Console mods. Finally!

Hotdog_23 · January 11

My 2 cents as a console player.

Personally, I am glad that ZOS is finally adding this ability to consoles. And I just want to extend a big THANK YOU to any add-on developer that takes the time to support us as well.

Still, I wish ZOS would have taken the time to bake these into the ESO system itself and not relied on others, but honestly, Bethesda has done this for years, so it would really be out of character for them to do it now.

It will be interesting to see what this does to the console economy in the long run.

Stay safe

M0ntie · January 11

My 2 cents as someone who has played for a few years on console and then played for a few years on PC, addons are awesome.
Everyone I know uses addons on PC. Addons for things like mages guild, skyshards, daily crafting writs, dressing room remove some of the most boring grind from the game.
Even when ZoS has implemented some features that are like addons, they manage to do it in a way that isn't as good as the addon.
eg. You can't use the armourer in trials, but you can use the addons.
eg2. ZoS partly implemented the crafting writ addon, but didn't make it as good as the addon.
eg3. Skill timers and action bars. Again not as good as the best addon.

Caligamy_ESO · January 11

I'll be interested to see how that works on XBox and PS, doesn't Sony and Microsoft usually require their own approval of what is allowed (mod wise) on their platforms?

Elsonso · January 11

MidniteOwl1913 wrote: »

dk_dunkirk wrote: »

I've lost track of the number of times I've pointed out there's nothing stopping this, only to be told that it couldn't be done because "reasons."

First, I hope this puts that notion to rest.

Second... AWESOME NEWS.

Since the PTS is PC only how is that going to work?

I am curious, as well. I guess we will find out on Monday. Maybe PTS will have some sort of "console emulation mode"?

sans-culottes · January 11

Now if they’d only add an auto run for console players.

Elvenheart · January 11

the1andonlyskwex wrote: »

DenverRalphy wrote: »

While I do miss some of my favorite QOL add-ons from my PC days, one thing I'm not looking forward to is the inevitable volatile chaos that comes with DPS Meter add-ons.

One thing that is almost certain to make me quit is if I start getting whispers about how bad my DPS is.

That wouldn’t make me quit, that would just make me ignore the whisperer. 😊

Desiato · January 11

MidniteOwl1913 wrote: »

Desiato wrote: »

katanagirl1 wrote: »

Just curious how this will work. I assume the addons won’t work in a direct port. Won’t the code have to be rewritten? Does that mean some addons might not be available? Like others, I was hoping this would be integrated into the game instead, but I won’t complain at this point. Having these things in the base code would be more work for ZOS initially but would save tons of time with bug reports that are caused by outdated addons that haven’t been updated.

LUA, the language used for addons is platform agnostic. Some addons may not be practical on slower consoles though.

But there have to be hardware specific drivers underneath those addons to support the code. If they are written like browsers then the UI will be mostly the same, and the differences hidden. Since most console players don't know what the addons UI looks like I'm not sure that will matter...

LUA is basically ubiquitous. I doubt there is a modern platform it doesn't run on. Anyway, the console versions of ESO already use LUA for the UI.

fizl101 · January 11

Some info was written here for add-on authors https://www.esoui.com/forums/showpost.php?p=50999&postcount=2

Elowen_Starveil · January 11

MidniteOwl1913 wrote: »

katanagirl1 wrote: »

I am looking forward to this even though I anticipate I will only use a few addons, like possibly minimap but definitely harvest map for nodes and chests, thieves troves, etc.

Just curious how this will work. I assume the addons won’t work in a direct port. Won’t the code have to be rewritten? Does that mean some addons might not be available? Like others, I was hoping this would be integrated into the game instead, but I won’t complain at this point. Having these things in the base code would be more work for ZOS initially but would save tons of time with bug reports that are caused by outdated addons that haven’t been updated.

They are using an emulator for the PTS, but at some point yeah they will have to be made to work on the console hardware directly. I'm not sure how they are going to deal with (at least for PS5) console gatekeepers. Sony isn't easy. There are a lot of *very* important details that haven't been addressed. I'm just in wait and see mode.

