PC/MAC: Do you play through Steam or the standalone launcher?

AlienatedGoat · December 2018

Sylvermynx wrote: »

AlienatedGoat wrote: »

Sylvermynx wrote: »

I started out with steam as a friend said that was the way to go. I had so many issues logging in/staying logged in though, I finally after about a month bought the game from ZOS on sale and got with CS to help me figure out how to get the standalone launcher to work (had to download new one it turned out).

I really dislike steam; always have. I'll never use it for anything other than Skyrim again.

And I too use the ZOS launcher only for updating the game.

Slightly offtopic, but would you use the Bethesda.net launcher if ESO/Skyrim/etc were on there?

I ask because I feel it in my bones that it could happen. The Epic Games Store is probably going to make the smaller launchers tighten their grips on their respective IPs.

Absolutely, yes. Um. What's "the Epic Games Store"?

It's a new game store/launcher from Epic. It just released.

They're vying to become the new Valve, and they have enough clout in the industry that they could put up a serious fight.

I'm not sure if I would use the Bethesda launcher myself. I kind of feel there are so many launchers, it's a hassle to deal with them. Especially when they all want to auto start when I boot up the PC lol, like 7 different windows.

Sylvermynx · December 2018

AlienatedGoat wrote: »

Sylvermynx wrote: »

AlienatedGoat wrote: »

Sylvermynx wrote: »

I started out with steam as a friend said that was the way to go. I had so many issues logging in/staying logged in though, I finally after about a month bought the game from ZOS on sale and got with CS to help me figure out how to get the standalone launcher to work (had to download new one it turned out).

I really dislike steam; always have. I'll never use it for anything other than Skyrim again.

And I too use the ZOS launcher only for updating the game.

Slightly offtopic, but would you use the Bethesda.net launcher if ESO/Skyrim/etc were on there?

I ask because I feel it in my bones that it could happen. The Epic Games Store is probably going to make the smaller launchers tighten their grips on their respective IPs.

Absolutely, yes. Um. What's "the Epic Games Store"?

It's a new game store/launcher from Epic. It just released.

They're vying to become the new Valve, and they have enough clout in the industry that they could put up a serious fight.

I'm not sure if I would use the Bethesda launcher myself. I kind of feel there are so many launchers, it's a hassle to deal with them. Especially when they all want to auto start when I boot up the PC lol, like 7 different windows.

Um. I'm not going to use anything like that - I don't even like anything from Epic. I really only play TES and ESO games now. I would use ZOS's launcher if I could put all my TES games on it, as well as ESO - but if that's not going to happen, then I'll just do as I do now, and use the launcher only for updates. *shrug* It's only another icon on my quick-launch bar....

wenchmore420b14_ESO · December 2018

Enemy-of-Coldharbour wrote: »

Steam is evil.

+1^^^^^

fgoron2000 · December 2018

and another survey without an Other option....

I do neither, I run the executable directly

AlienatedGoat · December 2018

fgoron2000 wrote: »

and another survey without an Other option....

I do neither, I run the executable directly

I'm only looking to get a ratio of Steam to regular PC, to get a decently accurate picture of peak player population on the platform.

russelmmendoza · December 2018

Why ask?
You have something against steam players?

Bethesda/Zenimax or who ever owns the games The Elders Scrolls online thinks my country dont exist. That or they havent found out/heard about our country yet.

AlienatedGoat · December 2018

russelmmendoza wrote: »

Why ask?
You have something against steam players?

Bethesda/Zenimax or who ever owns the games The Elders Scrolls online thinks my country dont exist. That or they havent found out/heard about our country yet.

Did you read the OP? It's all explained there.

Kimba_Do · December 2018

I originally purchased the game from the web site, not from Steam. While my account is accessible via Steam's launcher, I usually use the Bethesda launcher. This was mainly because of the recurring connection issues with the Steam launcher, and I don't see changing it. I use TTC, and set the original launcher as the default. Can't even remember the last time I used the Steam launcher.

