Total Game DOWNLOAD... Will We Get Prior Notification?

IAmBones · January 2020

I know in the near future, we will be required to re-download the game. Needless to say, since I go through Steam, this is an event that needs some PLANNING.

Will we get prior notification of when we will be able to do the download? Or will this just be part of the patch and the download will just begin? It would be nice if we has a "heads up" when this does occur.

Unseelie · January 2020

I would predict multiple notifications, because from what I understand you will want to uninstall the previous installation and then install the new downloader.

Elsonso · January 2020

We wont know the time of day until it starts, but we will know what day.

No need to uninstall first, unless you lack the disk space to download the update.

Dusk_Coven · January 2020

How much warning did we get for Midyear Mayhem? Hopefully we'll get a bit more warning than that before they flip the switch to the new version you have to download...

Taleof2Cities · January 2020

Since it literally affects every player, I’m sure ZOS will let us know in advance through the usual communication mediums.

nafensoriel · January 2020

You were informed. They informed you on the roadmap that you would eventually have to download the entire client again. We were told that is update 25.

/edit Just to add additional clarification the PTS usually lasts 4-5 weeks. One week has elapsed. The patch lands after the PTS cycle concludes.

barney2525 · January 2020

Elsonso wrote: »

We wont know the time of day until it starts, but we will know what day.

No need to uninstall first.

They stated very clearly in the stream we All WILL need to uninstall first

Sylvermynx · January 2020

Someone posted that when they downloaded the PTS (which IS the update we will all be eventually downloading for the entire game), it was a normal patch overwrite and cleanup with no uninstall. Couldn't find the thread just now when I went looking - some nights my search-fu just isn't very good I guess. Also said the download was around 56 GB.

Ah. Found it. Should have searched on 56 GB to begin with!

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/6559047#Comment_6559047

virtus753 · January 2020

But (based on the PTS) it only overwrites the old install once you have completely downloaded the new install. So if you don’t have more than enough room for that second download alongside your first, you’ll need to delete the old files to get the download to start.

Elsonso · January 2020

Yes, there is only a need to uninstall if you do not have the space to download the update, so I correct my statement.

Sylvermynx · January 2020

Ah, right. It generally doesn't occur to me that people haven't got gobs of space any more; storage is pretty cheap. Well, anyway, thanks for providing the "rest of the story" guys!

Elsonso · January 2020

Sylvermynx wrote: »

Ah, right. It generally doesn't occur to me that people haven't got gobs of space any more; storage is pretty cheap. Well, anyway, thanks for providing the "rest of the story" guys!

Might be an issue for some console players. I know my console has space to download it, but that is me.

Sylvermynx · January 2020

I've got so much space now it's almost disgusting. Thing is.... I keep managing to fill it. I'm in process of ordering a new printer - and while I'm there, I'm buying another 3 TB HDD, plus a 1 TB SSD to replace the 500 GB SSD where windows lives, which will then be repurposed to replace one of my smaller storage HDDs.

So yeah, I don't have to worry about uninstall etc. I feel sad for those who do though!

RefLiberty · January 2020

barney2525 wrote: »

Elsonso wrote: »

We wont know the time of day until it starts, but we will know what day.

No need to uninstall first.

They stated very clearly in the stream we All WILL need to uninstall first

That is false, no need to uninstall anything manually. The game client will download a patch (a temp image) and overwrite current install.

Unseelie · January 2020

I learned long ago, if you have the option uninstall and do a fresh reinstall especially if it is a different build

RefLiberty · January 2020

Unseelie wrote: »

I learned long ago, if you have the option uninstall and do a fresh reinstall especially if it is a different build

Clean install is always the best option, but if the game is not keeping the config files (as game settings, key mapping and such) in a different location (for example my documents) than the actual install folder, I will not bother.

I assume the patch will actually be game image that will overwrite/delete what needs to be done, but it will keep local configs.
At last I hope so.

The best solution would be if the account settings are stored serve side, like EA is doing with their Origin, so I can install my BFV on any machine and my custom settings will synchronize, but I'm not sure how it is with Eso client.

Sylvermynx · January 2020

I'm just going to copy the entire live folder to a couple other locations, and hope copying it back will fix any problems that crop up.

Actually, after looking at my particular setup.... I *think* I might need to uninstall after all. My original install was steam. I never could get logged in through steam so I bought the game again on sale so I could use the "login with eso64.exe" shortcut (though of course I still have to use the launcher for updates - but it's the "real" eso launcher, not the steam one).

But since the game was already installed in the steam folder, I didn't want to redownload the entire thing (not to mention not having the bandwidth to do so) so the game is still accessing the steam library. I think I might want that to go away.... so maybe I'd better plan to uninstall so a redownload will give me a "plain ESO" install.

I think I can actually afford the redownload.... because husband's being kind to me for Valentine's Day maybe? Anyway, I can buy the extra bw I'll need and he's okay with up to $150 US for the extra. Really painful to not have "real" broadband.... probably going to take me 3 to 4 days to download....

/oldladygrumble

Kiralyn2000 · January 2020

Sylvermynx wrote: »

I've got so much space now it's almost disgusting. Thing is.... I keep managing to fill it. I'm in process of ordering a new printer - and while I'm there, I'm buying another 3 TB HDD, plus a 1 TB SSD to replace the 500 GB SSD where windows lives, which will then be repurposed to replace one of my smaller storage HDDs.

So yeah, I don't have to worry about uninstall etc. I feel sad for those who do though!

