New dungeon pack not for sale, 'ESO+ only' for a limited time. (updated again 07/03)

meekmiko · January 15

But why even have the delay in release in the first place?? This adds nothing new to ESO+ user experience so why have it like this at all?

Is it like when they tried to do this kinda thing with the Crown Store Showcases? Where they tried to have ESO+ timed exclusive items for purchase and then release that same item a month later for everyone else to purchase? That failed and they reverted back to releasing everything for everyone at the same time.
Why and how is this any different?

Also, touching on the subject of ESO+ and the Crown Store. Why did they get so stuck on just releasing tiny statuettes and paintings for ESO+ subscribers? That should be the first change.
It should be a rotation of not just housing items but also costumes, mounts, pets, emotes, mementos, etc every month. Especially since not everyone does housing. That might actually entice some people to resub or to sub in general.

Like seriously, find a way to make ESO+ more appealing WITHOUT just taking away already established things and locking it behind the extra extra paywall.

sans-culottes · January 15

meekmiko wrote: »

Like seriously, find a way to make ESO+ more appealing WITHOUT just taking away already established things and locking it behind the extra extra paywall.

Fortunately, nothing has been taken away.

Orbital78 · January 15

I don't understand why they didn't communicate the delay better or even why there is a delay at all with it being in the crown store. They would need to juice those sets up a lot to bring much hype for me, anyways.

I am happy they are somewhat fixing some old sets. Hopefully they look at perfected relequen more though compared to siroria.

Desiato · January 15

Unless I'm reading this wrong, ZOS is still saying that non-subs on PC won't have access to the new DLC dungeons until the console launch 2 weeks later?

I still think it's important that this decision is reversed. There needs to be more empathy for the affected customers who will essentially be barred from enjoying new content with their friends unless they sub.

If I was one of those players, I would not only be outraged, but very hurt. Maybe some of them are on a tight budget and don't want their friends to know. Maybe others won't sub out of principle because they already paid for future content by buying Crowns.

Why put anyone in this position in the first place?

It is a kind of systemic ostracization being imposed on them.

My heart goes out to everyone affected. This isn't fair.

And if this is it for me for saying this, gg.

PeacefulAnarchy · January 15

meekmiko wrote: »

But why even have the delay in release in the first place?? This adds nothing new to ESO+ user experience so why have it like this at all?.

the post says they're doing this in preparation of the new release system so my speculation is that in the future they plan on releasing things at the same time on PC and console, and this serves as a test for them to see if whatever they're doing on the backend works. The post also says there will be other ways to aquire the dungeons besides crowns so it could be tied to that. maybe they want a straight cash alternative and want that available at the same time on all platforms, maybe they want to make it available for a golden pursuit and want to run the event on both console and pc at the same time.

I wish they wouldn't be so tight lipped, but I'm willing to wait this one out given that they said it would be available in a short time frame.

XSTRONG · January 15

Desiato wrote: »

Unless I'm reading this wrong, ZOS is still saying that non-subs on PC won't have access to the new DLC dungeons until the console launch 2 weeks later?

I still think it's important that this decision is reversed. There needs to be more empathy for the affected customers who will essentially be barred from enjoying new content with their friends unless they sub.

If I was one of those players, I would not only be outraged, but very hurt. Maybe some of them are on a tight budget and don't want their friends to know. Maybe others won't sub out of principle because they already paid for future content by buying Crowns.

Why put anyone in this position in the first place?

It is a kind of systemic ostracization being imposed on them.

My heart goes out to everyone affected. This isn't fair.

And if this is it for me for saying this, gg.

If anyone bought Crowns for future updates its up to them, Zos have never said that its written in stone that all dlc will be purchasable with Crowns neither have Zos said you should stock up on crowns to buy new content.

The new dlc will be purchasable with crowns as Matt said so the people who did buy crowns in advance for this dlc will be able to buy it.

I have had Eso+ for several years yet I dont own any of the dlc, that to me is weirder then an Eso+ exclusivity but im an Console player so the Eso+ exclusivity apperntly only last until Console launch...

licenturion · January 15

PeacefulAnarchy wrote: »

meekmiko wrote: »

But why even have the delay in release in the first place?? This adds nothing new to ESO+ user experience so why have it like this at all?.

the post says they're doing this in preparation of the new release system so my speculation is that in the future they plan on releasing things at the same time on PC and console, and this serves as a test for them to see if whatever they're doing on the backend works. The post also says there will be other ways to aquire the dungeons besides crowns so it could be tied to that. maybe they want a straight cash alternative and want that available at the same time on all platforms, maybe they want to make it available for a golden pursuit and want to run the event on both console and pc at the same time.

