Question. Do you think ESO will ever get a graphics overhaul?

Davor · October 2018

I am just wondering if ESO will ever get a graphics overhaul. I don't mean any time soon, but in a few years if the servers don't go off line. When I get tired of ESO (lags, bugs) I try other games and some of them while play good the graphics are dated. I guess I am wrong when I use to say graphics don't matter. I just can't get into the games. The only game I know of ever getting a graphic overhaul is Black Desert Online. It didn't need one, but got one non the less. I don't know if others have, but from my little knowledge of MMOs there isn't any that I know of. It seems games just go off line instead of trying to make viable in the current age.

I am just curious if ESO will ever get graphic tweaks or an overhaul. I find the game beautiful right now. But in 2 or another 5 years, will we say that graphics have kept up? I tried Neverwinter on Xbox and the graphics are out dated. Yes I know it's an old game, or older but I just can't get into it. I tried Star Trek Online for something different. Again, dated graphics. Maybe it's the, "need extra storage, buy this" so it turns me off and I just come back to ESO. So that got me thinking if we ever get to that time when we think ESO graphics are outdated do you think it well get an overhaul? Or will Zenimax Online Studios keep making tweaks so we never really see the difference and it will always seem to be up to date?

Just curious what ZOS has planned if they have mentioned it at all about future graphics. Again I am not saying they are bad. I really like it a lot. Just wondering about the future.

newtinmpls · October 2018

I'd like to see some of the Auridon birds, and especially some of the Nix hounds get a re-do.

Ouch.

Bam_Bam · October 2018

I would hope so. And it is definitely possible.
If you compare Stonefalls, to say, Summerset/Artaeum - it really makes those kinds of starter zones seem graphically....ummmm...amateurish?

Marabornwingrion · October 2018

They won't improve appearance of old, base game zones because they won't earn any money from doing it. They're not a charity.

New dlc / chapter zones look a little bit better (textures, models, animations), and from time to time we're getting new video customization options (foot inverse kinematic) but still that game is build on very crappy engine with a lot of limitations.

Also the game already have a lot of performance issues in some places (Cyrodiil) so if ZOS would boost graphics there it would cause even bigger fps issues than we have now.

Trancestor · October 2018

They will need an Engine overhaul first

Mayrael · October 2018

God forbid. Last time they have changed lighting in Cyrodiil it caused massive FPS drops and since then it never got fixed.

Thorvarg · October 2018

I think the graphics are still nice and don't need a overhaul.

Turelus · October 2018

I think after some years we might see something, although honestly most of the newer zones are pretty amazing. I normally only notice the lower quality when going to the older launch zones.

Nermy · October 2018

We were chatting the other night in Cyro and reckon they might have taken the chance while they were updating some models and polished up some of the textures because they a slightly more shiny than usual.

No actual evidence for it though...

ssorgatem · October 2018

I'd expect that once the graphics start looking really dated.

I guess this is partly why they try to get new players to start on the latest chapter rather than on the starter zones, too...

Nilarynpaw · October 2018

I don't think ESO desperately needs a graphic overhaul, not yet.
Maybe the hair textures here and there, but nothing else really.

Most of the zones are just beautiful anyways.

Vaz2013 · October 2018

I just wish there were waves on the ocean. It's so flat and still.

Thorvarg · October 2018

Vaz2013 wrote: »

I just wish there were waves on the ocean. It's so flat and still.

Be happy, no Tsunami and no shipwrecked.

Mayrael · October 2018

Vaz2013 wrote: »

I just wish there were waves on the ocean. It's so flat and still.

This gets me, especially if we could dive, but in general I'm afraid any change to graphics made by ZOS would not end well

When it goes to ZOS with each update I have more and more trust issues, sorry.

Rake · October 2018

No

FlyingSwan · October 2018

I think the problem is the engine is dated, so there are limits to what ZOS can do. Some of the new areas are not too bad at all, but the older areas are dated and look ham-fisted when compared to modern games. This is how it goes with MMOs, look at WOW's crude graphics, lots of people still play the game however.

So I guess ZOS will do what they can within constraints of the engine, but ultimately they make their money elsewhere so significant graphical improvements will not get significant ROI.

SixVoltCar · October 2018

Really doubt it-- but consistency will keep it alive.

Everstorm · October 2018

After playing Everquest for a decade I'm quit satisfied with how ESO looks. Also remember that not everyone can buy a new top of the line PC every two years.

