For many of us, the cross-screen marketing messages interrupting our gameplay on Saturday was a tipping point that led us to seriously question whether ZOS wants our business. It was not solely the intrusive ads that caused us to collectively consider whether continuing to subscribe was "worth it" anymore, but the introduction of the ads on top of all the broken promises and unheeded feedback we've endured for the last year while continuing to pay a subscription fee to play the game.

In short, it was a simple, highly visible display of the ZOS Marketing team's disrespect for us as paying players.

I am sad to see many good players and contributors to the ESO community indicating that they will be cancelling their subscriptions in the coming week. For the record, I am still subbed and have been since launch.

I want those players to stay because I enjoy playing with them and reading their thoughts about the game here and in other places online. But in order for that to happen, I think a hero needs to step up to the plate to make things right with subscribers.

I'm not going to regurgitate the bad things that have happened to cause this tipping point to happen. As players and subscribers, we are well aware of these things. ZOS Management, Devs and Community Managers are also well aware.

Instead, I'd like to point out five things I love about this game and two ways to immediately begin to make amends with your subscribers.

5 Things I love:
1. Graphics/Music/World - I love exploring Tamriel. It's a beautiful, immersive world that I really enjoy spending time in.
2. Story/Charcters/Animations/Voice - Well done on all fronts. I love the main story line and all the quirky side quests that I get to explore.
3. Combat Variations - Despite being a togglemancer on my main toon, I really love how flexible the combat system is. I've been exploring a lot of new and unconventional builds and having a lot of fun doing it.
4. Caldwell's - I know a lot of people want various changes to these but I really enjoy being able to play quests from the other factions. When I started, I never thought of playing AD, but I really enjoyed it in Caldwell's so my next toon will probably be there. Caldwell's has broadened my horizons and opened up the possibility of many more months of questing and fun with a new character.
5. Community - As a member of and contributor to five guilds with 500 members each, I have made a lot of new friends and had hours of fun and conversation. I can still get my solo feels in by exploring for a few hours and come back to guild chat and have fun with 500 people at an auction or event.


Two Ways to Immediately Begin to Make Amends With Your Subscribers.
1. Allow subscriber's to opt-out of cross-screen marketing messages.
2. Allow subscribers with 300 days of accrued sub time in the 365 days preceding any DLC launch to keep the DLC rather than just rent it.

The two changes above don't fix the issues that I've not mentioned here in terms of what broke the trust between us. But they do allow us to stay on board with dignity while you fix the issues that still exist. Because staying on board while feeling continually disrespected is simply not a healthy option.

I do want to thank the Community Managers for finally allowing our thoughts to be heard without a lot of silencing over the last 48 hours. I know you have a tough job and have been placed in a horrible position by your employers. I'm trying to respect that fact as much as possible with this post by not regurgitating the past.

If you agree with what I had to say, I'd appreciate a comment so the thread stays bumped. If not, we can let it sink into Oblivion.

Thanks for reading.

Edited for spelling