Lyserus · December 2018

Use steam because I didn't know better

If given the chance I'm so gonna drop steam

feyii · December 2018

I use the original launcher, because I don't like having to run a third party program to play a game (and keep that programm running all the time).
So for me in general it is - I use steam only when I don't have any alternative. Luckily for me, ESO didn't launch on steam first (and only), like many other games do.

daemonios · December 2018

Neither. I have a shortcut to ESO64.exe and only use the ZOS launcher to update the game.

Ryath_Waylander · December 2018

I use steam normally but I didn't know it could be bought outside of steam when I got it in the first place. I subsequently bought a second, non-steam copy to use whenever they launch new DLC or large updates, which inevitably kill the steam logins for a day or two.

Turelus · December 2018

Stand alone.

Steam wasn't an option when I got the game at launch and TBH I prefer to play my MMO games detached from Steam when possible to avoid the issues a extra party getting involved brings.

Ramalamafizzfaj · December 2018

You cannot access the standalone launcher without launching steam first. Ergo, you ALWAYS open it through the steam launcher

Rake · December 2018

Play and steam in same sentence.

Ramalamafizzfaj · December 2018

Rake wrote: »

Play and steam in same sentence.

Come on man. Steam only has problems when theres an update, we still get 90-95% the same play time. Plus subscribtion and crowns are cheaper on steam

AlienatedGoat · December 2018

Thanks for all the responses so far

I think we're getting pretty close to a workable sample size.

max_only · December 2018

I was grandfathered in so I could use either the .exe or steam application if I wanted. When i use the default shortcut it opens up both the ESO launcher and Steam in the background. I prefer it because so many of my screenshots are already organized that way, but when there are Steam issues I just use the exe.

theskymoves · December 2018

I don't use Steam at all. In fact, I've never played Skyrim because it requires Steam.

anitajoneb17_ESO · December 2018

I bought the game through Steam because it had a nice discount at the time, but I only ever played through the original launcher - even directly the executable.
Reason is simple : using the Steam launcher will automatically show me as "online" on Steam and I don't want to be disturbed while playing ESO :-)
Besides, both the game's launcher as well as Steam are resource hogs, thus it's best to avoid both. They add nothing to the game's experience.

Mudcrabber · December 2018

I open the standalone launcher, minion, and TTC at once, then after they finish checking for updates I close the launcher and minion and run eso64.exe directly.

Odnoc · December 2018

Play through standalone launcher,l. Personally I think it’s dumb to use a third party to play games when you can use the first party.

idk · December 2018

I feel for those who went through steam. Never understood why anyone ties their game to a third party unnecessarily.

AlienatedGoat · December 2018

idk wrote: »

I feel for those who went through steam. Never understood why anyone ties their game to a third party unnecessarily.

Yeah, I think MMOs in particular should be standalone. Most modern ones have their own server and latency issues, adding a second layer of servers or DRM is just potentially doubling your problems.

AlienatedGoat · December 2018

Very close to 200 responses.

wolf486 · December 2018

850 hours on Steam with little to no issue, however recently re-purchased the game through ESO's website and am now using the stand alone launcher

AlienatedGoat · December 2018

wolf486 wrote: »

850 hours on Steam with little to no issue, however recently re-purchased the game through ESO's website and am now using the stand alone launcher

Interesting. I had done the vice versa, started on the standalone, about 3000-4000 hours, switched to Steam shortly after it was put on there (much regret) and about 4000 hours on there, now I'm back to the standalone with another 3000 hours or so.

kringled_1 · December 2018

I purchased on Steam in 2015. The vast majority of the time using the steam launcher works well enough and is more convenient for me. That being said, the steam authentication failures in the early summer drove me nuts and I ended up buying an extra key so I can just go to the executable directly if need be. In hindsight, I might not have repeated the purchase through steam.

Loves_guars · December 2018

I originally bought through ZoS page at launch.. then bought the Steam version and linked my account. Now I can use the launcher without Steam, but I can buy stuff via Steam.

Alinhbo_Tyaka · December 2018

I've never used Steam for anything. I didn't like their EUL and can't see why you would want more software between you and the real product/game. I currently invoke the ESO exe directly unless I need to update then I use the launcher which brings to another gripe. Why can't ZOS like every other game out there give me an option to exit the launcher after the game is loaded? All it takes is the appropriate exit or return statement for the language being used.