How is this game doing?

heartburnkid · August 2017

I can't find numbers anywhere, population wise across platforms. I love the game and am extremely happy with it at the moment and was wondering if there were a place to see specific numbers as to how many people play and the like. Hope to play this for many years to come.

I am on Ps4 US by the way if anyone asks.

JasonSilverSpring · August 2017

ZOS has never released such numbers so anything is really speculation. Most compare based on number of people in the world they see and how their guild populations are.

The closest you likely will get are Steam stats which only cover a portion of PC players.

Raeph · August 2017

If you go by the forums of any MMO, the game is dying/dead at any and every point in time.

andreasranasen · August 2017

I'd say LESS than 100k players per platform. More on console, less on PC since console make up for 65% of player population across platforms.

JasonSilverSpring · August 2017

andreasranasen wrote: »

I'd say LESS than 100k players per platform. More on console, less on PC since console make up for 65% of player population across platforms.

Any source for this?

andreasranasen · August 2017

JasonSilverSpring wrote: »

andreasranasen wrote: »

I'd say LESS than 100k players per platform. More on console, less on PC since console make up for 65% of player population across platforms.

Any source for this?

Matt Firror have said several times "the population is split fairly evenly among all platforms."
http://www.mmorpg.com/elder-scrolls-online/news/matt-firor-85-million-eso-players-right-now-based-on-sales-1000043197#4ZeQHQY7K5h0UxRz.99

AlienatedGoat · August 2017

andreasranasen wrote: »

I'd say LESS than 100k players per platform. More on console, less on PC since console make up for 65% of player population across platforms.

ESO Player Population per Platform

Older story, but the percentages are probably still relevant. Firor notes that the ESO population is an even split across PC/Mac, Xbox, and PS4.

For PC, Steam isn't very widely used for ESO. In any guild I've been in, maybe 1 of 10 people uses Steam to play the game.
The highest I've ever seen the Steam player count for ESO was about 80k. So my best guess for the highest player count during the day on PC/Mac is about a million players, more or less. That's not indicative of the total active population, since not everyone plays during the same time, but its just an idea of how many players are online during peak hours. So my best guess across ALL platforms would be about 3 million players during peak hours.

As for user accounts, the last official word from ZOS for ESO was about 10 million user accounts (via the E3 trailer, below). It's important to note that user accounts do not equal active users, and very rarely are they ever even close to the same value. Companies like ZOS and Blizzard have taken to tout these numbers instead of active player numbers, since they are always higher, make for a bigger PR buzz, and are difficult to use to gauge active player counts for comparison between games.

ESO Trailer E3 2017

So based on all this, you can draw your own conclusions. Unfortunately, since ZOS policy is to not release official player counts, this is the best you'll get.

Mojmir · August 2017

andreasranasen wrote: »

JasonSilverSpring wrote: »

andreasranasen wrote: »

I'd say LESS than 100k players per platform. More on console, less on PC since console make up for 65% of player population across platforms.

Any source for this?

Matt Firror have said several times "the population is split fairly evenly among all platforms."
http://www.mmorpg.com/elder-scrolls-online/news/matt-firor-85-million-eso-players-right-now-based-on-sales-1000043197#4ZeQHQY7K5h0UxRz.99

Lol based on units sold,not logged in. Do a search on ebay,craigslist,gamestop,and any other place that resell video games and start subtracting.

JasonSilverSpring · August 2017

andreasranasen wrote: »

JasonSilverSpring wrote: »

andreasranasen wrote: »

I'd say LESS than 100k players per platform. More on console, less on PC since console make up for 65% of player population across platforms.

Any source for this?

Matt Firror have said several times "the population is split fairly evenly among all platforms."
http://www.mmorpg.com/elder-scrolls-online/news/matt-firor-85-million-eso-players-right-now-based-on-sales-1000043197#4ZeQHQY7K5h0UxRz.99

That is a source of evenly distributed players but not your believe of active 100K players currently.

