I would love Cross-play in ESO and am surprised more players don't. Do you?

hexentb16_ESO · February 2021

I'm surprised more players don't want cross-play in ESO. Here are my reasons for wanting it.

1. This would likely also result in us being able to access our characters, unlocked, and purchased content across all systems.

Yes, ZOS does make money from re-purchases by people who switch platforms. However they don't make as much as you might think. I myself have a really good gaming pc but I'm not switching from xbox simply because of all the purchased content I have on it. The PC experience is far better but still not worth re-buying everything I have thus far. I would be willing to make a one time purchase for a full transfer though.

2. Those who have the same content unlocked on both platforms could be given crowns for the duplicates. This of course wouldn't be quite as many free crowns as you the reader are probably thinking. However this would still stimulate the ESO economy regardless. How? I don't think this post needs the full explanation of how economies work but the short answer is that free money encourages people to spend more than the amount given for free. This doesn't quite work as planned IRL because of greedy rich hoarders but it works in MMOs and therefor means more money for ZOS. Free crowns given doesn't cost ZOS a thing AND encourages further purchases.

3. Patches and DLC will be synced! Hey console players, doesn't it annoy you when you have to wait 2 weeks to a month more for new content and DLC? Does it annoy you that despite the extra wait you still have to deal with the bugs and glitches in the update? How about the fact that it can take up to two months for issues to be fixed on console even though they were fixed within the first week on PC? Cross-play would force ZOS to keep the updates synced for PC and consoles and fix some of these issues. This would result in PC having to wait for patches to be vetted and approved on console but they wouldn't realize this since ZOS would announce patches for the expected ready date on console and not PC. Also ZOS would probably stop holding onto fixes for later to implement as one bigger patch and implement them sooner on console.

4. More balanced campaigns! Assuming ZOS would add "cross-play off" campaigns as an option, ESO having cross-play would make the factions more balanced. On one system red is dominant, another yellow, and the other blue. If cross-play was added to ESO the factions would balance out more. As for the whole issue of pvp'ers blaming their loss on the enemy having addons/mods, well thats what the "cross-play off" campaigns would be for! Players who can't take and learn from losses can stick to those campaigns and continue blaming proc sets like usual.

5. Improved social climate. On console most players use voice chat only but some use keyboards with their console for text chat. On PC it is apparently the opposite. In fact I just read a post that said PC doesn't even have voice chat, how do you guys even pvp when randos are involved!? Cross-play being added would likely result in people on console using text chat having a better social experience and PC players getting dedicated voice chat like console. Also, cross-play would also change things for guilds in interesting ways.

6. Speaking of guilds, cross-play would add some competition to the guild trading hubs. On xbox US megaserver a specific multi-guild trading guild usually has most of the guild traders in Mournhold. I found one that wasn't owned by the them once but after a month of using that other guild's Mournhold trader the guild itself was bought by that mutli-guild trading guild. Why do I avoid this specific massive trading guild? They have terrible bookkeeping. So now I can't sell in Mournhold. If cross-play was added this unnamed guild would finally have some competition in Mournhold. Oh and console players could start using those online databases for active sales...perhaps I should have lead with that...

I'm sure there's more good things that cross-play would bring to ESO but that's all I have for now. I might add more later.

Now I'm curious. Do you want cross-play added to ESO? Remember, you're voting in what you WANT and not what you think will happen.

Thevampirenight · February 2021

No, I don't want cross-play.

Here is my issues with it, performance , another reason is the way consoles and pc works. Its bad enough patches are held back because of Stadia, we would have to wait because of the consoles to get a lot of fixes that pc version needs. Another reason is because console players will be at a disadvantage, and worse addons might get removed all together from pc. Because of the various reasons, its a bad idea. Now its another thing if they merged the ps4 and xbox versions in a cross play as both are consoles but its unlikely that will ever happen.

So all in all, its a really bad idea, and each platform is fine having their own unique servers.

hexentb16_ESO · February 2021

Yes, I would like cross-play.

Thevampirenight wrote: »

Here is my issues with it, performance , another reason is the way consoles and pc works. Its bad enough patches are held back because of Stadia, we would have to wait because of the consoles to get a lot of fixes that pc version needs. Another reason is because console players will be at a disadvantage, and worse addons might get removed all together from pc. Because of the various reasons, its a bad idea. Now its another thing if they merged the ps4 and xbox versions in a cross play as both are consoles but its unlikely that will ever happen.

So all in all, its a really bad idea, and each console is fine having their own unique servers.

"Cross-play off" options would keep console players from being at a disadvantage and would make it so ZOS wouldn't need to disable mods/addon support. Though there's a fair chance they'll do that regardless of cross-play being added or not. Don't forget, this is a bethesda company and there's money to be made in "creation clubs".

As for the patches, all these systems need them just as bad as pc. This would likely speed up the process of fixing the game for consoles.

ManwithBeard9 · February 2021

I'll go for cross save before cross play.

