Maintenance for the week of February 23:
· [COMPLETE] NA megaservers for maintenance – February 23, 4:00AM EST (9:00 UTC) - 12:00PM EST (17:00 UTC)
· [COMPLETE] EU megaservers for maintenance – February 23, 9:00 UTC (4:00AM EST) - 17:00 UTC (12:00PM EST)
· [COMPLETE] ESO Store and Account System for maintenance – February 23, 4:00AM EST (9:00 UTC) - 12:00PM EST (17:00 UTC)

Is an end to the subscription conceivable?

Khatou
Khatou
✭✭✭✭
These days we're overflowing with various subscriptions for everything, so I'm wondering, wouldn't it be possible for MMORPGs these days, like ESO, for example, to stop this type of payment?

Because if we look closely we have paid extensions, paid DLCs and a regularly renewed shop in addition to a crown box, wouldn't that be enough honestly?

For example there is Guild Wars that already uses this type of practice and it has no bar to take full advantage of it while yet a game far from being as well known or even marketing level and yet it works I think very well for them, an end to this practice would be a real relief for MMORPG players and if it happens could give a greater positive image to Elder Scrolls Online and especially given the performance of servers I do not think this idea is as excessive as that.

So, yes it could lose the monthly wreaths, but tell you this, if the monthly subscription is removed it would allow a monthly wreath purchase anyway and other ideas could be possible with the daily connection gifts at the end of me, although not the most important ones in my opinion, or other ideas to add wreaths in the purchase of extensions.
Edited by Khatou on April 11, 2020 4:23PM
  • Taleof2Cities
    Taleof2Cities
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    *** GRABS POPCORN ***
  • Lysette
    Lysette
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    i personally rather pay for a subscription than to buy everything separately. And as far as ESO+ goes, the perks and crowns coming with it are not really an extra payment, 1650 crowns per months coming with the subscription are IMO better than having to buy crowns and buy all the DLCs separately. ESO+ isn't expensive for what it offers as well.
  • DaveMoeDee
    DaveMoeDee
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭
    What is a monthly wreath?

    Your initial premise seems false. You said, "Nowadays we're running out of various subscriptions for everything." The opposite is happening. Everything is adding subscription. What are you basing your claim on?
  • Reverb
    Reverb
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    It is very unlikely that zeni will end the ESO subscription. It’s their most reliable revenue stream, and exists in addition to The chapter and crown purchases. Why would any viable game studio willingly cut off a highly adopted financial model?
    Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. ~Friedrich Nietzsche
  • Khatou
    Khatou
    ✭✭✭✭
    DaveMoeDee wrote: »
    What is a monthly wreath?

    Your initial premise seems false. You said, "Nowadays we're running out of various subscriptions for everything." The opposite is happening. Everything is adding subscription. What are you basing your claim on?

    Just the translation didn't take into account the message "I wanted to say "let's crumble" but I changed otherwise ^^
  • SmukkeHeks
    SmukkeHeks
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    If the consumers just could recognize the micro transactions abomination for what it is. They don’t need that kind of structure to keep players happy(= spending money).

    If everything in crown store was free, or crowns somehow were tied to gameplay - if they insisted on keeping the exchange, crowns for something, I would even be willingly to pay a somewhat higher subscription price.

    I don’t see the subscriptions disappear. Not at all if we just stopped joining the monetizing. It would even force creators to focus on the quality, rather than quantity
  • CleymenZero
    CleymenZero
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    I truly wonder, not with prejudice but with intellectual curiosity, what is the background of people who ask questions like this.

    If there is to be judgement, it'll be AFTER knowing where you're coming from.

    But yeah, asking this is like asking why does Apple price their phones at 5-8 times manufacturing cost? Making 100% profit should be enough.

    Why do coffee shops sell coffee at 4$ a cup when it costs them 15c to make?

    Why do you pay a game 60$ when development cost was 40 million dollars and they already sold 5 million copies (300 millions in sales NOT profits)? They made their money over and over again.

    Why are drugs so expensive when it cost them on average a billion to put to market but they already made 12 billion dollars with this drug alone last year?

    While many reasons will be the same for these scenarios, there are many reasons that will vary across different industries but fundamentally, in a capitalist system, you don't stop when it's enough, you stop when you can't sell at that price anymore.

    If people continue to subscribe to this financial model, no company will stop charging for a subscription model.

    And considering that a company may have future investments to make for the development and support of this and other games, how do you know what is enough?

    I'm really curious to see your answer.
  • Tandor
    Tandor
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    Khatou wrote: »
    These days we're overflowing with various subscriptions for everything, so I'm wondering, wouldn't it be possible for MMORPGs these days, like ESO, for example, to stop this type of payment?

