Is ESO+ still worth it?

Amottica

@ZOS_Kevin clarified that the new content ESO+ will get this year is limited to the dungeon packs.

The ESO website notes that the content pass provides access to the same dungeons, plus the zones for this year and the other juicy new stuff being added.

I see that as ESO+ being little more than a storage space rental.

What are your thoughts. Have I missed something?

tsaescishoeshiner

It's fair to say there's less new content with ESO+. Previously, ESO+ gave us 4 new dungeons and one new full-DLC-size zone each year.

The past two years, ESO+ got less than that old 4-dungeon, one-DLC plan; either fewer dungeons, no new zone, or no new Q4 content at all. So to me, it's less of a new change in 2025.

I like that they added Companions as an ESO+ feature--I wouldn't mind stuff like that instead of a zone.

Technically, with all the DLC zones and dungeons over the years, ESO+ still gives you more and more every year, even if new content is obviously what drives a lot of interest and playtime. I recently took a break from ESO+ for a sorta long time, and I really noticed how much was bundled behind it that I was missing out on.

I definitely feel like ESO+ is way more optional recently, especially in 2025. But the Crown Store has been getting better and better, so they could up the Crowns ... On the other hand, amid all the inflation the past 5 years, ESO+ price for some reason never increased (almost all the games I've seen haven't upped their subscription prices while everything else shot up in price).

Tandor

For some it's worthwhile, for others it isn't. It's an entirely subjective issue.

However, the cost of ESO+ also needs to be assessed in relation to the value of the crowns included in the benefits that come from subscribing. Most critics tend only to talk about new content and the storage benefits - and in that respect we need to acknowledge that while the subscription is providing less now in terms of new content, especially if you also buy the content pass, it is going to add the furnishing vault (and apparently other additional benefits that haven't yet been disclosed so we can effectively discount those although I would urge ZOS to give more details now rather than later).

I don't seek to justify or support everything ZOS are doing currently, I have mixed views on all that, but I do like to see an open and complete analysis of the situation so the starting point for assessing the worth of ESO+ has to be the sum total of what you get for it, and that has to include the value of the crowns that come with it.

Soarora

If I still had ESO+, I would still have it now to access craft bag and dungeon DLCs. My future prospects of buying ESO+ as a necessity for housing and occasional inventory management is unchanged.

Rkindaleft

It's up to you and weighing up the costs of what ESO+ costs and if you feel like you're getting commensurate value in the game for that amount.

It hasn't really been worth it to me for a year now. I stopped paying for a yearly subscription when Gold Road released as I wasn't happy with the direction the game was heading. I did subscribe for 1 month just to get the new dungeon achievements and once that runs out I don't plan on renewing it again for a while.

Warhawke_80

Isn't this like the fifth "Is ESO+ worth it" post this month?

Can' t we just continue one of those?

Unfadingsilence

I only have ESO+ for the crafting bag

Amottica

@tsaescishoeshiner

and the chapter, the zone, and the trial portion were added to ESO+ when the next chapter was released. I have not seen anything that suggests these new zones will become part of ESO+ at any point in the future.

I guess all of this really comes down to how much someone wants that crafting bag.

icapital

Unfadingsilence wrote: »

I only have ESO+ for the crafting bag

exactly this is super simple, u want craft bag, u subscribe, simple, ez. lots of value in that if you value your bag space.

DigiAngel

After June, probably not.

ESO_player123

Amottica wrote: »

@tsaescishoeshiner

and the chapter, the zone, and the trial portion were added to ESO+ when the next chapter was released. I have not seen anything that suggests these new zones will become part of ESO+ at any point in the future.

I guess all of this really comes down to how much someone wants that crafting bag.

They added the answer to this question to this stickied thread: https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/675896/eso-2025-content-pass-faq#latest

Q. Will the zone from the 2025 ESO Content Pass roll into what ESO Plus members have access to in 2026?
A. The Solstice zone is premium game content, much like with our previous Chapter zones. It will be added to the content that ESO Plus members gain access to with an active subscription sometime in 2026. A reminder: you will only earn the extra rewards that come with the 2025 Content Pass if you get the Content Pass before the Seasons of the Worm Cult Part 1 launches in June.

BretonMage

ESO+ is unchanged afaics. You get storage, dungeons and the previous (never the current) year's chapter.

DreamyLu

BretonMage wrote: »

ESO+ is unchanged afaics. You get storage, dungeons and the previous (never the current) year's chapter.

That was my understanding too. Now even if it should be different than my understanding, outcome would remain the same: I will keep paying for ESO+ but not pay for the yearly pass.