Rohamad_Ali · August 2017

I don't understand why ZoS hides that data when other games inform everyone no problem .

JasonSilverSpring · August 2017

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

I don't understand why ZoS hides that data when other games inform everyone no problem .

Zenimax is a privately held company so they really have no obligation to report such data like a publicly traded company would.

Ir0nB34r · August 2017

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

I don't understand why ZoS hides that data when other games inform everyone no problem .

I am curious which studios of major games are so open with exact active player counts. Could you please elaborate your position?

I was under the impression that most major studios do not provide these numbers due to the impact that it could have on whether potential players would choose to by it. This is, honestly, a good idea for developers to do. What good would it do to release it? I don't need to know unless I see a large decline in player population in game, which ZOS is not having an issue with at all.

Iselin · August 2017

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

I don't understand why ZoS hides that data when other games inform everyone no problem .

It's not just ZOS they all do. Even WOW stopped releasing sub numbers.

Why? For fear of the negative snowball effect since way too many people want to go with the flow and follow the trends.

Rohamad_Ali · August 2017

Ir0nB34r wrote: »

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

I don't understand why ZoS hides that data when other games inform everyone no problem .

I am curious which studios of major games are so open with exact active player counts. Could you please elaborate your position?

I was under the impression that most major studios do not provide these numbers due to the impact that it could have on whether potential players would choose to by it. This is, honestly, a good idea for developers to do. What good would it do to release it? I don't need to know unless I see a large decline in player population in game, which ZOS is not having an issue with at all.

I don't want post links all day but many games do . I played SWG when subscription was down to 11k and no one cared if they loved that game .

https://www.riotgames.com/tags/player-numbers

Zbigb4life · August 2017

Raeph wrote: »

If you go by the forums of any MMO, the game is dying/dead at any and every point in time.

Dead deader deadest

zaria · August 2017

Mojmir wrote: »

andreasranasen wrote: »

JasonSilverSpring wrote: »

andreasranasen wrote: »

I'd say LESS than 100k players per platform. More on console, less on PC since console make up for 65% of player population across platforms.

Any source for this?

Matt Firror have said several times "the population is split fairly evenly among all platforms."
http://www.mmorpg.com/elder-scrolls-online/news/matt-firor-85-million-eso-players-right-now-based-on-sales-1000043197#4ZeQHQY7K5h0UxRz.99

Lol based on units sold,not logged in. Do a search on ebay,craigslist,gamestop,and any other place that resell video games and start subtracting.

LOL, count of games for sale would perhaps get some thousands, max or it would bloat the marked.

One issue with eso is active players, how do you count that? log in every month? or play at least enough to use up enlightenment?

Doctordarkspawn · August 2017

Without the numbers we will never know.

However, I've noticed two things.

1. I genuinely see less people around hotspots.

2. I generally see the same thing, parroted by guilds I have never met. "People are leaving."

Draw your own conclusions but I think it's pretty damn clear. Ever since Morrowind, which was largely disappointing because it was an expansion (Dont like it being called a expansion? Dont cry to me) offered far less content then many would consider worth for the money even by ZOS standards. It was essentially Orsinium, but you paid more. Combined with the sustain changes, which pissed everyone off and slowed the game down, something nobody wanted, and didn't reach the stated goal of making the game easier to understand (Quite the opposite)

And in addition to that, having ZOS desperately try to get you to buy Morrowind, along with the new crown store stuff which I am sure will cost an arm and a leg.

There's chum in the water. The sharks are circling. ESO is moving like something desperate for your money, on life support. The playerbase is unhappy and has learned not to submit feedback, because it will be ignored. (Looking at the morrowind and HOTR threads on the PTS showed less people than ever before. The game is dying.

I base this purely on things that can be observed. Excitement for upcoming content. Activity in the PTS. Activity among the endgame community. And it's all gone down.