ScardyFox · October 2018

Does it need it? Yes, desperately... what antiquated Direct X they still got going on?

However, would they destroy what little wisp of glue that hold this game together in the attempt? Emphatically yes - in their ham-fisted attempt they would implode the game into (slight pun intended) oblivion.

Best leave sleeping dogs lie. Or in this case comatose, festering, seizure prone dog.

Bevik · October 2018

Pretty sure they won't do it. Don't have enough staff and the game engine is pretty limited.

LovesCoffee · October 2018

it's nice idea, but im not sure if they will be able to do it, simply because limited resources on consoles, same reason why they can't increase items for housing

Wizhunter · October 2018

I used to play world of tanks and they recently upgraded their graphics engine and the results were awesome, like playing a new game. I don't think ESO needs to do that atm but maybe in a few years .

Wiz

maboleth · October 2018

I'm all for amazing graphics. I'm playing on highest possible settings for all elements.
But in my opinion, people are (like always) over exaggerating the state of base-game graphics. It looks amazing. And compared to other MMOs I've seen, ESO is far beyond anything available.
Yes, newer zones have even more detail, but Base game is aging more than fine. Some dungeons are absolutely brilliant and breathtaking even after 4 years. Same for Coldharbour and all big cities and zones. So rich and full of detail. And no, I'm not seeing sudden low to high advancement in graphics when approaching DLC zones. It all blends nicely.

Davor · October 2018

Thorvarg wrote: »

I think the graphics are still nice and don't need a overhaul.

As I said I like the graphics now and don't need a change but in a few years time.

Elsonso · October 2018

No. (Did they fix Davon's Watch walls, anyone?) I doubt it is on their radar.

Gatviper · October 2018

Seeing how big the game has become in size (70.9GB on my HD), imagine all the huge work those files, file dependancies, graphics, appearance, even skills etc. would require to be done to actually work in the new engine... I seriously doubt they would undertake that kind of venture when they barely (can) do anything to reduce the lag ingame, and so many bugs sometimes go unfixed for years.
Not how companies behind MMORPG work, they want to receive money, not to give them out for player's pleasure. Besides, the game is still not looking any bad, even if bit dated.

Raraaku · October 2018

If graphics are a big thing, than you're going to be left wanting every 6-12 months. I think ESO graphics are in the upper tier of MMOs. Tweaks always will happen to try and smooth out and polish existing textures/models within the game; however, I wouldn't hold my breath for a total graphics overhaul anytime soon (if ever). Dependent upon the limitations of the game engine they are using, a major graphics rework might be beyond the scope of said engine. Also, I believe there's a ridiculous amount of items and NPCs in the game; any graphic changes could lead to unintended clipping/missing textures/messed up shaders from anywhere to a single to thousands of NPCs.

It would probably be cheaper just building an entirely new ESO in terms of cost and labor if they wanted to do anything major.

Lake · October 2018

They already have! Compare the latest DLC lands to the ones that came on launch.

But anyway, due to the current generation of PS4 / XB being so weak - no way.

On consoles, they can barely run the existing game with the gimped CPU and GPU (even at a locked & meager 30 FPS).

FleetwoodSmack · October 2018

Mayrael wrote: »

God forbid. Last time they have changed lighting in Cyrodiil it caused massive FPS drops and since then it never got fixed.

And then they killed all the deer in Cyrodiil because "they were the issue". Or so I've been told.

Skullstachio · October 2018

Turelus wrote: »

I think after some years we might see something, although honestly most of the newer zones are pretty amazing. I normally only notice the lower quality when going to the older launch zones.

As I said in another thread a month 1/2 ago, they should introduce a graphic slider in the in-game menus so as to allow players to control how much quality they want.

Primarily to be able to choose between Either Higher Graphics (at the cost of a drop in FPS) or Higher FPS Performance (At the cost of lower quality.) would allow end-game players and PVP’ers to perform at their best with low quality, high performance and the like, while allowing Role-players and other such immersive people to interact with the world of ESO without having to worry too much about performance, or even allow the gaming community to sit it between the two like a balanced setting which allows about average quality while also putting in average FPS performance for most general content. It isn’t gonna hurt to put in a graphics/performance slider in the game.

Aesthier · October 2018

Overhaul as opposed to a patch? Probably not without remaking the game into ESO II.