As I indicated in the original post, I've been over this mods issue on these forums many times. Many people have blamed Sony as the reason that mods wouldn't fly on consoles. What makes them more difficult than Microsoft in this regard? Will you be the first to provide a clear, solid reason why Sony's policies around mods are more challenging than Microsoft's?

Arunei · January 11

dk_dunkirk wrote: »

MidniteOwl1913 wrote: »

katanagirl1 wrote: »

I am looking forward to this even though I anticipate I will only use a few addons, like possibly minimap but definitely harvest map for nodes and chests, thieves troves, etc.

Just curious how this will work. I assume the addons won’t work in a direct port. Won’t the code have to be rewritten? Does that mean some addons might not be available? Like others, I was hoping this would be integrated into the game instead, but I won’t complain at this point. Having these things in the base code would be more work for ZOS initially but would save tons of time with bug reports that are caused by outdated addons that haven’t been updated.

They are using an emulator for the PTS, but at some point yeah they will have to be made to work on the console hardware directly. I'm not sure how they are going to deal with (at least for PS5) console gatekeepers. Sony isn't easy. There are a lot of *very* important details that haven't been addressed. I'm just in wait and see mode.

As I indicated in the original post, I've been over this mods issue on these forums many times. Many people have blamed Sony as the reason that mods wouldn't fly on consoles. What makes them more difficult than Microsoft in this regard? Will you be the first to provide a clear, solid reason why Sony's policies around mods are more challenging than Microsoft's?

I don't know Sony or MS' policies on mods and stuff, but I do remember us being told a while back that the reason console didn't have addons for ESO was because of those companies rejecting having them for whatever reason. I believe the reason we don't have cross-play is the same reason? MS and Sony didn't agree to it?

Whizzinglane · January 11

Absolutely good news all around!

Elowen_Starveil · January 11

Arunei wrote: »

dk_dunkirk wrote: »

MidniteOwl1913 wrote: »

katanagirl1 wrote: »

I am looking forward to this even though I anticipate I will only use a few addons, like possibly minimap but definitely harvest map for nodes and chests, thieves troves, etc.

Just curious how this will work. I assume the addons won’t work in a direct port. Won’t the code have to be rewritten? Does that mean some addons might not be available? Like others, I was hoping this would be integrated into the game instead, but I won’t complain at this point. Having these things in the base code would be more work for ZOS initially but would save tons of time with bug reports that are caused by outdated addons that haven’t been updated.

They are using an emulator for the PTS, but at some point yeah they will have to be made to work on the console hardware directly. I'm not sure how they are going to deal with (at least for PS5) console gatekeepers. Sony isn't easy. There are a lot of *very* important details that haven't been addressed. I'm just in wait and see mode.

As I indicated in the original post, I've been over this mods issue on these forums many times. Many people have blamed Sony as the reason that mods wouldn't fly on consoles. What makes them more difficult than Microsoft in this regard? Will you be the first to provide a clear, solid reason why Sony's policies around mods are more challenging than Microsoft's?

I don't know Sony or MS' policies on mods and stuff, but I do remember us being told a while back that the reason console didn't have addons for ESO was because of those companies rejecting having them for whatever reason. I believe the reason we don't have cross-play is the same reason? MS and Sony didn't agree to it?

Again, I’ve heard this several times, but both Microsoft and Sony have a HOST of titles that do cross play already. Again, besides “I’ve been told,” why wouldn’t they both be open to doing cross play if ZOS wanted to do it?

DenverRalphy · January 12

dk_dunkirk wrote: »

Arunei wrote: »

dk_dunkirk wrote: »

MidniteOwl1913 wrote: »

katanagirl1 wrote: »

I am looking forward to this even though I anticipate I will only use a few addons, like possibly minimap but definitely harvest map for nodes and chests, thieves troves, etc.

Just curious how this will work. I assume the addons won’t work in a direct port. Won’t the code have to be rewritten? Does that mean some addons might not be available? Like others, I was hoping this would be integrated into the game instead, but I won’t complain at this point. Having these things in the base code would be more work for ZOS initially but would save tons of time with bug reports that are caused by outdated addons that haven’t been updated.