    Because if we look closely we have paid extensions, paid DLCs and a regularly renewed shop in addition to a crown box, wouldn't that be enough honestly?

    For example there is Guild Wars that already uses this type of practice and it has no bar to take full advantage of it while yet a game far from being as well known or even marketing level and yet it works I think very well for them, an end to this practice would be a real relief for MMORPG players and if it happens could give a greater positive image to Elder Scrolls Online and especially given the performance of servers I do not think this idea is as excessive as that.

    So, yes it could lose the monthly wreaths, but tell you this, if the monthly subscription is removed it would allow a monthly wreath purchase anyway and other ideas could be possible with the daily connection gifts at the end of me, although not the most important ones in my opinion, or other ideas to add wreaths in the purchase of extensions.

    Your concluding paragraph highlights frankly why I haven't got a clue what you're on about, it makes no sense whatsoever. Perfectly understandable if English isn't your first language, but still incomprehensible I'm afraid.

    Most games survive these days by offering choice of business model, and subscriptions are a critical part of that choice. They represent excellent value for money in the case of ESO so far as I'm concerned, and I say that with two accounts on six-monthly subscriptions. I'd hate to lose that part of the business model, and so too I imagine would ZOS as every other form of payment is casual and unpredictable which no company likes. Subscriptions give them a solid revenue base.
  • DaveMoeDee
    DaveMoeDee
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭
    Khatou wrote: »
    DaveMoeDee wrote: »
    What is a monthly wreath?

    Your initial premise seems false. You said, "Nowadays we're running out of various subscriptions for everything." The opposite is happening. Everything is adding subscription. What are you basing your claim on?

    Just the translation didn't take into account the message "I wanted to say "let's crumble" but I changed otherwise ^^

    Why would they get rid of a subscription when that holy grail of revenue these days? Why would they give up on recurring revenue? The fact that others do it is more a reason to do it than a reason to stop.

    I don't see how this is anything more than a "I don't want to pay so much" thread.
    Edited by DaveMoeDee on April 11, 2020 4:53PM
  • Jakx
    Jakx
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    Pretty confused, why does it matter? You literally don't need to subscribe to ESO PLUS to still play this game. So don't subscribe and all is well?

    If this was OG ESO or WoW.. yea you can complain about a subscription because its actually required to login. Feels like people make threads just to make threads.
    Joined September 2013
  • Ozium
    Ozium
    ✭✭✭
    nope, monthly income streams keeps the hamsters & dev's fed
  • tmbrinks
    tmbrinks
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    Gladly pay my ~$200 a year (12 month ESO+ + $60 for chapter) a year.

    Dirt cheap for the entertainment value I get out of it.
    The Unshattered - Tenacious Dreamer - Hurricane Herald - Xalvakka's Scourge - Godslayer - Dawnbringer - Gryphon Heart - Tick Tock Tormenter - Immortal Redeemer - Dro-m'Athra Destroyer
    The Unchained - The Brilliant - Moth Trusted - The Just - Oathsworn - Bedlam's Disciple - Temporal Tempest - Curator's Champion - Fist of Tava - Invader's Bane - Land, Air, and Sea Supremacy - Zero Regrets - Battlespire's Best - Bastion Breaker - Ardent Bibliophile - Subterranean Smasher - Bane of Thorns - True Genius - In Defiance of Death - No Rest for the Wicked - Nature's Wrath - Undying Endurance - Relentless Raider - Depths Defier - Apex Predator - Pure Lunacy - Mountain God - Leave No Bone Unbroken - CoS/RoM/BF/FH Challenger
    71,140 achievement points
  • rpa
    rpa
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭
    I'd prefer to sub to play game with sub to play economy and performance. Too bad ESO offers freemiun mobile economy and f2p performance for sub.
  • SeaGtGruff
    SeaGtGruff
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    Why do coffee shops sell coffee at 4$ a cup when it costs them 15c to make?

    Because it costs them a lot more than $0.15 to make, once they factor in the cost of paying an employee to make the cup of coffee, the initial cost of training that employee in how to make the cup of coffee, the cost of paying the electric company and water company and other utility companies, the cost of paying for the internet connection and Wi-Fi equipment that lets their customers enjoy free Wi-Fi while they drink their coffee, the cost of purchasing and maintaining the coffee-making equipment, the cost of purchasing the chairs and tables, the cost of building the coffee shop, the cost of purchasing or renting the plot on which the coffee shop stands, the cost of paying the city and county and state and nation any taxes owed, and of course the cost of paying the company's owners and executives and secretaries and advertisers and security guards, and so on.
    I've fought mudcrabs more fearsome than me!
  • Royaji
    Royaji
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would much rather play a sub-only MMO than a freemium one. And no, there is no such thing as B2P MMOs, all of those are just freemium ones with initial cost.
  • Mix
    Mix
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    I may be misinterpreting the OP, but it does seem that the frustration is caused by "too many subscriptions to manage".