Grega · February 2021

I really don't care if cross-play is added or not.

I don’t think cross play would ever work. From performance disparity between platforms and ability as well. There’s just more you can do with keyboard and mouse than a controller, so PvP would be largely unfair playground.

I also don’t think crossplay would push people to different social settings as you say. Quite the opposite, it think from a social perspective more toxicity and bashing would happen, between the platforms for that race to the top. (It already happens now but is just boating on social media/forums - then it would be present in the game ).

Lastly...accessing everything everywhere I do agree would be nice. They could to that with account transfers if people choose to switch platforms.

Thevampirenight · February 2021

No, I don't want cross-play.

hexentb16_ESO wrote: »

Thevampirenight wrote: »

Here is my issues with it, performance , another reason is the way consoles and pc works. Its bad enough patches are held back because of Stadia, we would have to wait because of the consoles to get a lot of fixes that pc version needs. Another reason is because console players will be at a disadvantage, and worse addons might get removed all together from pc. Because of the various reasons, its a bad idea. Now its another thing if they merged the ps4 and xbox versions in a cross play as both are consoles but its unlikely that will ever happen.

So all in all, its a really bad idea, and each console is fine having their own unique servers.

"Cross-play off" options would keep console players from being at a disadvantage and would make it so ZOS wouldn't need to disable mods/addon support. Though there's a fair chance they'll do that regardless of cross-play being added or not. Don't forget, this is a bethesda company and there's money to be made in "creation clubs".

As for the patches, all these systems need them just as bad as pc. This would likely speed up the process of fixing the game for consoles.

Its a lot more complicated then you think, and it would take a lot more money to implement, not to mention they would have to change a lot of things just to get it to work. Here is the thing, I doubt they are going to merge together the mega servers and I don't think Microsoft will make them do it either, and people just with the reality that Crossplay may never be a thing with Eso.

Girl_Number8 · February 2021

No, I don't want cross-play.

Have it in D2 but for eso no, just no.

ESOs performance is struggling to work as it is. This would just break more things and be a mess, not to mention the technical issues involved.

Hop on another platform and play, as many people already do. I mean, if it is that important to play with certain people.

J2JMC · February 2021

People talking about performance, but I'm willing to bet the XBX and PS5 perform better than 70% of the computers than run this game. Unless everyone playing is rocking a 3600 & rx5700 at minimum.

Performance aside, cross play is good, and multiplayer games that can be played with a controller need to transition to that going forward. But it's something that needs to be planned for before a game goes live. Especially given that the game has an economy. So even if ZOS could do it, I don't think they should unless they planned on restarting all servers (which would immediately kill the game).

LalMirchi · February 2021

Yes, I would like cross-play.

Let us look away from the current limitations of the game. Choices were made when the technical problems between platforms were perhaps unsolvable. That is not the case today.

Since ESO moved most of the gameplay to the central server the client should not be a hinder as all the important calculations are server-side.

Perhaps it is the ancient and customised game-engine that is ultimately at fault?

Sylvermynx · February 2021

No, I don't want cross-play.

I have zero interest in other "systems". I'm pc only and that's never going to change - unless I live long enough to plug into a "matrix" sort of system (not very likely).

So I don't really want cross-play for anything. And should they go that direction, they'd spend a lot of money that could, for me, go to better things - like content, bug fixes, and so on.

TheImperfect · February 2021

No, I don't want cross-play.

I know this might not be popular opinion but I believe (in general) console players and PC players want very different things from games and have a very different play style (in general, not always).

Vlad9425 · February 2021

I really don't care if cross-play is added or not.

Never cared about cross play on any game ever. Never understood the hype, also consider the fact that performance is already abysmal and cross play would certainly make it even worse.

Nightowl_74 · February 2021

Yes, I would like cross-play.

My friends all play on a mix of platforms and none of them are going to switch just to try ESO with me, so it would be great to be able to play together because I think a couple of them might enjoy it.

Ghanima_Atreides · February 2021

No, I don't want cross-play.

No thanks, because that would mean addons would probably be removed from the game, among other things.

kargen27 · February 2021

Other-please elaborate in a comment.

I'm thinking it isn't so much what I want but what ZoS can do or is willing to do. I know the question is what I want but right now want doesn't really apply.

If they were willing and able though I'm not sure I would support the move. I'm selfish and don't want to give up any of the perks I get being on PC.

And I'm guessing merging the three servers into one (assuming they keep NA and EU separate) will cause bugs short term and performance problems long term.

adriant1978 · February 2021

No, I don't want cross-play.

No thanks. I like my addons too much.

TheImperfect · February 2021

No, I don't want cross-play.

Nightowl_74 wrote: »

My friends all play on a mix of platforms and none of them are going to switch just to try ESO with me, so it would be great to be able to play together because I think a couple of them might enjoy it.

Well maybe I was selfish in my original opinion, in general I wouldn't want it honestly but if it helps people play together I guess maybe.

tuxon · February 2021

No, I don't want cross-play.