They are using an emulator for the PTS, but at some point yeah they will have to be made to work on the console hardware directly. I'm not sure how they are going to deal with (at least for PS5) console gatekeepers. Sony isn't easy. There are a lot of *very* important details that haven't been addressed. I'm just in wait and see mode.

As I indicated in the original post, I've been over this mods issue on these forums many times. Many people have blamed Sony as the reason that mods wouldn't fly on consoles. What makes them more difficult than Microsoft in this regard? Will you be the first to provide a clear, solid reason why Sony's policies around mods are more challenging than Microsoft's?

I don't know Sony or MS' policies on mods and stuff, but I do remember us being told a while back that the reason console didn't have addons for ESO was because of those companies rejecting having them for whatever reason. I believe the reason we don't have cross-play is the same reason? MS and Sony didn't agree to it?

Again, I’ve heard this several times, but both Microsoft and Sony have a HOST of titles that do cross play already. Again, besides “I’ve been told,” why wouldn’t they both be open to doing cross play if ZOS wanted to do it?

I believe they're referring to addons, not crossplay.

TaSheen · January 12

DenverRalphy wrote: »

I believe they're referring to addons, not crossplay.

Yes. But the overarching dialog is to get ZOS to implement crossplay. Unimpressed personally, but I'm not very invested in ESO any more at this point, so....

KaironBlackbard · January 12

Sakiri wrote: »

the1andonlyskwex wrote: »

Sakiri wrote: »

the1andonlyskwex wrote: »

DenverRalphy wrote: »

While I do miss some of my favorite QOL add-ons from my PC days, one thing I'm not looking forward to is the inevitable volatile chaos that comes with DPS Meter add-ons.

One thing that is almost certain to make me quit is if I start getting whispers about how bad my DPS is.

Good thing dps is easy to improve.

It's not that my DPS is bad. I just don't need to be hassled by some sweatlord.

Ignore them?

KaironBlackbard wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

DragonRacer wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

I'm a little nervous about this change.

One the one hand, some of the economic add-ons and combat add-ons seem detrimental to the environment that console has fostered. Prices are pretty stable here although slightly down a little too much and there isn't any comments like "I did 80% of the group's DPS" because it's not possible to make those sorts of comments. I'm not really excited to have to compete with lazy writ, for example.

On the other hand, there's some big ones that will make life way easier like knowing where treasure chests are. There's a number of QOL features that add-ons provide that would make console better.

Overall, I am hopeful that this change will be a net positive.

I am pretty much of the same mind,

I'm also vaguely terrified at how much buggier this may make things. My ability to stay connected and not randomly booted to the main title screen is already worsening these days. How much worse is server load gonna become with people running mods?

addons are only local UI changes

other people running addons shouldnt affect your game stability

Ehem. Bandits UI broke my multiplayerability in dungeons. They had to disable the map pings info grabber effect to resolve it. More immediately before that update, I had to have my group members shut off their addons just so I could heal them again and keep them alive.

I highly doubt it broke your ability to heal. My ability to heal with it is fine.

1 frame every 5 seconds with them having bandits active, 60 fps when they shut it off

KaironBlackbard · January 12

Arunei wrote: »

Sarannah wrote: »

Personally I was hoping ZOS would go the other way, and actually remove add-ons from PC. But oh well.

So because you don't like something, you want it taken from others? Why? If ZOS thought addons in general were causing any sort of real issue with the game, they'd have already disabled them as a test by now. It's literally one of the first things they tell you to disable when you're having problems, so if they thought addons were causing server-wide issues, they'd take their own advice and turn them off server-wide. Wanting addons removed for any other reason than believing they might be adversely affecting the server is imho selfish.

Edit to add in regards to the last bit, I hold that belief in all aspects of life. Just because a person doesn't like or agree with something in and of itself has never, in my opinion, been anywhere near a good reason for taking it from people who do like it. I don't like how beer tastes but i don't think it should no longer be sold. I don't like how most creams and lotions feel on my hands but I don't think they should be discontinued entirely. I don't like tops that hang down too low on the neck because having my neck bare is uncomfortable, but I don't think tops with lower necks should stop being made.

