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• https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/683901
• PC/Mac: No maintenance – October 13
• NA megaservers for maintenance – October 15, 4:00AM EDT (8:00 UTC) - 12:00PM EDT (16:00 UTC)
• EU megaservers for maintenance – October 15, 8:00 UTC (4:00AM EDT) - 16:00 UTC (12:00PM EDT)
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• https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/683901
How to purchase access to the regular launcher/ESO64.exe (for Steam users)
AlienatedGoat
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For everyone who is having trouble logging into the game through Steam: There is a way to get access to login outside of Steam.
This is because there are actually two different account types for PC: Regular ESO accounts and Steam ESO accounts. Normally these two accounts are segregated and can only login through their respective launchers. This is part of a contractual obligation with Valve. However, by making a purchase for a regular PC ESO key and activating it on your Steam ESO Account, your account will be given a license to use the regular PC launcher, thereby avoiding the restriction and allowing you to login using both launchers.
Here's how you do it:
Note: If you are currently subscribed through Steam, the "Download" button will not appear. It will reappear when you are no longer subbed through Steam.
This isn't a perfect solution, but it does work. For those who are desperate to get their ESO away from Steam, this is a guaranteed way.
(@ZOS_GinaBruno @ZOS_JessicaFolsom Please consider making the ESO64.exe login option available to all Steam PC users.)
Edit: Confirming that yes, this still works.
IMO this is more than worth the $10 to be rid of the Steam connection headaches for good.
Edited by AlienatedGoat on December 2, 2018 7:59PM This is because there are actually two different account types for PC: Regular ESO accounts and Steam ESO accounts. Normally these two accounts are segregated and can only login through their respective launchers. This is part of a contractual obligation with Valve. However, by making a purchase for a regular PC ESO key and activating it on your Steam ESO Account, your account will be given a license to use the regular PC launcher, thereby avoiding the restriction and allowing you to login using both launchers.
Here's how you do it:
- Go to https://account.elderscrollsonline.com/login.
- Sign in through Steam (or ESO username/password if you know them).
- Buy a Standard ESO key for ~$10 at a third party retailer (been actually less on sale at sites like GMG, as low as $7.80!) List of Official Third Party Retailers
- Redeem the key on your ESO Account page.
- The purchase will give your account a license to use the regular launcher and is now associated with your Steam account. Double check by going to https://account.elderscrollsonline.com/account/billing/billing-history and finding your purchase/key activation.
Note: If you are currently subscribed through Steam, the "Download" button will not appear. It will reappear when you are no longer subbed through Steam.
This isn't a perfect solution, but it does work. For those who are desperate to get their ESO away from Steam, this is a guaranteed way.
(@ZOS_GinaBruno @ZOS_JessicaFolsom Please consider making the ESO64.exe login option available to all Steam PC users.)
Edit: Confirming that yes, this still works.
IMO this is more than worth the $10 to be rid of the Steam connection headaches for good.
PC-NA Goat - Bleat Bleat Baaaa
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trashmyego✭✭Or don't, and stop giving ZOS money to fix their own problem. Maybe consider investing in a different game altogether since this is not an issue they seem to have any interest in providing a solution for?27 -
AlienatedGoat✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭trashmyego wrote: »Or don't, and stop giving ZOS money to fix their own problem. Maybe consider investing in a different game altogether since this is not an issue they seem to have any interest in providing a solution for?
This isn't giving ZOS money to fix their problem.
This is buying the game a second time on sale for 10 dollars to be able to login outside of Steam.
Two separate issues.
If you don't want to pay 10 bucks to login outside of Steam, by all means, continue hounding ZOS.
For those people who want to take matters into their own hands - simply follow the instructions in the OP and you won't have to deal with this BS anymore.PC-NA Goat - Bleat Bleat Baaaa5 -
Prax3des✭✭✭Thanks, I kept hearing folks talk about this workaround to get a game key and was wondering how exactly it worked.
Still, just for clarification's sake, you won't have Plus when you log in this way, will you?PCNA ★ templar apologist, "mercenarial dog"
JUST SAY NO to faction locksPraxedes Amell ~ DC templar
Arimenta Weiße ~ EP templar
Cares-About-Map~ EP templar, AR50
Loraumaire ~ AD templar1 -
Minyassa✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭Will this start me over with no characters and a fresh account or will it allow me to use my existing characters and ESO+ subscription?1 -
AlienatedGoat✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Thanks, I kept hearing folks talk about this workaround to get a game key and was wondering how exactly it worked.
Still, just for clarification's sake, you won't have Plus when you log in this way, will you?
You can also do this with a game key from a third party retailer, yes. Just make sure you're signed into your Steam ESO account and redeem the key on the Account Page.