Why there is a console version of MMO in the first place? Moreover, according to many players console version holds PC version back; RE amount of collectables in homes etc

freespirit · February 2021

No, I don't want cross-play.

So many things would be problematic....

Off the top of my head, Voice Chat!!

I play on PC and I am happy to use third party programs when we want to chat, the descriptions I have seen of consoles built in Voice fill me with horror!!

LalMirchi · February 2021

Yes, I would like cross-play.

TheImperfect wrote: »

I know this might not be popular opinion but I believe (in general) console players and PC players want very different things from games and have a very different play style (in general, not always).

Yes, unfortunately with add-ons the PC platform as at a massive advantage. Nerfing add-onns would be a disaster so IMHO there is a major need for QOL improvements for the console versions.

As there is an open API which is leveraged by the add-on authors I think many of the most useful add-ons should be incorporated into the game on every platform.

Linaleah · February 2021

No, I don't want cross-play.

if you truly believe they would duplicate crowns across platforms... when they don't even duplicate purchases across servers on the SAME platform? I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you, cheap!

also, even without the addons ability to rebind hotkeys to make them most comfortable, puts PC at advantage over console.

crossplay between consoles? sure. but all that other stuff about shared account, etc? is not happening.

Snowstrider · February 2021

Yes, I would like cross-play.

I want to play ESO again but I refuse to play the broken mess with.very antisocial community that is the xbox version and I dont want to start over all again on PC since the amount of time and money i have spent on the game is too much and would feel all for nothing and suck out all the joy i had of the game if i restarted..

So please ZOS! IF we cant have crossplay can we at least have crossprogression and/or the ability to transfer our account? It is pretty much the only thing that would make me come back..

Auberon1983 · February 2021

Yes, I would like cross-play.

I voted "yes" as it would be nice if my wife and I can play together (she's PC, I'm console). The only thing stopping her from playing is no cross play. We do play FFXIV together. She doesn't like console, and my job is spent almost 100% on a computer, so we won't be having "his and hers" systems anytime soon.

However, realistically, no. At least not in the not too distant future. There's other issues that could use fixing first, some of them glaring. There are quests that have been broken since launch (lizard in Alik'r is a good example).

Personally I'd rather our fellow players in Oceania, Asia, Africa, etc get their own servers first, and not have to deal with a "normal" 300+ ping.

Kiralyn2000 · February 2021

I really don't care if cross-play is added or not.

I really don't see any reason, I certainly wouldn't bother to use it, and it'd be very likely to do something to screw things up, so...

...hmm, I probably should have voted No.

Vorpan · February 2021

I really don't care if cross-play is added or not.

I don't care one way or another. But I do wish all of my crown store bought items, chapters, ect were available account wide instead of just on PCNA. I don't mind rerolling and leveling new toons, but I'd like my chapters and pretties.

renne · February 2021

Other-please elaborate in a comment.

Cross-saves/accounts would be amazing, but they couldn't have crossplay because for fairness they'd have to disable PC addons and that would drive away PC players since they wouldn't be able to have their crutches and would need to learn how to play properly.

kargen27 · February 2021

Other-please elaborate in a comment.

renne wrote: »

Cross-saves/accounts would be amazing, but they couldn't have crossplay because for fairness they'd have to disable PC addons and that would drive away PC players since they wouldn't be able to have their crutches and would need to learn how to play properly.

The problem with saving across accounts is the economy on each platform. Players would be able to purchase/farm items on one platform then transfer them to a server where they list at a higher price.

Thechuckage · February 2021

No, I don't want cross-play.

Seems like the implementation alone would be a huge PITA, what with name conflicts and ensuring inventories properly worked.

That's not even touching guild trader spots, addons, large enough servers to hold everyone or smaller servers talking to one another.

All in all, looks like a lot of pain for not a lot of profit. You see anyone signing off on that kind of move at the higher corp? Cause I sure don't.

rpa · February 2021

I really don't care if cross-play is added or not.

I will never get a console so it's not something I'll need. I'm not against it if devs need something to do after updating game to a modern engine and fixing all lingering bugs and performance problems.

Saccopharynx · February 2021

Other-please elaborate in a comment.

I don't think PC to Console would work or is a good idea for reasons mentioned about performance, but also PC people have add-ons we console people don't get to take advantage of, and I don't know if the PC people would be forced out of those or not.

I would like console cross-play however, so my PS4 friends could play with me on Xbox. I think that would be a little more realistically do-able.

katanagirl1 · February 2021

Other-please elaborate in a comment.

Cross play is a great idea, but as others have stated we have huge performance problems right now that still have not been addressed.

I kinda like that PC gets the patch two weeks early so hopefully most of the egregious bugs get patched before we have to deal with them.

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I would love Cross-play in ESO and am surprised more players don't. Do you?

I would love Cross-play in ESO and am surprised more players don't. Do you? 159 votes