I wish they wouldn't be so tight lipped, but I'm willing to wait this one out given that they said it would be available in a short time frame.

The problem is that the clarification still needs a clarification. It still is very vague about the why question. The communication great but also a big of a missed opportunity.

But since they addressed the outcry rather quickly officially, I give them the benefit of the doubt for now. We will see what they announce in April. But at least they saw this is a very touchy subject within the player base.

But I agree with what other people say. If they want to increase the value of ESO+ they should do it by adding value to it like (while active) 15 armory slot, 15 outfit slot, free use of assistants like bankers. But starting to remove or withhold gameplay content from people or 'early access' just divides the community, guilds and friends in two. It will also create gameplay unfairness (like PvP with sets/skills/...), story spoilers or other unfair advantages if you are not paying for elite club access.

But we will know in April.

Desiato · January 15

XSTRONG wrote: »

If anyone bought Crowns for future updates its up to them, Zos have never said that its written in stone that all dlc will be purchasable with Crowns neither have Zos said you should stock up on crowns to buy new content.

I would call that a cop-out. The B2P paradigm is at least an implicitly official path to play ESO.

At the end of the day, nothing is set in stone and the service provider has the freedom to change any parameters they wish. That doesn't mean any changes would be appropriate.

The thing about choosing the B2P path is that one becomes invested in it because "owning" the DLC is effectively worthless as a subscriber.

There are players who have expressed how this will hurt them. There's no need for this to happen. This a product owned by Microsoft which has a market cap of over 3 trillion dollars...

hiyde · January 15

XSTRONG wrote: »

If anyone bought Crowns for future updates its up to them, Zos have never said that its written in stone that all dlc will be purchasable with Crowns neither have Zos said you should stock up on crowns to buy new content.

Sure, that's true, but at the same time, for many, many years, the established norm is that players can buy DLC with crowns.
As for stocking up on crowns, ZOS literally encourages with those periodical Crown sales.

The new dlc will be purchasable with crowns as Matt said so the people who did buy crowns in advance for this dlc will be able to buy it.

Right, but for the first time, there will be an exclusive ESO+ window, for reasons that haven't been made clear and could very easily be made clear. Why is it different this time? That's a fair question to help us all understand where monetization is heading.

I have had Eso+ for several years yet I dont own any of the dlc, that to me is weirder then an Eso+ exclusivity but im an Console player so the Eso+ exclusivity apperntly only last until Console launch...

I don't buy DLC either but I do buy Chapters & ESO+ on mutliple accts. To each their own!

I think the people that are affected by this (PC Players) have every right to constructively provide feedback and ask questions (and yes I know, not all of it is constructive) and everyone, regardless of platform, should be free to do the same, of course.

sans-culottes · January 15

Desiato wrote: »

It is a kind of systemic ostracization being imposed on them.

Let’s be clear that no one is being systematically ostracized by having to wait two weeks. Unless, that is, all console players are by this definition of having to wait two weeks to access content—which, unlike this, you can’t access via other means.

Soarora · January 15

rrbreezy wrote: »

Desiato wrote: »

It is a kind of systemic ostracization being imposed on them.

Let’s be clear that no one is being systematically ostracized by having to wait two weeks. Unless, that is, all console players are by this definition of having to wait two weeks to access content—which, unlike this, you can’t access via other means.

Yes, waiting two weeks is only a problem if you're wanting to do PC world first/day 1/week 1 clears or if you intend on doing a blind run with PuGs (which can't be guaranteed anyways because of the PTS). It's not hard to dodge spoilers for 2 weeks like it would be if the release were months away, and the hype should still be there with people still wanting to run the content by the time that the DLCs are purchasable.

Danikat · January 15

Soarora wrote: »

rrbreezy wrote: »

Desiato wrote: »

It is a kind of systemic ostracization being imposed on them.

Let’s be clear that no one is being systematically ostracized by having to wait two weeks. Unless, that is, all console players are by this definition of having to wait two weeks to access content—which, unlike this, you can’t access via other means.