Yeah, I've got a single 1TB HDD in my current PC. I hover at around ~82% full.

(And when I was thinking of building a new computer, I'd been aiming for a 500GB SSD & 2TB HDD. Oh, the luxury!

)

idk · January 2020

Taleof2Cities wrote: »

Since it literally affects every player, I’m sure ZOS will let us know in advance through the usual communication mediums.

And we tend to get a notice ahead of time with major updates. So yes. Players need to pay attention. It also helps to know the PTS is usually testing for 5 weeks then the update goes live. We are in the second week, irrc.

Sylvermynx · January 2020

Kiralyn2000 wrote: »

Sylvermynx wrote: »

I've got so much space now it's almost disgusting. Thing is.... I keep managing to fill it. I'm in process of ordering a new printer - and while I'm there, I'm buying another 3 TB HDD, plus a 1 TB SSD to replace the 500 GB SSD where windows lives, which will then be repurposed to replace one of my smaller storage HDDs.

So yeah, I don't have to worry about uninstall etc. I feel sad for those who do though!

Yeah, I've got a single 1TB HDD in my current PC. I hover at around ~82% full.

(And when I was thinking of building a new computer, I'd been aiming for a 500GB SSD & 2TB HDD. Oh, the luxury! )

It's actually cringe-worthy that I can fill up 7 TB of space.... Oh, and then there's my external backups. A 3TB, and several smaller external drives (I spread them around - eh, I'm paranoid, so there's one in the safe deposit - which is updated once a month; and one in the truck, which is likely a couple months old; and one in a friend's safe, which is updated every couple of months.

I back up my entire computer religiously. My entire LIFE is on this machine.... and there's client info too, so that has to be handled carefully as to backups as well.

Um. And then.... I also copy to my laptop when the backups complete. So yeah....

Oh. Not to mention the two sets of old HDDs (from my previous two machines) that have a lot of info on them that I might need someday. And if not, well, daughter can have them shredded after I die.

SydneyGrey · January 2020

I hope we get a heads-up.
The PTS patch went on for so long on my computer that I missed out on the daily reward for that day completely. Not the worst thing in the world, I know, but it would still be *nice* to know exactly when that patch will happen so I can get the daily beforehand.

Stovahkiin · January 2020

I’ve been away from the game for quite some time, so I’m out of the loop. Why will this update require everyone to do a complete reinstall? This is a huge inconvenience for people with data caps.

virtus753 · January 2020

Stovahkiin wrote: »

I’ve been away from the game for quite some time, so I’m out of the loop. Why will this update require everyone to do a complete reinstall? This is a huge inconvenience for people with data caps.

They are removing some older unused assets, recompressing assets with a new and more efficient format, and reorganizing the way patches are handled. The overall size of the game will be smaller (by about 15Gb on PC and almost 30 on console), and patches for console will be smaller going forward.

This is one part of their larger performance improvement roadmap: https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/56681

FierceSam · January 2020

I am less worried about notification (although more advance notification would be good and welcome) than I am about data transfer rates.

If ZOS is sensible, they will have arranged for a massive, very scaled set up that allows for high data rates, enabling players to download the game fast. At their usual speed it took a day to download the PTS, and even the that was with a tiny minority of the playerbase doing this.

Get it right and players will feel that ZOS is a capable technical company. Mess it up and they’ll feel like it’s second class, couldn’t care less service once again.

Hallothiel · January 2020

There will need to be clear guidance for consoles, as none of what has been said here is that relevant to them. Especially as space can be a major issue if one doesnt have an external drive.
For that reason, consoles may need to delete beforehand.

I am just hoping that the instructions will be in good time and very clear.

@ZOS_GinaBruno & @ZOS_JessicaFolsom
Please take note

redlink1979 · January 2020

ZOS always announces the date in which the new patches go live.
Even if you don't get a notification as you wish, when you try to launch the game it will be asked to you to re-install it.

richo262 · January 2020

barney2525 wrote: »

Elsonso wrote: »

We wont know the time of day until it starts, but we will know what day.

No need to uninstall first.

They stated very clearly in the stream we All WILL need to uninstall first

I didn't hear that, but if they did say that, you can assume they mis-spoke.

What will likely happen is it will wipe the bulk of your client, then redownload. It probably won't wipe the voice over file, but who knows, there might be a lot of duplicate assets in that too.

This requirement to manually uninstall / re install is not possible on console. The most they can do is manually wipe their install directory, which is what the launcher on all platforms will be doing.

If there is a requirement to uninstall prior to re installing, ZOS is smart enough to have the launcher do that automatically, unless ZOS likes having a torrent of support tickets send their way.

redlink1979 · January 2020

Hallothiel wrote: »

There will need to be clear guidance for consoles, as none of what has been said here is that relevant to them. Especially as space can be a major issue if one doesnt have an external drive.
For that reason, consoles may need to delete beforehand.

I am just hoping that the instructions will be in good time and very clear.

@ZOS_GinaBruno & @ZOS_JessicaFolsom
Please take note

Space issue just depends on how you manage your HD. It applies for every player, regardless of the platform.

And intructions? Why? Players just need to re-download the game as it as happen in all the previous big updates... Nothing new here, really...

ZOS MO it has been always the same: 5 cycles (weeks) of PTS, 2 weeks later goes live on pc/mac n 2 weeks later than that goes live on consoles.

Besides that, it will be widely advertised on their social media.