You'll have access to ESO+ and all your DLC and in-game purchases. I have dual-access to Steam and ESO64.exe myself, so I've confirmed this.PC-NA Goat - Bleat Bleat Baaaa1 -
AlienatedGoat✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Will this start me over with no characters and a fresh account or will it allow me to use my existing characters and ESO+ subscription?
Nah, if you follow the instructions exactly the purchase will be associated with your existing account, and you'll have access to everything you have now.PC-NA Goat - Bleat Bleat Baaaa2 -
Shantu✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭Not saying this doesn't work, but those additional membership options in the purchasing process (I already have membership options) froze me cold. Just don't want to do anything to screw up 3500 hours of game time in the original account.
I agree though, paying users should have a workaround. Steam is a friggin' game store. The decision to attach it to the login process is, at best, an exceedingly poor decision, and certainly not one they can execute very efficiently.2 -
Ragebull✭✭✭✭✭No, ZOS should give it to me for free. Not paying for a problem that isn't my fault10
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coolkhajit✭✭Why the hell would we PAY them for incompetence and seemingly not caring at all about this portion of their player base? I would hope that even the most addicted players would not bend over that way.8
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id10tSoul ShrivenI have a steam account and when these issues come up I just manually bypass it.
Close down steam. Go directly to the path of the game
\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client\eso64.exe
You may have your game installed on you the C: drive. You will have to manually enter your username and password
I created a shortcut on the desktop by right-clicking on eso64.exe and select send to desktop
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Jameliel✭✭✭✭✭
✭I have a steam account and when these issues come up I just manually bypass it.
Close down steam. Go directly to the path of the game\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client\eso64.exe
You may have your game installed on you the C: drive. You will have to manually enter your username and password
I created a shortcut on the desktop by right-clicking on eso64.exe and select send to desktop
For whatever reason this doesn't work for many of us. Refuses to accept password and tells you to login through Steam.1 -
Shantu✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭I have a steam account and when these issues come up I just manually bypass it.
Close down steam. Go directly to the path of the game\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client\eso64.exe
You may have your game installed on you the C: drive. You will have to manually enter your username and password
I created a shortcut on the desktop by right-clicking on eso64.exe and select send to desktop
It's been posted innumerable times on various forums this doesn't work if you purchased that game AFTER a certain date in 2016. Doesn't work for me.5 -
JJBoomer✭✭✭✭✭People do know that on your account page on the ESO website, on the Account Summary page, there is a link/button available to download a native launcher client, right (for free)? And that allows you to get into the game without using steam while maintaining all the content you've gotten through steam.
This seems pretty simple...
Edited by JJBoomer on July 5, 2018 2:36AM1 -
ManwithBeard9✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭People do know that on your account page on the ESO website, on the Account Summary page, there is a link/button available to download a native launcher client, right (for free)? And that allows you to get into the game without using steam while maintaining all the content you've gotten through steam.
This seems pretty simple...
Except it doesn't work like that. If you bought the game on Steam, your aching is tied to the steam launcher.2 -
JJBoomer✭✭✭✭✭ManwithBeard9 wrote: »People do know that on your account page on the ESO website, on the Account Summary page, there is a link/button available to download a native launcher client, right (for free)? And that allows you to get into the game without using steam while maintaining all the content you've gotten through steam.
This seems pretty simple...
Except it doesn't work like that. If you bought the game on Steam, your aching is tied to the steam launcher.
Well it must. I got everything through Steam, including Summerset. When the steam version of the game started lagging a lot, I downloaded that launcher from my account page on the ESO website, let it patch and everything, and have been using that launcher (not the steam launcher) since then and all my content is there with no issues.
I haven't launched the game from steam for probably 3+ months.Edited by JJBoomer on July 5, 2018 2:45AM2 -
cairo_x✭✭✭trashmyego wrote: »Or don't, and stop giving ZOS money to fix their own problem. Maybe consider investing in a different game altogether since this is not an issue they seem to have any interest in providing a solution for?
Agree. People paying to overcome the issue are terrible on working to get something real done. It won't surprise me they are capable to do the same thing in Real Life and blame others by their own mistakes.
Boicot them if the issue persist! It's their responsibility to fix it.
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trashmyego✭✭ManwithBeard9 wrote: »People do know that on your account page on the ESO website, on the Account Summary page, there is a link/button available to download a native launcher client, right (for free)? And that allows you to get into the game without using steam while maintaining all the content you've gotten through steam.
This seems pretty simple...
Except it doesn't work like that. If you bought the game on Steam, your aching is tied to the steam launcher.
Well it must. I got everything through Steam, including Summerset. When the steam version of the game started lagging a lot, I downloaded that launcher from my account page on the ESO website, let it patch and everything, and have been using that launcher (not the steam launcher) since then and all my content is there with no issues.
I haven't launched the game from steam for probably 3+ months.
