So Microsoft bought Zenimax...

Vhozek · September 2020

What do you think will happen with ESO? Will it improve or remain the same? MMO's are cashgrabs, so it makes sense for them to pay attention to it. Changes WILL come, but what will change? Discuss.

WeerW3ir · September 2020

one thing is sure

MS's policy on lootboxes:
Items in loot boxes can always be earned through play. All items available through paid loot boxes in our games will also be available through unpaid opportunity by gameplay (i.e. grinding).

Vhozek · September 2020

WeerW3ir wrote: »

one thing is sure

MS's policy on lootboxes:
Items in loot boxes can always be earned through play. All items available through paid loot boxes in our games will also be available through unpaid opportunity by gameplay (i.e. grinding).

That's interesting, I didn't know that. Definitely the type of game to reward grinding.

NeillMcAttack · September 2020

Yea, we have 4 threads on it already.....

Vhozek · September 2020

NeillMcAttack wrote: »

Yea, we have 4 threads on it already.....

This thread is specifically created to discuss changes.

VaranisArano · September 2020

Maybe Xbox will get their updates at the same time at PC? Or will PC have to wait for Xbox and Sony approval to get their updates?

Man, with how nightmarish some of the PC launches have been, ZOS might want to stagger the updates even if they don't have to.

voreo · September 2020

Id like to see better crown store sales after this.
Crown sales more often.

Mik195 · September 2020

To get around the lootbox thing all they need to do is add a possible lootbox drop to VMA or dungeon no death and it is grindable.

GarnetFire17 · September 2020

I think this opens the door more for TESO2. I wouldn't be shocked if some rumor comes out about by the end of next year.

Danikat · September 2020

I'm not sure how I feel about it right now, except that I'm surprised because I didn't expect Zenimax Media to be up for sale any time soon.

I can't say that my experiences with Microsoft are any better or worse than any other big publisher, but changes at the top always bring uncertainty. For now I'm wary of the news but I'll reserve judgement until we get some idea of how it's actually going to affect the game.

Although I guess it does mean I don't have to wonder about whether I'll get TES6 on a console or PC. My husband definitely wants a PS5 and it's not worth getting an Xbox as well for the exclusives, so PC will be my only option. Which is fine, but it would be nice to have the choice.

Salazka · September 2020

Microsoft does not touch developers unless it is for legal or security purposes.
Platform availability maybe. (i.e. hopefully adding it on Game Pass, which will bring more quality gamers in the game.)

They have no say on gameplay. Never did.
Each studio manages the game on its own.

Worst case scenario they are going to get the game to run on Azure if it is not already, which only means better servers for the end player.

vestahls · September 2020

It's impossible to tell what, if anything, Microsoft has in mind for ESO in particular, or for any other games in the franchise.
But for sure what they said in the statement, how Bethesda and Zeni will keep operating as before with no changes, this is a pipe dream, it never happens like this with big purchases.

But what they'll probably have to go through is the acquisition, and all the bumps that involves - because MSoft probably has a very different way of operating, a different view of how the org structure should look like, no doubt they rely on whatever lessons they've learned and think they will apply with an equal amount of success to all their subs, etc. So ZOS is probably in for a year or so of adjusting, before anyone can focus on what operational changes can take place.

Ultimately, Msoft and ZOS are just brand names, they don't have any personality or are internally uniform in their thinking, it's all a question of who happens to be in charge of what at which time, and I don't think we know any of those people enough to tell what's gonna happen.

virtus753 · September 2020

WeerW3ir wrote: »

one thing is sure

MS's policy on lootboxes:
Items in loot boxes can always be earned through play. All items available through paid loot boxes in our games will also be available through unpaid opportunity by gameplay (i.e. grinding).

You’re missing critical context there regarding “our games.” Those are “Microsoft XBox Game Studios” policies. ESO is not developed or published by XBox Game Studios. The structure of ZOS and Bethesda, the current developer and publisher of ESO, respectively, are being retained even after the purchase, so it will be up to Microsoft whether to apply this loot box policy to include Zenimax Media games or not.

It’s far too soon to say anything is “sure,” especially when the deal is months away from closing.

MAOofDC · September 2020

I'm hoping for cross-platform play. I have RL friends who have X Box but not a PC. I would love to be able to play with them.

MAOofDC · September 2020

WeerW3ir wrote: »

one thing is sure

MS's policy on lootboxes:
Items in loot boxes can always be earned through play. All items available through paid loot boxes in our games will also be available through unpaid opportunity by gameplay (i.e. grinding).

ESO already had loot boxes, they are called Crown crates. So basically nothing will change on that front.

Destai · September 2020

My biggest hopes for this are:
1. Better server stability and performance. I mean a full cleaning house and fresh approach to how servers are handled. There's a huge knowledge gap apparently and Microsoft, if anyone, has the expertise to help in this area.
2. Better monetization. With Microsoft funding, hopefully the monetization can be less focused in lootboxes and more on content.
3. Better forum experience. Another full cleaning house - moderators, support - designed to be better focused on the customer experience and less on damage control.

Ecfigies · September 2020

I'm more surprised that they didn't buy Bungie, yet.

Hope these changes bring something for us, at least something good, as far we know, worse can get, a change of pace would be nice.

Good luck for all.

kyle.wilson · September 2020

Maybe after 6 years we will finally see real progress towards gameplay performance.
That or, Microsoft guts the company over time leaving nothing but a shell.

kyle.wilson · September 2020

MAOofDC wrote: »

WeerW3ir wrote: »

one thing is sure

MS's policy on lootboxes:
Items in loot boxes can always be earned through play. All items available through paid loot boxes in our games will also be available through unpaid opportunity by gameplay (i.e. grinding).

