F2P rumours gathering pace in the media.

AllPlayAndNoWork · January 2015

http://www.loadthegame.com/2015/01/20/elder-scrolls-online-go-free-play/

News from Game Debate, according to a source known only as “The Mole,” Zenimax and Bethesda have come to a decision to take their MMO down the free-to-play route and will make it official with an announcement in a few weeks.

According to this anonymous source, there are reports that are surfacing internally that going free-to-play will be the surest route to ensure the title’s longevity. Following a drop in subscribed players, something to be expected with nearly all MMOs, this transition in remuneration for the publisher is expected. Similarly Star Wars: The Old Republic, another big title MMO had made a similar shift not too long ago. What signs point to this being true? Well, as reported in PC Gamer, six-month subscriptions have been pulled from the Elder Scrolls Online without mention to players. Currently subscriptions extend only as far as 90 days at a time.

Head over to Games.On.net and one can see reports of Australian games retailers Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi dumping the game from their physical stores, seemingly detecting the devaluation of the title. This is not to be confused with a price drop one would see when a title is deemed too buggy to work or simply failed to capture the attention of gamers at the moment. Dumping the title is seen as a sign that a profit can no longer be made from it. Another sign that free-to-play is coming has to do with its import to Xbox One and Playstation 4 at a later date this year. MMOs on gaming consoles like DC Universe Online are known to adapt this model once they leave the realm of PC exclusivity.

The date has yet to be specified, but it’s been reported in the International Business Times that consoles will be ready to play the Elder Scrolls Online later this year.

Ahdora · January 2015

/headdesk
/headdesk
/headdesk
/headdesk

StaticWax · January 2015

This is old news that means zilch.

The_Great_Maldini · January 2015

A very important question to ask in this situation is...who cares what a video game "journalist" has to surmise?

ThatHappyCat · January 2015

The Australian thing shows a laughably poor understanding of how gaming in Australia works. In short: it doesn't. Australian retailers try to gouge their customers any chance they can. The boss of Harvey Norman actually said on TV that buying stuff online is "un-Australian" and Australians should eat their ridiculously inflated prices.

Also, I seem to recall a few weeks ago when some "Mole" said that ZOS is going to announce ESO transitioning to F2P last week. Did that happen? Nope.

So all I have to say about this is: *** the media. All they care about is views, they care nothing for facts or accuracy.

Xjcon · January 2015

Free advertisement.

Grunim · January 2015

"According to a source known only as "The Mole,"... Is there a dermatologist in the house?

Metrobius · January 2015

ICE either way, but if eso does go free to play at least they are doing it after handled the bottling issue. If they had launched f2p, bots would have killed the game.

eventide03b14a_ESO · January 2015

Would anyone honestly be surprised if they announced upon the release of 1.6 that there is a new integrated store to purchase items right in the game and that it's now F2P? Is it possible that's why it's January 20th and we still have no idea when 1.6 is going to PTS? This game as severely disappointment longtime fans of TES and hasn't really offered an alternative to veteran MMO players. They tried too hard to appeal to both and I'm sad to say that strategy has failed.

BalerionBlackDread · January 2015

NotSo · January 2015

Don't believe everything you read on the internet, kids.

ers101284b14_ESO · January 2015

A guy no one knows randomly online says the same thing that other random people no one knows on the internet have been saying for 3 years. Meanwhile a major chains sending back physical copies of a PC game because all their PC games are now being sold Digitally. How can we argue with that?

Elsonso · January 2015

I saw "The Mole" posting his stuff and was unimpressed. As I recall, it was like two paragraphs that basically restated what others have already said.

eventide03b14a_ESO wrote: »

Would anyone honestly be surprised if they announced upon the release of 1.6 that there is a new integrated store to purchase items right in the game and that it's now F2P?

Actually, yes. I would be surprised.

Edit: And "gathering pace" is an interesting choice of words for something that has really been cooling off in the media for the last week.

Korah_Eaglecry · January 2015

First it was last friday we'd hear the announcement. Now its in a few weeks.

This reminds me of those Doom Prophets that tell their followers to sell everything they own because the end is near. Only to retract their prediction and forecast it out farther down the road.

Seriously. Its Australia. They dont have their own servers. When these things start happening at Walmart, Target and other US based Retailers. Then Ill join the 'Going F2P' Bandwagon.

Nazon_Katts · January 2015

Korah_Eaglecry wrote: »

First it was last friday we'd hear the announcement. Now its in a few weeks.

This reminds me of those Doom Prophets that tell their followers to sell everything they own because the end is near. Only to retract their prediction and forecast it out farther down the road.

Seriously. Its Australia. They dont have their own servers. When these things start happening at Walmart, Target and other US based Retailers. Then Ill join the 'Going F2P' Bandwagon.