It does not work for all accounts. When did you purchase ESO vanilla? Because I have already attempted this and I am still told I need to launch the game through Steam when I attempt to log in.0 -
cairo_x✭✭✭I have a steam account and when these issues come up I just manually bypass it.
Close down steam. Go directly to the path of the game\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client\eso64.exe
You may have your game installed on you the C: drive. You will have to manually enter your username and password
I created a shortcut on the desktop by right-clicking on eso64.exe and select send to desktop
It's been posted innumerable times on various forums this doesn't work if you purchased that game AFTER a certain date in 2016. Doesn't work for me.
It doesn't work for me either.0 -
ManwithBeard9✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭ManwithBeard9 wrote: »People do know that on your account page on the ESO website, on the Account Summary page, there is a link/button available to download a native launcher client, right (for free)? And that allows you to get into the game without using steam while maintaining all the content you've gotten through steam.
This seems pretty simple...
Except it doesn't work like that. If you bought the game on Steam, your aching is tied to the steam launcher.
Well it must. I got everything through Steam, including Summerset. When the steam version of the game started lagging a lot, I downloaded that launcher from my account page on the ESO website, let it patch and everything, and have been using that launcher (not the steam launcher) since then and all my content is there with no issues.
I haven't launched the game from steam for probably 3+ months.
When did you buy the game? Because there is a theory that depending on when you bought the game on Steam, you may or may not be able to launch from the exe file.1 -
Aliyavana✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭I feel bad for steam users, having to purchase the game a second time to get into the game that is way more functional1 -
twoscoopsofadamSoul ShrivenSpending more money is a laughable solution and a downright offensive suggestion towards an honest consumer!7
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Minyassa✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭Will this start me over with no characters and a fresh account or will it allow me to use my existing characters and ESO+ subscription?
Nah, if you follow the instructions exactly the purchase will be associated with your existing account, and you'll have access to everything you have now.
Sho' nuff. I'm in, minus Steam. Thank you, @Phage.
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ManwithBeard9✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭Will this start me over with no characters and a fresh account or will it allow me to use my existing characters and ESO+ subscription?
Nah, if you follow the instructions exactly the purchase will be associated with your existing account, and you'll have access to everything you have now.
Sho' nuff. I'm in, minus Steam. Thank you, @Phage.
Sub time, crowns, and everything else there?0 -
Nucklez✭✭If we already have Summerset on Steam, then buy Morrowind for $10 from ZOS would we still have access to Summerset? I originally had a Steam only account that I started around November of last year. Then bought the physical copy of Summerset which I had to redeem the key on ZOS' website. Which gave me the option you guys are talking about to ditch Steam and just use the ZOS launcher without Steam. I was able to download and reinstall/copy the game and I'm no longer tied to Steam.
On the other hand, my wife and my cousin both purchased Summerset through Steam and their accounts are a little younger than mine so they don't get the option to download the game from ZOS or login with any ZOS credentials. I hate to fork out the $10 in the first place, but if they lose Summerset in the process that's even worse. Seriously though, buying the game again, even at $10 really doesn't make any sense. Maybe next year's expansion I'll get my wife the physical copy.... I work in IT, and my CTO would have my head on a stake if couldn't fix this for my paying customers.0 -
coolkhajit✭✭Wow, this is turning out great for Zenimax that they don’t fix a problem and their paying customers pay again to fix the problem. What a great business model.9
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Minyassa✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭ManwithBeard9 wrote: »Will this start me over with no characters and a fresh account or will it allow me to use my existing characters and ESO+ subscription?
Nah, if you follow the instructions exactly the purchase will be associated with your existing account, and you'll have access to everything you have now.
Sho' nuff. I'm in, minus Steam. Thank you, @Phage.
Sub time, crowns, and everything else there?
Everything's there, all my toons and stuff and precious precious craft bag. 1 -
Minyassa✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭I'm bummed that I had to sink $10 into this game that's basically buying off an annoyance instead of gaining something I can take joy in, but to be honest if I'd known about this a few Steam/ZOS outages ago I would have already done it. I'll just have to consider it worth ten bucks to be rid of the Steam millstone around my neck. I know some of you buy other games from there, but I don't, and that damn thing has been nothing but trouble and resentment since day 1, so good riddance to it!4 -
AlienatedGoat✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭I'm bummed that I had to sink $10 into this game that's basically buying off an annoyance instead of gaining something I can take joy in, but to be honest if I'd known about this a few Steam/ZOS outages ago I would have already done it. I'll just have to consider it worth ten bucks to be rid of the Steam millstone around my neck. I know some of you buy other games from there, but I don't, and that damn thing has been nothing but trouble and resentment since day 1, so good riddance to
it!
I'm happy it helped.
) Freeeeedom PC-NA Goat - Bleat Bleat Baaaa0
This discussion has been closed.