ESO already had loot boxes, they are called Crown crates. So basically nothing will change on that front.

If Microsoft's policy follows, there may be a future where crown crates are achievable in game without cash.

idk · September 2020

WeerW3ir wrote: »

one thing is sure

MS's policy on lootboxes:
Items in loot boxes can always be earned through play. All items available through paid loot boxes in our games will also be available through unpaid opportunity by gameplay (i.e. grinding).

I would chalk this suggested change to pure speculation.

While MS may (or may not) make changes to the crown crates is it pretty much unlikely they will start offering so much of the crown store items in-game for just playing it. That would be a significant loss of revenue and MS is in this to make more money.

Edit: at that, MS is very unlikely to make any major changes anytime soon.

Avariprivateer · September 2020

idk wrote: »

WeerW3ir wrote: »

one thing is sure

MS's policy on lootboxes:
Items in loot boxes can always be earned through play. All items available through paid loot boxes in our games will also be available through unpaid opportunity by gameplay (i.e. grinding).

I would chalk this suggested change to pure speculation.

While MS may (or may not) make changes to the crown crates is it pretty much unlikely they will start offering so much of the crown store items in-game for just playing it. That would be a significant loss of revenue and MS is in this to make more money.

Edit: at that, MS is very unlikely to make any major changes anytime soon.

This whole thing might be my fault, as soon as I read the XBox policy all I saw was proverbial hydrogen bomb. One way around the policy, without ceding potential millions in Crate sales, would be regular in-store purchases/microtransactions, unless there is an additional ruleset prohibiting those. Microsoft is also more commonly subject to American and International regulation due to its size , so negative attention from any gambling practices would proportionally hurt their bottom line much more than Bethesda's.

HowlKimchi · September 2020

Better servers hopefully

Minyassa · September 2020

I was expecting this sale ever since Robert Trump's death. I feel like the company now has a chance to be, while still oriented first and foremost toward making money, a bit more cognizant of what gamers actually want rather than focusing on ways to manipulate players into microtransactions. They want to make money but they also have their finger on the pulse of the gaming community and without a guiding voice telling them to follow the bucks at all costs, they may improve along lines that will boost player morale and make us happier to play the game.

JKorr · September 2020

MAOofDC wrote: »

WeerW3ir wrote: »

one thing is sure

MS's policy on lootboxes:
Items in loot boxes can always be earned through play. All items available through paid loot boxes in our games will also be available through unpaid opportunity by gameplay (i.e. grinding).

ESO already had loot boxes, they are called Crown crates. So basically nothing will change on that front.

Did you read the statement?

If its true, then the "other than buying crown crates until the rng gremlins smile upon you" radiant apex mounts will be able to be earned. No matter what the grind might be, "earned" is not "buy rng opportunity to maybe eventually get a totally random one". Big IF however. Those "not able to get in any other way" items make a lot of money.

McMasterx · September 2020

WeerW3ir wrote: »

one thing is sure

MS's policy on lootboxes:
Items in loot boxes can always be earned through play. All items available through paid loot boxes in our games will also be available through unpaid opportunity by gameplay (i.e. grinding).

Time to prepare for the Ultra-Veteran Maelstrom Death Arena of Pain and Torment. Where the final boss on a No-hit, no-heal, run has an 18th of a 15th of a 12th of a 5% chance of dropping a Radiant Apex Fragment. (1/42)

Prof_Bawbag · September 2020

I think the loot boxes may be overhauled. MS' stance on them isn't what we currently get in-game

Conduit0 · September 2020

Of course things will change and not for the better. Mega publishers like MS, EA, etc. are the bane of the gaming industry, they suck up studios and then spit out their twisted defiled corpses. ZOS and BGS are dead studios walking, they just don't realize it yet.

winterscrolls229prerb18_ESO · September 2020

Wow, that's a shock.. i was just enjoying getting back into eso.

I don't think anyone knows anything about what the future will hold, but:

- Microsoft don't strike me as the company to leave their children studio's alone at arms length, they'll get their feelers in just for the ego trip of owning a new company if anything.
- From having worked at a company that was bought up by a fortune 500 software company.. some things are better, some things are worse, but its never the same as it was.
- The thing we have going for it is even microsoft would notice they just spent 7 billion dollars so wouldn't immediately intend change it so that customers don't want the products anymore.
- Here's the scary thing.. if microsoft had no idea and screwed up zenimax exactly the same way disney screwed up star wars.. even if it is just by one rogue senior manager, they're probably one of the few companies who would get away with it, shrug their shoulders and move on.

Anyways.. i'll keep playing the content i own. Wallet shut down until they prove via game updates that there's no negative impact. Maybe it will only be seen once the current content they're working on is finished, in the next dlc after that so maybe there's one good chapter left. Also TES 6 lol.

Also any calming the masses / statements is just pr because they have no idea themselves how its go turn out months and years in the future.

LadyLethalla · September 2020

As a Playstation gamer I'm reassured by the official word that ESO will continue to be supported in future.

My hope would be that MS adds an extra server or two, perhaps in the vicinity of... idk, Oceania. That would be fantastic... but I know I'm jumping the gun.

Shardaxx · September 2020

Either:
a) MS will pour money in. ESO will improve, especially on the server side of things. ESO2 might even be planned. ES6 will be amazing!
or
b) MS will upset everyone at Bethesda, key people will quit and set up a new company. Elder Scrolls will plod on under MS, but nobody will really care.

ZOS_ConnorG · September 2020

Greetings all,

After review we have closed this thread as there is another thread about this topic already. If you wish to continue this discussion you may do so on the other thread located here.