A good bunker makes a great wine cellar, doesn't hurt being prepared.

daneyulebub17_ESO · January 2015

It either is, or it isn't. These threads without anything new aren't terribly useful.

That said, since this is a discussion forum... My two cents on the matter...

Since Zeni has, to my surprise, never promised to stay with the subscription model for the long term, at this point I'd have to say the discontinuance of the 6 month subs is THE indication that they are indeed planning it. There is some logic to it happening soon, too, with consoles around the corner. Based on the idea that it would be too high an entry bar to have console users pay both a sub to Xbox gold (or Sony's network) AND pay a game sub. Better to just have a store.

Before, I had always weighed such "developments" against Zeni's purported "line in the sand" position that they would shut down first, but now that I've found they've actually never made such a statement--or indeed any statement strongly disavowing F2P-- it does seem like the smart money is that they are about to change models. (At which point I will immediately quit.)

(Looking forward to all the hilarious repostings of dead horse beating images that will soon fill this thread. More tired and lame than the threads themselves...)

Flynch · January 2015

There has GOT to be something in the water around here lately - people are going nuts. Even more nuts than usual, I should say.

daneyulebub17_ESO · January 2015

Flynch wrote: »

There has GOT to be something in the water around here lately - people are going nuts. Even more nuts than usual, I should say.

It seriously is the 6th month sub drop that started it.

This isn't the same "Oh there's bugs, or oh there's bots, or oh my guild's empty" baseless trolling from 6 months ago. This time, it has a ring of real probability to it, and is based on some viable developments, not just haters and trash talkers.

radiostar · January 2015

o boy, it's the Fox News Mole all over again

Flynch · January 2015

daneyulebub17_ESO wrote: »

Flynch wrote: »

There has GOT to be something in the water around here lately - people are going nuts. Even more nuts than usual, I should say.

It seriously is the 6th month sub drop that started it.

This isn't the same "Oh there's bugs, or oh there's bots, or oh my guild's empty" baseless trolling from 6 months ago. This time, it has a ring of real probability to it, and is based on some viable developments, not just haters and trash talkers.

Except the 6 month sub is still available to those already on it. So :shrug:

Samadhi · January 2015

ThatHappyCat wrote: »

...
Also, I seem to recall a few weeks ago when some "Mole" said that ZOS is going to announce ESO transitioning to F2P last week. Did that happen? Nope.
...

There was also the "insider scoop" back in November that stated that the console version was cancelled due to the game being subpar and not worth releasing to consoles.

I like that Harvey Norman and JB Hi Fi in Australia pulled their copies of the PC version of the game yet are still selling $98 pre-orders for the console versions though.

Bouvin · January 2015

Korah_Eaglecry wrote: »

First it was last friday we'd hear the announcement. Now its in a few weeks.

This reminds me of those Doom Prophets that tell their followers to sell everything they own because the end is near. Only to retract their prediction and forecast it out farther down the road.

Seriously. Its Australia. They dont have their own servers. When these things start happening at Walmart, Target and other US based Retailers. Then Ill join the 'Going F2P' Bandwagon.

I'm surprised people still by boxed versions of PC game.

For me, all they do is take up space on the shelf. Digital is so much easier and tidy.

I can understand when you get an extra "trinket" with the box..but heck you just buy one of the toys or statues and get something better anyways.

Bouvin · January 2015

daneyulebub17_ESO wrote: »

Flynch wrote: »

There has GOT to be something in the water around here lately - people are going nuts. Even more nuts than usual, I should say.

It seriously is the 6th month sub drop that started it.

This isn't the same "Oh there's bugs, or oh there's bots, or oh my guild's empty" baseless trolling from 6 months ago. This time, it has a ring of real probability to it, and is based on some viable developments, not just haters and trash talkers.

If they do go F2P I can guarantee a lot of marketing will be built around "The all new Justice System" and "All new Champion Points System".

Got, I can just see it now.. buy CP with real cash. Buying off Justice System bounties.. with ... real cash.

Honestly, I like the game. But if they go F2P I might have to find something else to play...or another hobby altogether.

WraithAzraiel · January 2015

I give it a week before they(the forum admins) start getting pissed off and saying that making "OHNOZ ESO GO F2P DERP DERP" threads becomes a violation of the Code of Conduct and just start locking them outright.

Ahdora · January 2015

Bouvin wrote: »

Korah_Eaglecry wrote: »

First it was last friday we'd hear the announcement. Now its in a few weeks.

This reminds me of those Doom Prophets that tell their followers to sell everything they own because the end is near. Only to retract their prediction and forecast it out farther down the road.

Seriously. Its Australia. They dont have their own servers. When these things start happening at Walmart, Target and other US based Retailers. Then Ill join the 'Going F2P' Bandwagon.