If I make an overview: I never touched ToT, never started scribing, rarely use companions (have 3 only) and will not subclass. Conclusion: I don't get much out exp packs apart from a new area to explore (my bad: I don't match with expectations of the majority of players). It's nice of course, but not worth what I pay. So I had already decided last year that I would no more buy exp. pack. The yearly pass concept simply comforts my decision.

Thoriorz

I practically only have ESO+ because of the craft bag, no other bonus is enough to motivate me to pay for it. Yes 10% xp is ok, bank space is ok, monthly crowns are ok, but this isn't something I'm willing to pay for.

I always buy DLC(I see it as support for the devs for their work and further development of the game) so I don't have ESO+ because of that.
I'm not a "housing andy" so furnishing bonuses doesn't interest me at all and also no interest in pvp, which is why the pvp bonuses from ESO+ don't interest me.

So for me, really the only primary reason I have ESO+ is the craft bag bonus.

JeroenB

Amottica wrote: »

@ZOS_Kevin clarified that the new content ESO+ will get this year is limited to the dungeon packs.
[...]

New content for ESO+ this year will include the Gold Road zone formerly-Chapter-converted-to-DLC, not just dungeon DLC (as confirmed in the pinned Scribing System post). So no change there from previous years.

What we've lost from ESO+ and the game generally the past two years is the second zone DLC alongside the year's Chapter. So that's not a new change with the Content Pass, as tsaescishoeshiner said.

The new change is that if you normally buy the Chapters for the story zone content, you cannot now buy that without also buying the dungeon DLC, reducing the value of that dungeon DLC in ESO+.

Instead you could not buy the Content Pass, and just wait for the zone to be added to ESO+ in 2026 (as confirmed in the FAQ).

Thoriorz wrote: »

[...]
I always buy DLC(I see it as support for the devs for their work and further development of the game) so I don't have ESO+ because of that.
[...]

You have to buy the Crowns to buy the DLC either way. I use the Crowns from ESO+ to buy the story zone DLC, so that I still have access to them if and when I stop subscribing to ESO+ in future.

But for me as well the increased storage is definitely the main reason I subscribe... I have no idea how I would manage without the additional storage space of all types.

Jolter

ESO+ as a standalone is probably worth it for the craft bag and previous DLCs. ESO+ & Content Pass is not at all worth it as you are paying for content twice making the Content Pass way overpriced if you are subbed. If you can resist FOMO you can skip the content pass since it appears it will be added with ESO+ later next year and it's mainly just a small zone & trial. If FOMO is a problem then probably best to take time off and not give ZOS any money until they can reconcile how to bring value back.

If you are a long-time player like I am then this is a more difficult decision. I have completed all the content in the game and these days mostly helping my guild complete trial content. I would like something new and a new trial, but as a ESO+ member, the cost of the content pass is not worth it. So it's either continue to pay to be able to do weekly trials or stop paying and take a break and see if it gets better later.

wolfie1.0.

You still get:
1)10% increases in gold drops, exp, inspiration
2) Access to Dungeon dlc, and non content pass zone dlcs.
3) 1650 crowns to spend per month
4) Craft bag
5) double bank and transmute storage
6) crown store discounts
7) new furnishings storage.

Also, sub cost per month decreases the longer the renewal frequency.

Regarding dlc, access one could argue that you pay more for the dlcs with plus than you do If you just do 1 time purchase of them, but after consideration that is offset by the influx of crowns, which depending on your state/countries taxes/exchange rate might be a good deal vs standard crown prices.

Either way, value is still present, how much is subjective.

JeroenB

Jolter wrote: »

[...] ESO+ & Content Pass is not at all worth it as you are paying for content twice making the Content Pass way overpriced if you are subbed. If you can resist FOMO you can skip the content pass since it appears it will be added with ESO+ later next year and it's mainly just a small zone & trial. If FOMO is a problem then probably best to take time off and not give ZOS any money until they can reconcile how to bring value back.
[...]

But surely with respect to zone content there is no change here? We were already "paying twice" for Chapters, as they become DLC a year later, exactly the same as the Content Pass story zone. The only thing that's changed is the fact that you cannot not buy the dungeon DLC if you want to buy the story zone in 2025.

allochthons

I have a main account with ESO+, and on which I've bought all the new chapters since Blackwood.

I have an alt account that doesn't have ESO+, but I bought Summerset and Greymoor for jewelry crafting and antiquities.

The difference between ESO+ and and not is STARK. It is nearly impossible to craft on the alt account. I've stuffed my alt's craft bag from my main account during every ESO+ free event, and crafting is still hard, because of the inventory management. The lack of bank space is painful. I don't have access to many of the best armor sets, arena weapons, or mythics.

Probably 20% of my time spent on my alt account is inventory management and sending all my mats to my main account.

I had given thought to giving up ESO+ on my main, but after this experience, no way.