Banana · August 2017

The game seems fine to me. The server on the other hand could use some work.

JasonSilverSpring · August 2017

Doctordarkspawn wrote: »

Without the numbers we will never know.

However, I've noticed two things.

1. I genuinely see less people around hotspots.

2. I generally see the same thing, parroted by guilds I have never met. "People are leaving."

Draw your own conclusions but I think it's pretty damn clear. Ever since Morrowind, which was largely disappointing because it was an expansion (Dont like it being called a expansion? Dont cry to me) offered far less content then many would consider worth for the money even by ZOS standards. It was essentially Orsinium, but you paid more. Combined with the sustain changes, which pissed everyone off and slowed the game down, something nobody wanted, and didn't reach the stated goal of making the game easier to understand (Quite the opposite)

And in addition to that, having ZOS desperately try to get you to buy Morrowind, along with the new crown store stuff which I am sure will cost an arm and a leg.

There's chum in the water. The sharks are circling. ESO is moving like something desperate for your money, on life support. The playerbase is unhappy and has learned not to submit feedback, because it will be ignored. (Looking at the morrowind and HOTR threads on the PTS showed less people than ever before. The game is dying.

I base this purely on things that can be observed. Excitement for upcoming content. Activity in the PTS. Activity among the endgame community. And it's all gone down.

See the thing is that my experience is the exact opposite.

1. I usually see more people at hotspots and Vivec City is sometimes busier than I ever saw Rawka.
2. The guilds that I am in are growing. One that was stuggling due to lost players has come back to life.

It is all relative depending on ones perspective. Since ZOS does not release numbers, no one can know. Everything is just speculation. ZOS could adjust the number of players per instance at any time to make the game seem busier or less populated. Some players very upset about the balance changes may leave, but then some new or returning players come for the new content and changes they like.

How do you determine that Morrowind was largely disappointing? Again, this is just perception unless you have factual data that shows a majority was disappointed.

The bottom line for the OP is that many indications are that this game still has an active player base and many on the forums giving feedback (positive and negative). The best thing to do is try it out and see if it suits your desires. If it does, stay and have fun with the game. If not, move on.

Lady_Scorp72 · August 2017

Since I just started playing ESO about two months ago, I can’t compare my experience vs. how it has been in the past. However, I find there’s a healthy population of players at any given time in most of the zones I frequent, and in my guilds.

With respect to a private company’s motives for keeping subscription and active player numbers a secret, why does it have to be about manipulation or hiding doom and gloom? I think it’s responsible and smart to closely guard that proprietary information. Why would you give your competition a detailed blueprint to all your successes and failures?

Competing game studios would love to know how the player base/subscriptions fluctuate when there are updates, add-ons, changes etc. to see what initiatives players love, what they’ll tolerate, and what they’ll reject. It would save them years of research and trial and error, which is why I’m happy to see ZOS release as little information as they can, to protect their business interests and remain highly competitive in an often-difficult market. Just my .02

Doctordarkspawn · August 2017

JasonSilverSpring wrote: »

Doctordarkspawn wrote: »

Without the numbers we will never know.

However, I've noticed two things.

1. I genuinely see less people around hotspots.

2. I generally see the same thing, parroted by guilds I have never met. "People are leaving."

Draw your own conclusions but I think it's pretty damn clear. Ever since Morrowind, which was largely disappointing because it was an expansion (Dont like it being called a expansion? Dont cry to me) offered far less content then many would consider worth for the money even by ZOS standards. It was essentially Orsinium, but you paid more. Combined with the sustain changes, which pissed everyone off and slowed the game down, something nobody wanted, and didn't reach the stated goal of making the game easier to understand (Quite the opposite)

And in addition to that, having ZOS desperately try to get you to buy Morrowind, along with the new crown store stuff which I am sure will cost an arm and a leg.