I'm surprised people still by boxed versions of PC game.

For me, all they do is take up space on the shelf. Digital is so much easier and tidy.

I can understand when you get an extra "trinket" with the box..but heck you just buy one of the toys or statues and get something better anyways.

It's all about that beautiful art book, man! And the Molag Bal statue...

I REGRET NOTHING.

firstdecan · January 2015

I really wish ESO would become fair to play, there's still some class balance issues that need to be tweaked.

dharbert · January 2015

Ahdora wrote: »

Bouvin wrote: »

Korah_Eaglecry wrote: »

First it was last friday we'd hear the announcement. Now its in a few weeks.

This reminds me of those Doom Prophets that tell their followers to sell everything they own because the end is near. Only to retract their prediction and forecast it out farther down the road.

Seriously. Its Australia. They dont have their own servers. When these things start happening at Walmart, Target and other US based Retailers. Then Ill join the 'Going F2P' Bandwagon.

I'm surprised people still by boxed versions of PC game.

For me, all they do is take up space on the shelf. Digital is so much easier and tidy.

I can understand when you get an extra "trinket" with the box..but heck you just buy one of the toys or statues and get something better anyways.

It's all about that beautiful art book, man! And the Molag Bal statue...

I REGRET NOTHING.

Not only that, it's much easier and faster to install/re-install the game from physical media, rather than have to download 30+ GB and then still have to install it. I hope after 1.6 they re-release ESO in the retail box with the most up-to-date build of the game.

Menelaos · January 2015

I will only believe it the moment Edward Snowden leaks some internal ESO stuff, no sooner.

daneyulebub17_ESO · January 2015

Flynch wrote: »

daneyulebub17_ESO wrote: »

Flynch wrote: »

There has GOT to be something in the water around here lately - people are going nuts. Even more nuts than usual, I should say.

It seriously is the 6th month sub drop that started it.

This isn't the same "Oh there's bugs, or oh there's bots, or oh my guild's empty" baseless trolling from 6 months ago. This time, it has a ring of real probability to it, and is based on some viable developments, not just haters and trash talkers.

Except the 6 month sub is still available to those already on it. So :shrug:

I hope you're right that that makes it no big deal. I still haven't heard a convincing reason for them to have stopped it for people not already on it though.

Remember that allowing re-subbing, for those who got their subs 6 months ago isn't probably affecting very many people currently--they already dealt with the wave of hard core players who subbed at the release--they would have already resubbed September/October. Those coming up for 6 month resub now, subscribed in June or July or so--not ESO's finest hour---and I bet there's just not that many 6 monthers coming due around now. While I agree, it is odd, it may be that they didn't want to take that extra publicity hit and anger that NOT allowing resubs would cause when there's so relatively few 6 monthers likely resubbing now anyway. I'm sure they will have offers for some kind of f2p store bonuses for those with sub credits anyway, so they figure most can be convinced to stay, so why alienate them?

Samadhi · January 2015

dharbert wrote: »

Ahdora wrote: »

Bouvin wrote: »

Korah_Eaglecry wrote: »

First it was last friday we'd hear the announcement. Now its in a few weeks.

This reminds me of those Doom Prophets that tell their followers to sell everything they own because the end is near. Only to retract their prediction and forecast it out farther down the road.

Seriously. Its Australia. They dont have their own servers. When these things start happening at Walmart, Target and other US based Retailers. Then Ill join the 'Going F2P' Bandwagon.

I'm surprised people still by boxed versions of PC game.

For me, all they do is take up space on the shelf. Digital is so much easier and tidy.

I can understand when you get an extra "trinket" with the box..but heck you just buy one of the toys or statues and get something better anyways.

It's all about that beautiful art book, man! And the Molag Bal statue...

I REGRET NOTHING.

Not only that, it's much easier and faster to install/re-install the game from physical media, rather than have to download 30+ GB and then still have to install it. I hope after 1.6 they re-release ESO in the retail box with the most up-to-date build of the game.

If they do this, will buy a new copy of the game just to make installing to the new computer I plan to put together this summer that much more easy.

fromtesonlineb16_ESO · January 2015

Having played LoTRO, Rift and SW:TOR before, during and after they went F2P I have a huge sense of deja vu here .. anyone who did so has read all this before, the rumours, the silence, then the announcement, the only thing ZOS haven't done is the denial few would believe given the lessons those three games gave us.

It's undeniable the playerbase has dropped hugely, all cities and places the posers camp out in are massively empty compared to what they were 4 months ago.

Maybe ESO won't go F2P in the timescale the article the OP is quoting but all the parallels with Rift and SW:TOR are there, LoTRO was somewhat different in that the pre-warning to the players came from Turbine's other MMO, DDO, the denials were even less believable from them than they were from Trion or Bioware.