From what I understand, you can add your copy to the Steam library, but it won't be able to access the Steam features. So yeah, you'd be playing it as a non-Steam game.

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

You can add ESO to your Steam library as a "non-Steam game" with a copy installed on your computer not purchased through Steam. This let's you use the Steam overlay while you play, which has access to your Steam friends and chat (and maybe other things but I don't use the Steam overlay personally).

In order to access Steam features like Achievements, you have to actually purchase the copy from Steam.

Also @DocBurN‌ I don't have a source link for you that I can post that verifies the above information but the announcement was made yesterday at QuakeCon. If you listen to Elder Scrolls Off the Record, they go through the details in Episode 199 about 15 minutes into the podcast and verify what I said above.

DocBurN wrote: »

what if i buy the regular ESO on steam at 50% (30$).. ditch the steam key or white doggy and just enter my current pre order imperial at the login/password prompt.. i could play on steam my pre order imperial edition, right ?

Nope, you need to create a new account that ends up linked to your steam account.

DocBurN wrote: »

that make no sense at all.. if the steam version use the same launcher and use it to start the game.. how can it be linked to a specific login/password and know that you are using an older account or a newly created one

You will need to use the Steam Key to set up your account with ESO and that will link the two together and lock out your existing account, I have been searching for the post that explained it, when I find it I will post it for you. However it was clearly stated that existing players would only be able to continue with their present characters on Steam by adding the game as a 'non Steam game'

This thread has some interesting comments but nothing official, still looking.......

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/120435/eso-steam-key-
request/p1

This comment in particular........

cparker15 Soul Shriven
July 18
I've taken one for the team and paid for the game a second time via Steam, despite having pre-ordered the Imperial edition and having made it mid-way through Cadwell's Gold.

There doesn't seem to be a way to add the code you receive via Steam (referred to as "The Elder Scrolls Online CD key") to an existing ESO account via the ESO store. The only code-redemption area I've found displays this error when I paste the Steam-based code into the form and submit:

"You do not qualify for this product"

So, it looks like if I want to redeem this code, get the game time, and get the dog vanity pet, I need to start over from scratch and create a brand new ESO account. Otherwise, I've basically just destroyed $50.

I have a simple solution ZoS should consider. Put out a "Steam Upgrade" package. 10-20 bucks, give us the dog and steam access with it - case closed everyone happy!

Ok, this has been confirmed again and again by ZO, so I don't know why it's still a question.

- Only people who have purchased the game through Steam can set up an account that is linked to Steam.
- You can add your existing copy of ESO to the Steam launcher as a non-Steam game.
- You cannot buy the Steam edition and apply it to an existing account. Your account already has a game applied to it; you can't add another.

They've been very clear on this from the moment that the Steam version was offered.

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

Ok, this has been confirmed again and again by ZO, so I don't know why it's still a question.

- Only people who have purchased the game through Steam can set up an account that is linked to Steam.
- You can add your existing copy of ESO to the Steam launcher as a non-Steam game.
- You cannot buy the Steam edition and apply it to an existing account. Your account already has a game applied to it; you can't add another.

They've been very clear on this from the moment that the Steam version was offered.

i expect to pay for a steam version
i dont give a rats a$$ about the dogs, or whatever swag that goes with it..
i dont want to LINK anything
i dont want to APPLY anything new to WHATEVER old account
i dont want to add a non-steam game to my library

PolskiBunny_ESO wrote: »

You can't link your account or apply the steam code but you can log in to your old one in steam if you buy and download it through steam.

that is EXACTLY what i want to do..

DocBurN wrote: »

what if i buy the regular ESO on steam at 50% (30$).. ditch the steam key or white doggy and just enter my current pre order imperial at the login/password prompt.. i could play on steam my pre order imperial edition, right ?

IcyDeadPeople wrote: »

In case it's helpful for anyone else, I can confirm that I purchased a copy of the game on Steam and I was able to connect with no problems using my existing account, with all my add-ons and same user settings.

So, you can definitely use your existing account on Steam, you just don't get the 30 days added time or vanity pet.

Currently the Steam interface is not fully working for ESO, as your activity does not properly show up in your activity feed and playing time does not appear on your profile. (For example screenshots default to "hidden" and do not go onto your activity status unless you share them a second time and change to "public")

Alright. There we go. I had read this whole thread and I had seen your amended question about buying it, and re-found a post in customer service confirming this.

I'll just say again for the sake of clarification that you don't get the month free or vanity pet, but you can use your older account.

DocBurN wrote: »

Thank you for the clarification..

the last following question i wanted to ask was..

