing as well, and it is what shaped the built-in restrictions that scribing was finally released with.

Chufu

Somewhat excited for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

Maythor wrote: »

.. and it seems we are going to be also lacking companions this year too ..

True, I'm still waiting for an Orc companion.

Jammy420

Need to hear more/try it out before I decide

Elvenheart wrote: »

BasP wrote: »

On the one hand, I’m really interested in the subclassing feature and can’t wait to experiment with different combinations on the PTS next week! On the other hand, I have to admit I’m also a little bit anxious about the upcoming patch notes.

Some abilities - like Radiant Destruction, Daedric Prey, and certain class passives - would probably be overpowered when combined with certain skill lines from other classes. I just hope that in balancing for subclassing, base classes won’t be penalized or nerfed simply because certain skills ended up being too strong in the hands of a different class.

I have to assume that every potentially overpowered combination they can think of has been tested by now and deemed within acceptable limits. It may be what determined the limit of not being able to swap in two skill lines from the same other class. I’ve always assumed they did this with scribing as well, and it is what shaped the built-in restrictions that scribing was finally released with.

Are you new here? They famously do not test these things, or take into account what the testers say in the PTS.

shadyjane62

Wanted something different for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

Elvenheart wrote: »

BasP wrote: »

On the one hand, I’m really interested in the subclassing feature and can’t wait to experiment with different combinations on the PTS next week! On the other hand, I have to admit I’m also a little bit anxious about the upcoming patch notes.

Some abilities - like Radiant Destruction, Daedric Prey, and certain class passives - would probably be overpowered when combined with certain skill lines from other classes. I just hope that in balancing for subclassing, base classes won’t be penalized or nerfed simply because certain skills ended up being too strong in the hands of a different class.

I have to assume that every potentially overpowered combination they can think of has been tested by now and deemed within acceptable limits. It may be what determined the limit of not being able to swap in two skill lines from the same other class. I’ve always assumed they did this with scribing as well, and it is what shaped the built-in restrictions that scribing was finally released with.

Yeah, right. Hehe, I've done the PTS. By the time it's on the PTS it's baked in, and we are just testing for bugs.

ArchMikem

Somewhat excited for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

Maythor wrote: »

ArchMikem wrote: »

Maythor wrote: »

Also with sub-classing being added to base game, this year we are seeing no new "chapter" system, are we? So that's yet another thing lacking for our cash.

Edit: honestly we're getting the supermarket treatment here ... shrinkflation with the addition of simply moving things about so they seem fresher .. all the while being told a corporation is our friend :P

Solstice is the adventure zone this year, so yes we're still getting our "chapter".

I was remarking on a system, not the zone e.g. like last year we got scribing in the chapter along with the zone.

You could claim Subclassing as a System.

Pixiepumpkin

Wanted something different for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

I am excited for the event. It reminds me of the Gates of Ahn'Qiraj event in vanilla wow 2005.

I don't know what to think of the chapterless year..kinda feels like we are paying more for less.

I absoutely HATE with every fiber of my being the sub-classes. Vengeance showed us how bad ass ESO can be when classes are a real thing. You took that feeling and flushed it down the drain. Class identity is so insanely important that I can't fathom how the heck your studio leadership decided to go forth with sub-classing.

The only good news is that wow has housing coming out at the end of the year. I can get my housing fix there and have class identity. Sucks to spend as much as I have on this game only for all of it to be thrown away by the dev team making what is IN MY OPINION a completely moronic decision. That is not slander, that is not being mean or dude, but the simple truth. Why why why throw away class identity. If I wanted to play new world, I'd be playing new world (I am not).

So ya, sorry Kev, but I am insanely dissapointed.

marumarumaru

Need to hear more/try it out before I decide

Not impressed. Too expensive, too little value when considering what ESO+ was meant to be. I cancelled ESO+ a few months ago for the first time since it launched and had also pre bought every chapter or equivalent. My expectation was that I’d get excited for a new chapter and renew ESO+ as well. Sadly all this release showed is that I don’t need ESO+ anymore anyway and the new season pass is too expensive anyway, so I’ll just ignore this year and maybe jump back in next year or if things get less silly and confusing.

Juomuuri

Need to hear more/try it out before I decide

I'm waiting for the PTS to learn about the amount of content we'll have on Solstice's first half. If it's less than we had with chapters and the dialogue quality is still awful, I won't buy the season pass. I did the prologue quest on the 10th and the dialogue in it was REALLY BAD. The story seemed interesting but seriously ZOS, after 2020 we've had worsening dialogue which is now at a point that actively breaks my immersion. How the heck am I supposed to quest if the dialogue RUINS the story you're trying to tell?

Cooperharley

Very excited for the upcoming Seasons of the Worm Cult Content

Insanely pumped for a more elder scrolls feel! I play WoW as well and can get my "class identity" fix there! I play ESO for the elder scrolls feel and welcome some change. Curious to see how long itll take to balance properly, but should be interesting. Happy for some change more than anything.

Maythor

ArchMikem wrote: »

Maythor wrote: »

ArchMikem wrote: »

Maythor wrote: »

Also with sub-classing being added to base game, this year we are seeing no new "chapter" system, are we? So that's yet another thing lacking for our cash.

Edit: honestly we're getting the supermarket treatment here ... shrinkflation with the addition of simply moving things about so they seem fresher .. all the while being told a corporation is our friend :P

Solstice is the adventure zone this year, so yes we're still getting our "chapter".

I was remarking on a system, not the zone e.g. like last year we got scribing in the chapter along with the zone.

You could claim Subclassing as a System.

Indeed you could but it's being added as a base game feature and hence not part of what we're paying for in the year long "season".