    For ESO, I've been subbed since launch and no regrets. There are subscription things though that I don't want to be subbed to constantly and was actually thinking about this the other day. I only sub to Netflix for one month at a time (I run out of stuff to watch) and it would be nice to have an option to pay for a month without the renewing subscription. If you play ESO on and off then maybe adding a one-time purchase of a month of ESO+ rather than sub for a month, then cancel, would be less frustrating for those players? (and maybe simpler for those who forget they are subbed to things...)

    ESO+ is great value and if I had to purchase everything I get with it separately I probably wouldn't. I also don't think an unlimited Craft Bag would exist without a sub, instead there would be a Craft Bag we could pay to expand with crowns after purchasing a base one. The game needs reliable income.

    With a subscription model we get to "try" out the DLCs without paying which means if we don't care for a particular DLC (*cough* double dungeon ones) we don't have to pay to unlock it, find out we dislike it and suffer buyer's remorse.

    Some of us subscribers don't buy additional crowns. I use the crowns I get from subbing but I very rarely buy any separately (just don't have the budget available) so the crown store wouldn't make much money off of me on a regular basis like the subscription does.
  • worrallj
    worrallj
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    Lysette wrote: »
    i personally rather pay for a subscription than to buy everything separately. And as far as ESO+ goes, the perks and crowns coming with it are not really an extra payment, 1650 crowns per months coming with the subscription are IMO better than having to buy crowns and buy all the DLCs separately. ESO+ isn't expensive for what it offers as well.

    Exactly. ESO and other RPGs are dramatically diminished by cash shops. Makes them feel way more like a cheesy Vegas slot machine trying to get at your wallet than a triple A mmo that you've already bought and paid for.
  • Artanisul
    Artanisul
    ✭✭✭✭
    To be blunt, many people wouldnt be here if there was no sub. Many more would be here if there was no sub as well....they just would be an ever changing sea of people with zero invested in the game and would greatly increase the amount of tension we have playing.

    When you pay for something you tend to care about it. Free is treated as free....
  • svartorn
    svartorn
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nope.

    In fact, you should look forward to the subscription model creeping into more areas of your life. This is the future of capitalism.
  • CleymenZero
    CleymenZero
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    SeaGtGruff wrote: »
    Why do coffee shops sell coffee at 4$ a cup when it costs them 15c to make?

    Because it costs them a lot more than $0.15 to make, once they factor in the cost of paying an employee to make the cup of coffee, the initial cost of training that employee in how to make the cup of coffee, the cost of paying the electric company and water company and other utility companies, the cost of paying for the internet connection and Wi-Fi equipment that lets their customers enjoy free Wi-Fi while they drink their coffee, the cost of purchasing and maintaining the coffee-making equipment, the cost of purchasing the chairs and tables, the cost of building the coffee shop, the cost of purchasing or renting the plot on which the coffee shop stands, the cost of paying the city and county and state and nation any taxes owed, and of course the cost of paying the company's owners and executives and secretaries and advertisers and security guards, and so on.

    Lol... are you serious? I LITERALLY wrote afterward that the reasons why varied based on the industry. If you had the inescapable need to explain it fine by me but [snip] to assume I'm not aware of this when I LITERALLY posted that there were many reasons why (indicating I had no intention to get into the why's).

    I spoke of Apple's manufacturing cost and list prices but did not elaborate on development cost and marketing. Not defending them, just saying there's more than meets the eye. Why don't you write me a thesis on that too?

    But yes, I've heard people say that before and they clearly aren't aware of the 100s of things an owner has to pay before that 4$ can actually generate a profit.

    [edited for baiting]
    Edited by ZOS_Lunar on April 11, 2020 7:40PM
  • kargen27
    kargen27
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    SeaGtGruff wrote: »
    Why do coffee shops sell coffee at 4$ a cup when it costs them 15c to make?

    Because it costs them a lot more than $0.15 to make, once they factor in the cost of paying an employee to make the cup of coffee, the initial cost of training that employee in how to make the cup of coffee, the cost of paying the electric company and water company and other utility companies, the cost of paying for the internet connection and Wi-Fi equipment that lets their customers enjoy free Wi-Fi while they drink their coffee, the cost of purchasing and maintaining the coffee-making equipment, the cost of purchasing the chairs and tables, the cost of building the coffee shop, the cost of purchasing or renting the plot on which the coffee shop stands, the cost of paying the city and county and state and nation any taxes owed, and of course the cost of paying the company's owners and executives and secretaries and advertisers and security guards, and so on.