People shouldn't call for the removal of things they don't like. If you don't like something, don't use it, don't engage with it, ignore it and leave the people who do like and enjoy that stuff to it.

I love these analogies.

katanagirl1 · January 12

fizl101 wrote: »

Some info was written here for add-on authors https://www.esoui.com/forums/showpost.php?p=50999&postcount=2

So it does sound like some effort will be needed to get the PC addons to console after all. Rarely (if ever) can you direct port anything and get it to work out of the box when it comes to hardware.

Thanks for the info.

fizzybeef · January 12

Is this a step to crossplay?

Sarannah · January 12

KaironBlackbard wrote: »

Arunei wrote: »

Sarannah wrote: »

Personally I was hoping ZOS would go the other way, and actually remove add-ons from PC. But oh well.

So because you don't like something, you want it taken from others? Why? If ZOS thought addons in general were causing any sort of real issue with the game, they'd have already disabled them as a test by now. It's literally one of the first things they tell you to disable when you're having problems, so if they thought addons were causing server-wide issues, they'd take their own advice and turn them off server-wide. Wanting addons removed for any other reason than believing they might be adversely affecting the server is imho selfish.

Edit to add in regards to the last bit, I hold that belief in all aspects of life. Just because a person doesn't like or agree with something in and of itself has never, in my opinion, been anywhere near a good reason for taking it from people who do like it. I don't like how beer tastes but i don't think it should no longer be sold. I don't like how most creams and lotions feel on my hands but I don't think they should be discontinued entirely. I don't like tops that hang down too low on the neck because having my neck bare is uncomfortable, but I don't think tops with lower necks should stop being made.

People shouldn't call for the removal of things they don't like. If you don't like something, don't use it, don't engage with it, ignore it and leave the people who do like and enjoy that stuff to it.

I love these analogies.

He is totally right about the outcome of his analogies, but 100% wrong about why I am against add-ons. So those analogies make no sense. For me it is about fairplay between add-on users and non add-on users.

Personally I actually think some add-ons are really cool! But some are just granting unfair advantages in my opinion.

LikiLoki · January 12

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

dk_dunkirk wrote: »

licenturion wrote: »

Added not they omitted in the tweet but said in stream: Only on current gen. So PS5 and series X.

Not the decade ancient last gen console

PS4 and Xbone support mods for Skyrim and Fallout 4, so this is probably less about not being able to support the older gen, and more about pushing people to upgrade. Which I think is a perfectly-good enticement, but YMMV.

The system memory of the current gen consoles allows us to do add-ons for console. So not a ploy to upgrade, but rather, new tech allowing us to do new things.

ZoS practiced an "equal opportunities on different hardware" policy, so it denied us the number of slots in our homes and other functions. Now we're getting a positive signal about console mods. Let's add spaces in the players' homes and explain this just by the technical capabilities of the new computers. And let the players on the old machines stay with a small limit.

the1andonlyskwex · January 12

LikiLoki wrote: »

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

dk_dunkirk wrote: »

licenturion wrote: »

Added not they omitted in the tweet but said in stream: Only on current gen. So PS5 and series X.

Not the decade ancient last gen console

PS4 and Xbone support mods for Skyrim and Fallout 4, so this is probably less about not being able to support the older gen, and more about pushing people to upgrade. Which I think is a perfectly-good enticement, but YMMV.

The system memory of the current gen consoles allows us to do add-ons for console. So not a ploy to upgrade, but rather, new tech allowing us to do new things.

ZoS practiced an "equal opportunities on different hardware" policy, so it denied us the number of slots in our homes and other functions. Now we're getting a positive signal about console mods. Let's add spaces in the players' homes and explain this just by the technical capabilities of the new computers. And let the players on the old machines stay with a small limit.

What happens when a PS4 player goes into a PS5 player's home? Or when a player decorates a home on an Xbox Series and then subsequently logs in on an Xbox One? I don't think anything with server-side persistence has the same flexibility as something like mods that are only on the client side.

jhall03 · January 12

fizzybeef wrote: »

Is this a step to crossplay?