There's chum in the water. The sharks are circling. ESO is moving like something desperate for your money, on life support. The playerbase is unhappy and has learned not to submit feedback, because it will be ignored. (Looking at the morrowind and HOTR threads on the PTS showed less people than ever before. The game is dying.

I base this purely on things that can be observed. Excitement for upcoming content. Activity in the PTS. Activity among the endgame community. And it's all gone down.

See the thing is that my experience is the exact opposite.

1. I usually see more people at hotspots and Vivec City is sometimes busier than I ever saw Rawka.
2. The guilds that I am in are growing. One that was stuggling due to lost players has come back to life.

It is all relative depending on ones perspective. Since ZOS does not release numbers, no one can know. Everything is just speculation. ZOS could adjust the number of players per instance at any time to make the game seem busier or less populated. Some players very upset about the balance changes may leave, but then some new or returning players come for the new content and changes they like.

How do you determine that Morrowind was largely disappointing? Again, this is just perception unless you have factual data that shows a majority was disappointed.

The bottom line for the OP is that many indications are that this game still has an active player base and many on the forums giving feedback (positive and negative). The best thing to do is try it out and see if it suits your desires. If it does, stay and have fun with the game. If not, move on.

To the number of players: Since we dont have those figures, we wont know.

To the 'how is morrowind was dissapointing': I still see people saying it was. We still see people rebelling against it being called a 'chapter'. Compared objectively to the size and scope of content past, it is Orsinium, but twenty dollars more expensive. You can call it perception. But it is what it is.

Bottom line: People still post less regularly on the PTS forum because they know ZOS does not want their feedback. The game has a repuation for it. When I went to Secret World Legends when it launched, I mentioned I was from ESO. Most of the zone was too. Do the math. Even if it's more than your willing to admit, the game is bleeding players. And the churn, the here one week gone the next, wont replace the hardcore, dedicated endgame playerbase that has and will carry games.

A dedicated playerbase is worth fifty churn for every man all by themselves. And ESO has lost it's dedicated playerbase.

You cant hide behind the lack of information forever. Sooner or later you wont be able to ignore the creeping feeling in your gut. And when that happens...there's no where to run.

Electrone_Magnus · August 2017

One of my trade guilds is almost dead we went from a craglorn trader to a windhelm trader because most top sellers left the guild. In my other one we have to pay 5k a week to maintain the trade spot since people are selling less these days. Also many of my friends have quit the game since they don't like the sustain changes and the terrible rng. Most of them don't like to sub for inventory space...they want to sub for quality content and hence they're playing guild wars 2 now.

JasonSilverSpring · August 2017

Doctordarkspawn wrote: »

JasonSilverSpring wrote: »

Doctordarkspawn wrote: »

Without the numbers we will never know.

However, I've noticed two things.

1. I genuinely see less people around hotspots.

2. I generally see the same thing, parroted by guilds I have never met. "People are leaving."

Draw your own conclusions but I think it's pretty damn clear. Ever since Morrowind, which was largely disappointing because it was an expansion (Dont like it being called a expansion? Dont cry to me) offered far less content then many would consider worth for the money even by ZOS standards. It was essentially Orsinium, but you paid more. Combined with the sustain changes, which pissed everyone off and slowed the game down, something nobody wanted, and didn't reach the stated goal of making the game easier to understand (Quite the opposite)

And in addition to that, having ZOS desperately try to get you to buy Morrowind, along with the new crown store stuff which I am sure will cost an arm and a leg.

There's chum in the water. The sharks are circling. ESO is moving like something desperate for your money, on life support. The playerbase is unhappy and has learned not to submit feedback, because it will be ignored. (Looking at the morrowind and HOTR threads on the PTS showed less people than ever before. The game is dying.

I base this purely on things that can be observed. Excitement for upcoming content. Activity in the PTS. Activity among the endgame community. And it's all gone down.

See the thing is that my experience is the exact opposite.