    The point still stands. There is a large mark-up on goods.

    A better example may be why does a coffee shop sell breakfast wraps when they are making so much just selling coffee. Or why does a coffee shop offer promotions and gift cards?
    and then the parrot said, "must be the water mines green too."
  • ZOS_Lunar
    ZOS_Lunar
    admin
    Hi there! We've edited some posts in this thread due to baiting.

    It’s okay and very normal to disagree with others, and even to debate, but provoking conflict, baiting, inciting, mocking, etc. is never acceptable in the official The Elder Scrolls Online community.
    The Elder Scrolls Online - ZeniMax Online Studios
    Forum Rules | Code of Conduct | Terms of Service | Home Page | Help Site
    Staff Post
  • Wifeaggro13
    Wifeaggro13
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    Khatou wrote: »
    These days we're overflowing with various subscriptions for everything, so I'm wondering, wouldn't it be possible for MMORPGs these days, like ESO, for example, to stop this type of payment?

    Because if we look closely we have paid extensions, paid DLCs and a regularly renewed shop in addition to a crown box, wouldn't that be enough honestly?

    For example there is Guild Wars that already uses this type of practice and it has no bar to take full advantage of it while yet a game far from being as well known or even marketing level and yet it works I think very well for them, an end to this practice would be a real relief for MMORPG players and if it happens could give a greater positive image to Elder Scrolls Online and especially given the performance of servers I do not think this idea is as excessive as that.

    So, yes it could lose the monthly wreaths, but tell you this, if the monthly subscription is removed it would allow a monthly wreath purchase anyway and other ideas could be possible with the daily connection gifts at the end of me, although not the most important ones in my opinion, or other ideas to add wreaths in the purchase of extensions.

    they are making money of a basic feature like a crafting inventory .? why would they stop. the game is not playable with out it if you intend to craft in any way shape or form.
  • Sylvermynx
    Sylvermynx
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    Lysette wrote: »
    i personally rather pay for a subscription than to buy everything separately. And as far as ESO+ goes, the perks and crowns coming with it are not really an extra payment, 1650 crowns per months coming with the subscription are IMO better than having to buy crowns and buy all the DLCs separately. ESO+ isn't expensive for what it offers as well.

    This. Cheapest entertainment in the US....
  • SeaGtGruff
    SeaGtGruff
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    SeaGtGruff wrote: »
    Why do coffee shops sell coffee at 4$ a cup when it costs them 15c to make?

    Because it costs them a lot more than $0.15 to make, once they factor in the cost of paying an employee to make the cup of coffee, the initial cost of training that employee in how to make the cup of coffee, the cost of paying the electric company and water company and other utility companies, the cost of paying for the internet connection and Wi-Fi equipment that lets their customers enjoy free Wi-Fi while they drink their coffee, the cost of purchasing and maintaining the coffee-making equipment, the cost of purchasing the chairs and tables, the cost of building the coffee shop, the cost of purchasing or renting the plot on which the coffee shop stands, the cost of paying the city and county and state and nation any taxes owed, and of course the cost of paying the company's owners and executives and secretaries and advertisers and security guards, and so on.

    Lol... are you serious? I LITERALLY wrote afterward that the reasons why varied based on the industry. If you had the inescapable need to explain it fine by me but [snip] to assume I'm not aware of this when I LITERALLY posted that there were many reasons why (indicating I had no intention to get into the why's).

    I spoke of Apple's manufacturing cost and list prices but did not elaborate on development cost and marketing. Not defending them, just saying there's more than meets the eye. Why don't you write me a thesis on that too?

    But yes, I've heard people say that before and they clearly aren't aware of the 100s of things an owner has to pay before that 4$ can actually generate a profit.

    [edited for baiting]

    I realized when I wrote my post that you sort of answered your questions further down. But I felt your answer ("fundamentally, in a capitalist system, you don't stop when it's enough, you stop when you can't sell at that price anymore") wasn't quite right, primarily because it gives the impression that companies are just being greedy by continuing to increase their prices until not enough people will buy their goods or services anymore to keep the company afloat. And I'm not saying that doesn't happen in a capitalistic society. But not all companies keep increasing their prices just because they can-- until they can't anymore-- and some people do act like they don't grasp why a company such as a coffee shop charges so much more for a cup of coffee than the cost of the ingredients.