It’s my wish. If ZOS could make everything in the activity finder part of a global server I would be happy because it would cut down queue times.

thorwyn · January 12

But some are just granting unfair advantages in my opinion.

It only would be an unfair advantage if one side did not have access to the same arsenal as the other side. Since that's not the case, it is not unfair.

o_Primate_o · January 12

I wonder if this is a preemptive move to level the playing field between consoles and PC before cross platform play

Elsonso · January 12

o_Primate_o wrote: »

I wonder if this is a preemptive move to level the playing field between consoles and PC before cross platform play

I think it is mainly because it was a requested feature, and it has a big bang for the buck, so to speak. I am sure a lot of people want crossplay. I suspect more people want addons.

DenverRalphy · January 12

o_Primate_o wrote: »

I wonder if this is a preemptive move to level the playing field between consoles and PC before cross platform play

I think it's more because somebody crunched the numbers and decided that if they were going to bring many requested QOL changes to console, that it'd be easier and more cost effective to provide add-on support instead of adding it to their own base code.

I personally believe that cross platform consideration will probably never see the light of day for ESO. But I digress, as my reasons for believing so would derail and pull this thread way off topic.

ZOS_Icy · January 12

Greetings all,

After removing a few off topic posts, we would like to ask everyone to keep posts on the subject at hand, as well as keeping things civil and constructive.

Thank you for your understanding.

Lyraen_Skyforge · January 12

Sarannah wrote: »

Personally I was hoping ZOS would go the other way, and actually remove add-ons from PC. But oh well.

I feel like this would be a wonderful idea.

Arunei · January 12

Sarannah wrote: »

KaironBlackbard wrote: »

Arunei wrote: »

Sarannah wrote: »

Personally I was hoping ZOS would go the other way, and actually remove add-ons from PC. But oh well.

So because you don't like something, you want it taken from others? Why? If ZOS thought addons in general were causing any sort of real issue with the game, they'd have already disabled them as a test by now. It's literally one of the first things they tell you to disable when you're having problems, so if they thought addons were causing server-wide issues, they'd take their own advice and turn them off server-wide. Wanting addons removed for any other reason than believing they might be adversely affecting the server is imho selfish.

Edit to add in regards to the last bit, I hold that belief in all aspects of life. Just because a person doesn't like or agree with something in and of itself has never, in my opinion, been anywhere near a good reason for taking it from people who do like it. I don't like how beer tastes but i don't think it should no longer be sold. I don't like how most creams and lotions feel on my hands but I don't think they should be discontinued entirely. I don't like tops that hang down too low on the neck because having my neck bare is uncomfortable, but I don't think tops with lower necks should stop being made.

People shouldn't call for the removal of things they don't like. If you don't like something, don't use it, don't engage with it, ignore it and leave the people who do like and enjoy that stuff to it.

I love these analogies.

He is totally right about the outcome of his analogies, but 100% wrong about why I am against add-ons. So those analogies make no sense. For me it is about fairplay between add-on users and non add-on users.

Personally I actually think some add-ons are really cool! But some are just granting unfair advantages in my opinion.

She actually lol. And if I misinterpreted your dislike then I apologize; I've found most people who want them removed want it done because they just don't like them, so I just sort of assume that these days about everyone who shares that sentiment.

Aside from the one PvP addon that's apparently alerting people to when they're about to be attacked or something (or for that matter any PvP related addon), how do you find it unfair if X person uses one addon and Y person doesn't? Unless of course addons that give an advantage in PvP ARE the ones you have a problem with, in which case I agree that for PvP, anything that gives someone an advantage of another should be disabled in PvP.

MidniteOwl1913 · January 12

fizl101 wrote: »

Some info was written here for add-on authors https://www.esoui.com/forums/showpost.php?p=50999&postcount=2

thanks for this!! I was pretty sure there would be a fair amount of effort involved in porting apps to the console and it seems that effort for the most part is on the developers. Also it sounds like there won't be any real addons for the console until at least U46.