1. I usually see more people at hotspots and Vivec City is sometimes busier than I ever saw Rawka.
2. The guilds that I am in are growing. One that was stuggling due to lost players has come back to life.

It is all relative depending on ones perspective. Since ZOS does not release numbers, no one can know. Everything is just speculation. ZOS could adjust the number of players per instance at any time to make the game seem busier or less populated. Some players very upset about the balance changes may leave, but then some new or returning players come for the new content and changes they like.

How do you determine that Morrowind was largely disappointing? Again, this is just perception unless you have factual data that shows a majority was disappointed.

The bottom line for the OP is that many indications are that this game still has an active player base and many on the forums giving feedback (positive and negative). The best thing to do is try it out and see if it suits your desires. If it does, stay and have fun with the game. If not, move on.

To the number of players: Since we dont have those figures, we wont know.

To the 'how is morrowind was dissapointing': I still see people saying it was. We still see people rebelling against it being called a 'chapter'. Compared objectively to the size and scope of content past, it is Orsinium, but twenty dollars more expensive. You can call it perception. But it is what it is.

Bottom line: People still post less regularly on the PTS forum because they know ZOS does not want their feedback. The game has a repuation for it. When I went to Secret World Legends when it launched, I mentioned I was from ESO. Most of the zone was too. Do the math. Even if it's more than your willing to admit, the game is bleeding players. And the churn, the here one week gone the next, wont replace the hardcore, dedicated endgame playerbase that has and will carry games.

A dedicated playerbase is worth fifty churn for every man all by themselves. And ESO has lost it's dedicated playerbase.

You cant hide behind the lack of information forever. Sooner or later you wont be able to ignore the creeping feeling in your gut. And when that happens...there's no where to run.

Again some people complaining about Morrowind does not represent a majority. I see many praising it in game while in that zone.

I do agree that Orsinium would be a chapter with the new model. I suspect the effort that went into Orsinium is what lead them towards the chapter concept.

I don't deny there are people leaving or that there are issues, but I just prefer to keep clear what is perception and what is fact.

Cherryblossom · August 2017

I would suggest not worrying about numbers.

Whilst its obvious that the game did not hit the hype is should of done, they game is still running and if you are enjoying it despite the bugs and bad design, then that is all that actually matters.

omegatay_ESO · August 2017

My trade guilds seem to be doing well, but I do notice quite a bit of churning going on. Could be nothing, people come and go when it comes to gaming.

qsnoopyjr · August 2017

Best indicator how a game is doing 2017.

Go on YouTube, type in Elder Scrolls Online > switch filter to last month
see how many videos are there and the quality of videos and how many people are in those videos.

Then if you want to compare type in another game like World of Warcraft > switch filter to last month
see how many videos are there and the quality of videos and how many people are in those videos

zaria · August 2017

qsnoopyjr wrote: »

Best indicator how a game is doing 2017.

Go on YouTube, type in Elder Scrolls Online > switch filter to last month
see how many videos are there and the quality of videos and how many people are in those videos.

Then if you want to compare type in another game like World of Warcraft > switch filter to last month
see how many videos are there and the quality of videos and how many people are in those videos

Done, around 1/3 of WOW, ESO rather than Elder Scrolls Online give you 60% but probably has some none ESO hits.

Nestor · August 2017

One major thing that has affected population centers is housing. I have a nice crafting area and the banker and merchant asistants at my house. I never go to town unless I need a guild kiosk.

So it's harder to Gauge population now. I do know the 4 guilds I am in are bouncing against the caps.

Jammer480 · August 2017

JasonSilverSpring wrote: »

Doctordarkspawn wrote: »

JasonSilverSpring wrote: »

Doctordarkspawn wrote: »

Without the numbers we will never know.

However, I've noticed two things.

