EDITED: There's a reason ZOS won't let assets be shared over platforms

Gidorick · January 2015

My original post:

"I don't want cross play.

I don't want the same characters.

But PLEASE make it so a subscription, bought DLC, and Crowns will apply across platforms so we can play on Console and PC without having to pay for the SAME content TWICE!

This really isn't an unreasonable thing to request...."

Turns out it IS an unreasonable thing to request! Using good old logic and reasoning @BBSooner‌ pointed out some things that helped me see why this really can't be possible.

With the multiple companies involved there really isn't a clean way to allow a player to access the same content on multiple platforms. Sure, technically it can be accomplished, but the Live and PSN systems aren't built to allow this sort of transaction. Not without there being a good possibility of abuse.

Anyway... I guess I need to decide on which platform I'll be spending most of my time.

PS4 has Vita, voicechat and a set of friends... PC has the add-ons and a different set of friends. Hard choice. I might just end up playing some DLC on PC and other DLC on PS4.

Iago · January 2015

Gidorick wrote: »

I don't want cross play.

I don't want the same characters.

But PLEASE make it so a subscription, bought DLC, and Crowns will apply across platforms so we can play on Console and PC without having to pay for the SAME content TWICE!

This really isn't an unreasonable thing to request....

But if they do that they will get less of your money and that's what they care about...... Your money, and how much of it they can pry from your wallet, not you

BBSooner · January 2015

Im unsure how this works when DLC is going to (presumably) use keys from the psn/Xbox live store to handle the DLC installs for the console. Unless I'm completely wrong (as I'm ignorant to the process so possibly) I think a key would have to be tied to each respective account that is unique to each platform so that platforms store recognizes the purchase to that unique account. They probably have to do this because a PlayStation Plus account != an ESO account. Seems like more grief and planning than console providers would be willing to go through.

Gidorick · January 2015

BBSooner wrote: »

Im unsure how this works when DLC is going to (presumably) use keys from the psn/Xbox live store to handle the DLC installs for the console. Unless I'm completely wrong (as I'm ignorant to the process so possibly) I think a key would have to be tied to each respective account that is unique to each platform so that platforms store recognizes the purchase to that unique account. They probably have to do this because a PlayStation Plus account != an ESO account. Seems like more grief and planning than console providers would be willing to go through.

You know, I started to try to explain why it should be possible and what you said made me think of an interesting thought that could be a factor.

MS and Sony get a percentage of every sale that goes through their respective stores. If ZOS is allowed to let players access DLC they bought on PC on a console, MS or Sony would be missing out on revenue. This would likely be an issue since players would have to be shown as having "bought" the items in the online store (as you have said) and having items shown as bought that they didn't receive money for would cause issues with their recordkeeping.

While YES it would be technically possible for ZOS, MS and Sony to create a workaround for us players but... none of them would be benefiting from this extra work. No one would be making more money. No one would be getting paid for their work.

The EASIEST workaround would be a system where a player that buys DLC from one store would get a code for the other 2 stores... but then people would just sell those codes and ZOS, MS and Sony would miss out on the revenue from the person who bought the DLC codes from another player.

I really didn't consider all the angles here.. Thanks for your response. It's lead to me accepting that this really wouldn't benefit any of the companies involved and I consider myself to be a reasonable guy so I shouldn't expect a company to put forth this sort of effort without compensation.

Thanks @BBSooner‌. It's nice to have an answer... even if it wasn't ZOS that provided it.

I'm gong to update the original post....

starkerealm · January 2015

Gidorick wrote: »

Anyway... I guess I need to decide on which platform I'll be spending most of my time.

PS4 has Vita, voicechat and a set of friends... PC has the add-ons and a different set of friends. Hard choice. I might just end up playing some DLC on PC and other DLC on PS4.

I thought I read something about voice chat coming back over to the PC, during the AMA... but, I'm not entirely certain I'm remembering that right.

Anyway, as to why your original idea isn't actually that viable. Part of the problem, supposedly, which actually lead to the b2p transition in the first place is, Microsoft wouldn't consent to wave the XBL subscription fee for players. More than that, Microsoft apparently also wanted a cut of the subscription fees.

If that's accurate, you couldn't "split it" between, say, PC and XBone, because Microsoft would then be there, with their hand out, saying, "give us a cut of your subscription." Which, obviously wouldn't work for ZoS.