    I wasn't trying to take fault with the rest of your post, I was merely using that one isolated question as an opportunity to point out why things cost so much more than the sum of their basic ingredients. I apologize that I upset you.
    I've fought mudcrabs more fearsome than me!
  • idk
    idk
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    *** GRABS POPCORN ***

    So true.

    Zos seems to be doing very well with the business model they have. I doubt they see much reason for such a radical change.
  • Luckylancer
    Luckylancer
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    Only thing that anoy me is Chapters. With ESO+ you get QoL improvements, ability to earn more money&mats, all DLCs and crown store items(with eso+ crows). But we have to play a full game price just in order to play the game every year if we pay for ESO+?

    Summerset trial sets are OP and summerset give owners big advantage with extra crafting. Elsewheyr trial sets are OP as well. Last fall I barely managed to findtrial group for 4 companion event. No one were doing old trials+HoF+MoL because last 2 trials' sets made old ones borderline redundant.

    Morrowind wasnt like that other than pay to win stam warden at PvP. Game was not pay to win in many aspects. Some other classes (NB, sorc) were still in par with stamden at PvP.

    Chapters are cash graps with mandatory OP sets. All of them have absolutely overpowered skills/classes at begining to sell then nerfed later on. Remember the bashnecro. I dont ask for free content, I want new content that dont ecilipse old one that I bought.
  • Artanisul
    Artanisul
    ✭✭✭✭
    SeaGtGruff wrote: »
    SeaGtGruff wrote: »
    Why do coffee shops sell coffee at 4$ a cup when it costs them 15c to make?

    Because it costs them a lot more than $0.15 to make, once they factor in the cost of paying an employee to make the cup of coffee, the initial cost of training that employee in how to make the cup of coffee, the cost of paying the electric company and water company and other utility companies, the cost of paying for the internet connection and Wi-Fi equipment that lets their customers enjoy free Wi-Fi while they drink their coffee, the cost of purchasing and maintaining the coffee-making equipment, the cost of purchasing the chairs and tables, the cost of building the coffee shop, the cost of purchasing or renting the plot on which the coffee shop stands, the cost of paying the city and county and state and nation any taxes owed, and of course the cost of paying the company's owners and executives and secretaries and advertisers and security guards, and so on.

    Lol... are you serious? I LITERALLY wrote afterward that the reasons why varied based on the industry. If you had the inescapable need to explain it fine by me but [snip] to assume I'm not aware of this when I LITERALLY posted that there were many reasons why (indicating I had no intention to get into the why's).

    I spoke of Apple's manufacturing cost and list prices but did not elaborate on development cost and marketing. Not defending them, just saying there's more than meets the eye. Why don't you write me a thesis on that too?

    But yes, I've heard people say that before and they clearly aren't aware of the 100s of things an owner has to pay before that 4$ can actually generate a profit.

    [edited for baiting]

    I realized when I wrote my post that you sort of answered your questions further down. But I felt your answer ("fundamentally, in a capitalist system, you don't stop when it's enough, you stop when you can't sell at that price anymore") wasn't quite right, primarily because it gives the impression that companies are just being greedy by continuing to increase their prices until not enough people will buy their goods or services anymore to keep the company afloat. And I'm not saying that doesn't happen in a capitalistic society. But not all companies keep increasing their prices just because they can-- until they can't anymore-- and some people do act like they don't grasp why a company such as a coffee shop charges so much more for a cup of coffee than the cost of the ingredients.

    I wasn't trying to take fault with the rest of your post, I was merely using that one isolated question as an opportunity to point out why things cost so much more than the sum of their basic ingredients. I apologize that I upset you.

    The coffee shop example was right in line with Apple...It is a well known fact that coffee is a huge profit margin. Just like soda and most other drinks really. The coffee shops are crooks( in that regard). Your long diatribe on the "other costs" they have to endure was way overboard....those poor guys!
  • ShawnLaRock
    ShawnLaRock
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    I resisted subbing for 2+ years of pretty hard farming & it takes a ridiculous amount of inventory juggling to make work.

    Even with my staunch attitude to not getting ESO+ all this time & with the “yuckiness” of the current state of the game... I broke down and got a sub for this event.

    Worth it - but I am now worried about sticking to my, “one month only” - because it is soooo convenient and addictive. Gonna make sure I run all the DLC Dungeons after the Anniversary Event - and then make the painful switch back.

    S.
  • Sanctum74
    Sanctum74
    ✭✭✭✭✭
    ✭✭✭
    Sadly the days of buying a complete and working product for $60 are over. Now they charge you for a broken product, monthly subs, and dlcs/patches that just break the game even more and they call it progress ☹️
Sign In or Register to comment.