Could you buy the standard version on steam (30$ steam sale), and use the imperial pre-order account with it.. or.. you need the steam imperial upgraded version.

I guesstimate everything is in the local files on the pc.. and according to which account log in, it give what goes with it..

meaning: in my case, and what i want.. the simple standard steam edition would be enough to keep on playing my old characters from the imperial non-steam edition since (repeat myself again.. i dont care about 30 days or the dog)

Your account is all that matters when it comes to bonus features, but again:

Your account will not be linked to Steam, even if you launched that game through Steam. That means that you will not have access to any Steam features in-game. At all. Which means that spending $30 would be a pointless gesture, if your goal is to be playing the Steam edition of the game on your current account.

smeeprocketnub19_ESO wrote: »

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

DocBurN wrote: »

Thank you for the clarification..

the last following question i wanted to ask was..

Could you buy the standard version on steam (30$ steam sale), and use the imperial pre-order account with it.. or.. you need the steam imperial upgraded version.

I guesstimate everything is in the local files on the pc.. and according to which account log in, it give what goes with it..

meaning: in my case, and what i want.. the simple standard steam edition would be enough to keep on playing my old characters from the imperial non-steam edition since (repeat myself again.. i dont care about 30 days or the dog)

Your account is all that matters when it comes to bonus features, but again:

Your account will not be linked to Steam, even if you launched that game through Steam. That means that you will not have access to any Steam features in-game. At all. Which means that spending $30 would be a pointless gesture, if your goal is to be playing the Steam edition of the game on your current account.

I'm pretty sure you are wrong.

You get the steam features because you have steam as an official game on your list, and just log into a different account than the account it is for.

They're not going to switch it to a non steam game just because you log in with a different account, lol

Steam features are linked to your account. If your account is not the one you applied the Steam game code to, then you will not receive achievements, trading cards, or any social benefits whatsoever from playing on a different account.

DocBurN wrote: »

what if i buy the regular ESO on steam at 50% (30$).. ditch the steam key or white doggy and just enter my current pre order imperial at the login/password prompt.. i could play on steam my pre order imperial edition, right ?

@DocBurN‌ Yes you can do this. To all the naysayers, one of my friends has already done this. He bought a second copy on Steam and he is playing his pre-ordered account through it. Rather than create a new account, he just ignored the key completely and entered his old id and password at the login screen. He's been posting screenshots on Steam of his old characters. So it does in fact work, whether they intended it or not.

smeeprocketnub19_ESO wrote: »

nudel wrote: »

DocBurN wrote: »

what if i buy the regular ESO on steam at 50% (30$).. ditch the steam key or white doggy and just enter my current pre order imperial at the login/password prompt.. i could play on steam my pre order imperial edition, right ?

@DocBurN‌ Yes you can do this. To all the naysayers, one of my friends has already done this. He bought a second copy on Steam and he is playing his pre-ordered account through it. Rather than create a new account, he just ignored the key completely and entered his old id and password at the login screen. He's been posting screenshots on Steam of his old characters. So it does in fact work, whether they intended it or not.

can he get trading cards and achievements though?

No, the game doesn't even show in your Steam history of played games UNLESS you activate your Steam key; and in order to do that, you need a brand new ESO account. I learned that the hard way, and am extremely disappointed in ZOS. Hopeful for a solution soon though.

As for screenshots, you can already capture screenshots on any game, as long as you add it to steam as "Non-Steam game"

If you buy anything on Steam in the future IT DOES NOT GO INTO YOUR old account it will be part of your steam account.

Go to the Zeni store page and see that they had to add that information on there because several steam users bought the wrong horse.

If you buy an new account from steam, the clients lists ESO as a game you own. BUT as the game has its own launcher (which steam triggers) achievements and game play time info is given to steam from ESO servers via the account you got from steam. Not from the steam client 'tracking' ESO, most other games, the steam client will just track the game directly, this is not the case with ESO. (Trading cards ARE tracked by the client tho)

So if you buy ESO from steam, use it to launch ESO but then enter in your OLD account when the game loads, you get the steam overlay, but steam will never track your game play time, achievements as the game key you got from steam,and as your not using it, the ESO servers tell the Steam servers nothing.

So re-buying the game via steam only gives you the steam overlay, nothing else. You can get this steam overlay anyway, by just adding ESO as a Non-steam game.

This has happened with other MMO's in the past (the secret world) I brought that game, and then rebrought a key via steam but never used it. When I play the secret world via steam, my game play time and achievements are not tracked.

If ESO add an option to MERGE the new steam ESO key with your old ESO account, then it would work.