(Yes, I farm the ESO+ stuff during the free ESO+ weekends, and the alt has ESO+ for a month right now due to the sale. But I can only farm so much every day, and even though I'm not close to having all the gear I want on my alt, I can't wait for the ESO+ month to end.)

Hapexamendios

The craft bag and bank space are the main reasons I have it so for me it is.

TaSheen

Amottica wrote: »

@ZOS_Kevin clarified that the new content ESO+ will get this year is limited to the dungeon packs.

The ESO website notes that the content pass provides access to the same dungeons, plus the zones for this year and the other juicy new stuff being added.

I see that as ESO+ being little more than a storage space rental.

What are your thoughts. Have I missed something?

I've canceled 4 ESO+ subs. I'm done. That's my thought. Whether you've missed something.... I haven't a clue.

Desiato

To me, the bottom line is ZOS wants to give us much less and yet still charge us about the same.

To make matters worse, it seems we're going to have at least a year of light content because devs who used to work on ESO are now working on other projects -- essentially funded by us!

ESO+ to me was always about the content and the craft bag was just added motivation to sub. I don't consider the craft bag a real feature because it is the solution to an inventory problem that ZOS has engineered.

SilverBride

I'm not sure if I am going to stay subbed or not. I'm already playing less than I used to because I don't know if there is any point once sub classing goes live. I will not destroy who my characters are and I will not use a pet on my Sorcerer that does not believe in using pets.

I will not buy any more new content because of this, but I will see how bad it is when it goes live and decide then whether or not to stay subbed.

icapital

Desiato wrote: »

To me, the bottom line is ZOS wants to give us much less and yet still charge us about the same.

To make matters worse, it seems we're going to have at least a year of light content because devs who used to work on ESO are now working on other projects -- essentially funded by us!

ESO+ to me was always about the content and the craft bag was just added motivation to sub. I don't consider the craft bag a real feature because it is the solution to an inventory problem that ZOS has engineered.

I keep hearing this parroted everywhere, where do you guys have the proof that this is what's happening??

kargen27

Yes, everybody should sub just to support the game. If you play three hours a month it is a bargain compared to just about any other kind of entertainment. That we get all kinds of perks is just more icing on the cake.

Desiato

icapital wrote: »

I keep hearing this parroted everywhere, where do you guys have the proof that this is what's happening??

The reason people believe this to be true is because ZOS is known to be working on a yet to be announced project (that they have confirmed exists) and the upcoming chapter season is light in content compared to previous years.

Furthermore, the content we've seen so far this season seems to have fewer new art assets than we're used to seeing.

So it's easy to deduce that eso is light on content this year because eso devs have been assigned elsewhere. And if they haven't been, what have they been working on for the past year if it's not this upcoming season?

Pevey

icapital wrote: »

Desiato wrote: »

To me, the bottom line is ZOS wants to give us much less and yet still charge us about the same.

To make matters worse, it seems we're going to have at least a year of light content because devs who used to work on ESO are now working on other projects -- essentially funded by us!

ESO+ to me was always about the content and the craft bag was just added motivation to sub. I don't consider the craft bag a real feature because it is the solution to an inventory problem that ZOS has engineered.

I keep hearing this parroted everywhere, where do you guys have the proof that this is what's happening??

I also think this is probably what's happening. ESO does okay, but it underperforms considering that it is based on the Elder Scrolls IP. So on the one hand it seems like a strange decision for the same company to sink resources into a new MMO without that same IP to help keep it afloat.

On the other hand, there must be some sort of licensing deal related to the underlying IP. Even though it is sub of Bethesda, there has to be some sort of inter-company licensing deal that spells out the terms of ZOS's use of the IP. We have no idea what those terms are. We can only speculate. It might be that some pre-negotiated period of exclusivity has come or is about to come to an end. So they decided to put some eggs in a new basket. Again, just pure speculation.

I'm not sure ZOS realizes their reputation with gamers. I think it could be one of the best games ever made, and people probably still wouldn't try it if it's not Elder Scrolls.

kargen27

Desiato wrote: »

icapital wrote: »

I keep hearing this parroted everywhere, where do you guys have the proof that this is what's happening??

The reason people believe this to be true is because ZOS is known to be working on a yet to be announced project (that they have confirmed exists) and the upcoming chapter season is light in content compared to previous years.

Furthermore, the content we've seen so far this season seems to have fewer new art assets than we're used to seeing.

So it's easy to deduce that eso is light on content this year because eso devs have been assigned elsewhere. And if they haven't been, what have they been working on for the past year if it's not this upcoming season?

They let us know this was going to be a transition year between what the content drops have been and what they will become. And it doesn't make good business sense to draw away from a known and proven commodity to invest in future content. Sure some of the proceeds from this game will go to fund future games just like games before ESO were probably used in part to fund the creation of ESO.