Which content release cadence do you prefer?

Jestir · December 9

[2017] Q1 System, Q2 Chapter, Q3 Dungeons, Q4 DLC

Voted wrong one

I generally liked the idea behind the 18-22 system the issue is that the dlc somewhat had to continue the expansions story and that led to every expansion's story not feeling complete and the dlc's story feeling kinda disjointed.

alpha_synuclein · December 9

[2018 - 2022] Q1 Dungeons, Q2 Chapter, Q3 Dungeons, Q4 DLC

I would like 4 dungeons per year plus trial in the chapter. Don't care much about the rest.

StarOfElyon · December 9

[2018 - 2022] Q1 Dungeons, Q2 Chapter, Q3 Dungeons, Q4 DLC

Erickson9610 wrote: »

Did you like the content and the order of content releases that previous years had, or would you like to see something new and different?

The type of each quarter in the poll is determined by the major features in the major, numbered updates in each quarter of the year. Some quarters contained multiple numbered updates, while other quarters lacked numbered updates. The poll does not count the hotfixes that happen between major updates.

In the poll, here is what each term means:
"Base Game" — Content which is free to access for all players. Since I only use this term once, I'm referring to the addition of Craglorn in Update 1 and Veteran Crypt of Hearts in Update 2.

"System" — A brand new gameplay system, which includes Outfit Stations, the Justice System, Housing, the Infinite Archive, the revamped Battlegrounds, and so on. These are typically made available for the base game, and may be included in updates which include DLC, Chapters, and so on.

"DLC" — A paid content pack, such as the Imperial City or any of the story DLCs which are smaller than Chapters, like the Markarth DLC. In year-long stories, a DLC would typically end off that year's story. These typically contain one or many zones and might contain a new system.

"Dungeons" — A pack of 2 DLC Dungeons, such as Wolfhunter or Scalebreaker. In year-long stories, DLC dungeon packs are typically used to introduce that year's story.

"Chapter" — A large paid content pack, such as the Greymoor Chapter, which typically includes a system that can only be accessed through access to the Chapter. These are typically where the bulk of the storytelling from year-long stories happen, and contain one or many zones.

"QoL" — A Quality of Life update. These typically refine existing features, fix bugs, and make the game more enjoyable by alleviating pain points. These may contain systems, like the Housing Tours.

I lean towards 2018 except that I don't like getting split zones (one on nirn and another in oblivion); I prefer to spend the entire update in one area (like Elswery) without an unpassable gap between them).

Zodiarkslayer · December 9

I want to see something different!

Year 1: Q2 Chapter with System, Q4 Dungeons
Year 2: Q2 DLC Q4 Dungeons

There is too much pressure on the Devs to uphold a strict quaterly release schedule.
In the past three years it has harmed the game, because content was released prematurely, unfinished and unbalanced.

Stretching the Chapter+4 Dungeons+DLC over two years instead of one would do wonders for this game.

After all, there are so many festivals and events in this game to keep the players busy, without overflooding it with new stuff every three months.

This management decision should have been made in 2021! The epidemic was the right time to change the focus from quantity to quality.

the1andonlyskwex · December 9

I want to see something different!

There should be monthly balance/QoL updates. The current update cadence is far too slow and causes major problems to go unaddressed for years at a time.

As for new content, ZOS probably needs to release something that costs us money every year, but I don't particularly care whether that's a full chapter with a system update, or just a DLC and a dungeon. I definitely don't need anything like the dungeon + chapter + dungeon + DLC years of old.

dark_hunterxmg · December 9

I want to see something different!

At this point, I would like next 3 or 4 big updates to focus 80% on fixing what doesn't work properly (bugs, glitches, stuck in combat, heavy attacks not working, battlegrounds, etc.) and 20% on new content/balancing/adjusting. The new content needs to be properly tested and 100% ready when it comes out even if the deadline gets missed. Every update brings in new issues that stack on top of old issues, and I would like that cycle to stop.

Tandor · December 9

[2018 - 2022] Q1 Dungeons, Q2 Chapter, Q3 Dungeons, Q4 DLC

This is my preference, but I'd like a couple of delves included in each dungeon DLC for those who don't participate in group content. By appealing to additional players I also think such DLCs would generate additional revenue through increased sales.

tsaescishoeshiner · December 9

I liked having 2 Companions, because their stories are better for me than many zones' stories. But without a Q4 zone, there's a big lull this time of year, because our next DLC is in March-ish, and no new zone til June.

Also, there's been a lack of new dyes without new dyes from Q4 content!

If the Q4 updates can continue to add new systems (like the Archive) and build on old ones (like Battlegrounds, or maybe in the future, sneaking/thieving/fishing/exploration), I'm fine with that.

Personally, I'd be much more willing to give up two dungeons a year if it meant more content like that. We need new dungeons, but 4 a year is more than we need compared to Companion quests, content updates, new Heists, new Battleground Maps, etc.

Aardappelboom · December 9

[2023 - 2024] Q1 Dungeons, Q2 Chapter, Q3 QoL, Q4 System

I know I'm the minority, but the idea that there's a more fleshed out system every year is something I like.

You may argue that we have lost content over the years, which I agree is a shame, but I would not want the zone to replace any new systems we would be getting.

I also realize that the new system was often bundled with the chapter, but we haven't seen things like IA and (even if the execution wasn't all that good) new battlegronds in a while.

BasP · December 9

I'd definitely like to have a Q2 Chapter (preferably with a new System), a Q4 DLC, and two Dungeons in either Q1 or Q3. So that'd be most similar to 2017, out of the options listed, I suppose.

But I don't really have a preference for the last quarter, and that content could change yearly for me. It could either focus on QOL and Bug Fixes, focus on PvP, have another new System, add a mini Trial, or something else entirely.

Desiato · December 9

I preferred the original subscription funded plan in 2014, which was ongoing content releases every 4-6 weeks. In development, it was an extremely ambitious game with a massive budget.

Unfortunately, it had a bad launch which meant this only worked for a few months as the devs were focused on their plans to refactor the gameplay and business model.

It's been said by people who saw some behind the scenes stuff at Quakecons and such that much of the content released over the past 10 years was completed to varying degrees in 2014! That doesn't mean quests, voice acting, polish, etc, just the zones and other art assets in some recognizable form.

Sakiri · December 11

TaSheen wrote: »

Truthfully, I'm not involved in dungeons at all, but the span in this selection is when the "year long chapters" were happening which is my far and away preferred way of enjoying the game.

I disagree.

No new actual content through the year is what's killing the population. Once I was done with LC, the two dungeons and the story I mostly quit due to lack of endgame for a non arc dps. There's just nothing to do.

If you treat it like a single player game, I guess it's OK for you, but I don't and it's gotten stale. We need less front load and later updates. Every other game follows this formula and they're thriving.

ChuckyPayne · December 11

I want to see something different!

10 years old game. Renewal is needed. It should be less predictable and offer many more hours of gameplay. Of course, this doesn't mean repeating the dungeon 30 times to collect all the weapons, grind lead rng, etc. :S

It would be nice if they didn't develop the game in such a way that you get bored after 30 days and can move on to another game.

I think the solution would be to double the number of employees involved in actual development.

Erickson9610 · December 18

I want to see something different!

I'm really excited to hear that 2025 and onwards will be mixing up the content release cadence! Hopefully every year will be different from the last, so 2026 will be different from 2025, and so on.

I am surprised to hear that the Chapter model is going away, though, in favor of the Season model. So, we'll see how the quarterly content of each Season compares to the quarterly content of each of the previous years!