1. I genuinely see less people around hotspots.

2. I generally see the same thing, parroted by guilds I have never met. "People are leaving."

Draw your own conclusions but I think it's pretty damn clear. Ever since Morrowind, which was largely disappointing because it was an expansion (Dont like it being called a expansion? Dont cry to me) offered far less content then many would consider worth for the money even by ZOS standards. It was essentially Orsinium, but you paid more. Combined with the sustain changes, which pissed everyone off and slowed the game down, something nobody wanted, and didn't reach the stated goal of making the game easier to understand (Quite the opposite)

And in addition to that, having ZOS desperately try to get you to buy Morrowind, along with the new crown store stuff which I am sure will cost an arm and a leg.

There's chum in the water. The sharks are circling. ESO is moving like something desperate for your money, on life support. The playerbase is unhappy and has learned not to submit feedback, because it will be ignored. (Looking at the morrowind and HOTR threads on the PTS showed less people than ever before. The game is dying.

I base this purely on things that can be observed. Excitement for upcoming content. Activity in the PTS. Activity among the endgame community. And it's all gone down.

See the thing is that my experience is the exact opposite.

1. I usually see more people at hotspots and Vivec City is sometimes busier than I ever saw Rawka.
2. The guilds that I am in are growing. One that was stuggling due to lost players has come back to life.

It is all relative depending on ones perspective. Since ZOS does not release numbers, no one can know. Everything is just speculation. ZOS could adjust the number of players per instance at any time to make the game seem busier or less populated. Some players very upset about the balance changes may leave, but then some new or returning players come for the new content and changes they like.

How do you determine that Morrowind was largely disappointing? Again, this is just perception unless you have factual data that shows a majority was disappointed.

The bottom line for the OP is that many indications are that this game still has an active player base and many on the forums giving feedback (positive and negative). The best thing to do is try it out and see if it suits your desires. If it does, stay and have fun with the game. If not, move on.

To the number of players: Since we dont have those figures, we wont know.

To the 'how is morrowind was dissapointing': I still see people saying it was. We still see people rebelling against it being called a 'chapter'. Compared objectively to the size and scope of content past, it is Orsinium, but twenty dollars more expensive. You can call it perception. But it is what it is.

Bottom line: People still post less regularly on the PTS forum because they know ZOS does not want their feedback. The game has a repuation for it. When I went to Secret World Legends when it launched, I mentioned I was from ESO. Most of the zone was too. Do the math. Even if it's more than your willing to admit, the game is bleeding players. And the churn, the here one week gone the next, wont replace the hardcore, dedicated endgame playerbase that has and will carry games.

A dedicated playerbase is worth fifty churn for every man all by themselves. And ESO has lost it's dedicated playerbase.

You cant hide behind the lack of information forever. Sooner or later you wont be able to ignore the creeping feeling in your gut. And when that happens...there's no where to run.

Again some people complaining about Morrowind does not represent a majority. I see many praising it in game while in that zone.

I do agree that Orsinium would be a chapter with the new model. I suspect the effort that went into Orsinium is what lead them towards the chapter concept.

I don't deny there are people leaving or that there are issues, but I just prefer to keep clear what is perception and what is fact.

Negative people will always promote negativity. I've played since release and have seen very little difference in population. The game is simply amazing, even better since Morrowind.

OC_Justice · August 2017

Nestor wrote: »

One major thing that has affected population centers is housing. I have a nice crafting area and the banker and merchant asistants at my house. I never go to town unless I need a guild kiosk.

So it's harder to Gauge population now. I do know the 4 guilds I am in are bouncing against the caps.

I find going to towns enjoyable. Seeing the towns filled with people, the hustle and the bustle make the game better to me.

Comparing it to playing Skyrim or Oblivion, all you see and hear is the same repeated phrase over and over again and it gets old.

I enjoy reading some of the conversations in zone chat and sometimes watching the duels. My favorites are the duels inside the bank in Rivenspire. Watching someone get busted stealing then running away from the guards and sometimes not quite making it. This makes the game more enjoyable to me. I don't think I would like the silence of my own home banker and merchant.