That's pretty much just one of the downsides of physical copies. What would be the case otherwise would be getting a digital copy free if you got the physical copy, which, no, you don't get two copies for the price of one. The only exception to this might be if you get codes sent to you via email instead of having them come packaged with the game, but that depends on the retailer. As far as I'm aware all the Summerset content will come with the game, and not separately, though.

Kiralyn2000 wrote: »

....well, it's an MMO. All the content downloads for everyone when the patch hits. What you need isn't the "download", you need the access code that'll allow your account to actually enter the content.


(Hmm, how does it work on console? Did a physical Morrowind disc include a DLC code to apply to your account, or did you have to start using the MW disc in the console's drive instead of the base game disc? Or both?)

For console games (and PC games, for that matter) with expansion type DLC, you will typically get either a game disc with all the relevant content on it, or more likely these days, you will get the base game and then one or several voucher codes to enter to download the DLC content. With the latest console generation in particular, the game has to be downloaded from the internet or installed to the hard drive from the disc regardless of if you have a physical copy (the authorization to access the installed content is simply on the disc, so you still need the disc inserted to start the game). The main difference between discs of, say, vanilla ESO and ESO: Morrowind is that the Morrowind disc includes all the patches prior to its release (which probably includes the expansion content) so you can install it from the disc rather than download it from the internet. Any patches after the disc release still need to be downloaded.

Marginis wrote: »

Kiralyn2000 wrote: »

....well, it's an MMO. All the content downloads for everyone when the patch hits. What you need isn't the "download", you need the access code that'll allow your account to actually enter the content.


(Hmm, how does it work on console? Did a physical Morrowind disc include a DLC code to apply to your account, or did you have to start using the MW disc in the console's drive instead of the base game disc? Or both?)

For console games (and PC games, for that matter) with expansion type DLC, you will typically get either a game disc with all the relevant content on it, or more likely these days, you will get the base game and then one or several voucher codes to enter to download the DLC content. With the latest console generation in particular, the game has to be downloaded from the internet or installed to the hard drive from the disc regardless of if you have a physical copy (the authorization to access the installed content is simply on the disc, so you still need the disc inserted to start the game). The main difference between discs of, say, vanilla ESO and ESO: Morrowind is that the Morrowind disc includes all the patches prior to its release (which probably includes the expansion content) so you can install it from the disc rather than download it from the internet. Any patches after the disc release still need to be downloaded.

I've no clue about console, but that's not how it works on PC for MMOs. These days while some games and expansions etc still provide a game disk, it rarely contains more than the basic launcher. People often complain about buying a physical copy because they want to install from the disk as they have a slow or restricted download arrangement, only to find that even with a disk most of the game has to be downloaded over the internet anyway.

Normally, all expansions and DLC content etc are automatically included in the normal game download, often being downloaded in instalments in the run-up to the launch date for the new content which you can then only access within the game if your account is credited with it. So on launch date for Summerset, all PC players will have the Summerset content installed as part of the normal patching process, but will only be able to start a new character in Summerset or port an existing character to Summerset if they have registered the Summerset purchase. Even those who do not purchase such additional content will have it as part of the game client installation.

The two exceptions with that arrangement so far as Morrowind was concerned were firstly that anyone could buy a house in Vvardenfell without buying the chapter, but they could only enter and exit it direct from the base game and could not access any other part of Vvardenfell. Secondly, those with pre-ordered physical copies were able to scan and email the receipt to ZOS and get registered in time to access the chapter at the same time as the digital purchasers. However, I've not seen any mention of that option this time round. If I remember rightly, however, ZOS were hopeful that the physical copies would be supplied to retailers in time for distribution before the early access date, and hopefully they have also advised retailers of that date so they won't delay distribution unnecessarily.

Tandor wrote: »

Marginis wrote: »

Kiralyn2000 wrote: »

....well, it's an MMO. All the content downloads for everyone when the patch hits. What you need isn't the "download", you need the access code that'll allow your account to actually enter the content.


(Hmm, how does it work on console? Did a physical Morrowind disc include a DLC code to apply to your account, or did you have to start using the MW disc in the console's drive instead of the base game disc? Or both?)

For console games (and PC games, for that matter) with expansion type DLC, you will typically get either a game disc with all the relevant content on it, or more likely these days, you will get the base game and then one or several voucher codes to enter to download the DLC content. With the latest console generation in particular, the game has to be downloaded from the internet or installed to the hard drive from the disc regardless of if you have a physical copy (the authorization to access the installed content is simply on the disc, so you still need the disc inserted to start the game). The main difference between discs of, say, vanilla ESO and ESO: Morrowind is that the Morrowind disc includes all the patches prior to its release (which probably includes the expansion content) so you can install it from the disc rather than download it from the internet. Any patches after the disc release still need to be downloaded.

I've no clue about console, but that's not how it works on PC for MMOs. These days while some games and expansions etc still provide a game disk, it rarely contains more than the basic launcher. People often complain about buying a physical copy because they want to install from the disk as they have a slow or restricted download arrangement, only to find that even with a disk most of the game has to be downloaded over the internet anyway.

Normally, all expansions and DLC content etc are automatically included in the normal game download, often being downloaded in instalments in the run-up to the launch date for the new content which you can then only access within the game if your account is credited with it. So on launch date for Summerset, all PC players will have the Summerset content installed as part of the normal patching process, but will only be able to start a new character in Summerset or port an existing character to Summerset if they have registered the Summerset purchase. Even those who do not purchase such additional content will have it as part of the game client installation.

The two exceptions with that arrangement so far as Morrowind was concerned were firstly that anyone could buy a house in Vvardenfell without buying the chapter, but they could only enter and exit it direct from the base game and could not access any other part of Vvardenfell. Secondly, those with pre-ordered physical copies were able to scan and email the receipt to ZOS and get registered in time to access the chapter at the same time as the digital purchasers. However, I've not seen any mention of that option this time round. If I remember rightly, however, ZOS were hopeful that the physical copies would be supplied to retailers in time for distribution before the early access date, and hopefully they have also advised retailers of that date so they won't delay distribution unnecessarily.

Good clarification. Because of how internet download heavy games are these days, the disc will rarely contain all the content you need to play the game, ESPECIALLY with MMOs or other online-only games. There is some content on the disc, obviously, but how much depends on the game, no matter what system you use.