Yes, waiting two weeks is only a problem if you're wanting to do PC world first/day 1/week 1 clears or if you intend on doing a blind run with PuGs (which can't be guaranteed anyways because of the PTS). It's not hard to dodge spoilers for 2 weeks like it would be if the release were months away, and the hype should still be there with people still wanting to run the content by the time that the DLCs are purchasable.

I think it will have the worst impact on groups of friends where some buy the DLC and some subscribe. They'll now have to choose between making everyone wait 2 weeks or splitting their group up and getting randoms to fill out the spaces.

Its a vast improvement over the original plan, but a very odd choice.

I assume they want to get an idea of how many people would be willing to subscribe for early access and this is a compromise between countering the backlash from the community and still getting that data from some of the people most likely to be pressured into buying a subscription they don't otherwise want or need.

Desiato · January 15

rrbreezy wrote: »

Desiato wrote: »

It is a kind of systemic ostracization being imposed on them.

Let’s be clear that no one is being systematically ostracized by having to wait two weeks. Unless, that is, all console players are by this definition of having to wait two weeks to access content—which, unlike this, you can’t access via other means.

If a B2P PC player doesn't want to sub, they won't be able to play new content with their friends for two weeks. That is definitely a form of ostracization.

No, console players aren't being ostracized in the same way because they never play with PC players while on playing on console.

Cambridge Dictionary wrote:

/ˈɑː.strə.saɪz/ to avoid someone intentionally, or to prevent someone from taking part in the activities of a group

It's not nice to experience that.

The systemic part is that it is being imposed by the service provider.

sans-culottes · January 15

No, you’re not being ostracized. You can just wait a week—or subscribe to ESO+. This isn’t comparable to being shunned from a fundamentalist community, no matter how unfair it may feel.

I should add that picking a small part of a definition doesn’t really make this word mean what you think it means. The etymology’s interesting, and I encourage you to consider how other people use this term:
Per M-W:
Ostracize Has Greek Roots
In ancient Greece, citizens whose power or influence threatened the stability of the state could be exiled by a practice called ostracism. Voters would elect to banish another citizen by writing that citizen's name down on a potsherd. Those receiving enough votes would then be subject to temporary exile from the state. Ostracize originated with the meaning "to exile by the ancient method of ostracism," but these days it usually refers to the general exclusion of a person from a group at the agreement of its members.

Examples of ostracize in a Sentence
She was ostracized from the scientific community for many years because of her radical political beliefs.
The other girls ostracized her because of the way she dressed.

Soarora · January 16

Danikat wrote: »

Soarora wrote: »

rrbreezy wrote: »

Desiato wrote: »

It is a kind of systemic ostracization being imposed on them.

Let’s be clear that no one is being systematically ostracized by having to wait two weeks. Unless, that is, all console players are by this definition of having to wait two weeks to access content—which, unlike this, you can’t access via other means.

Yes, waiting two weeks is only a problem if you're wanting to do PC world first/day 1/week 1 clears or if you intend on doing a blind run with PuGs (which can't be guaranteed anyways because of the PTS). It's not hard to dodge spoilers for 2 weeks like it would be if the release were months away, and the hype should still be there with people still wanting to run the content by the time that the DLCs are purchasable.

I think it will have the worst impact on groups of friends where some buy the DLC and some subscribe. They'll now have to choose between making everyone wait 2 weeks or splitting their group up and getting randoms to fill out the spaces.

Its a vast improvement over the original plan, but a very odd choice.

I assume they want to get an idea of how many people would be willing to subscribe for early access and this is a compromise between countering the backlash from the community and still getting that data from some of the people most likely to be pressured into buying a subscription they don't otherwise want or need.

That is a good point, but again unless someone really wants the personal achievement of being first or doing it early there's not much harm in waiting 2 weeks for the rest of the group. 2 weeks is not much time, especially if you're already working on other content. IMO it'd be a problem if it were a month or more. That said, it's not ideal, but I agree it's a vast improvement over what we originally thought.

Could be said that the eso+ requirement hurts the competitive aspect but would have to ask the people who typically go for first and early clears how they feel about it, I don't want to speak for them. My personal feelings are that I did early BV and OP tris and it did not matter at all when I got them, and I'm not capable of attempting world first with my group anyways due to peoples work schedules.

Desiato · January 16

rrbreezy wrote: »

No, you’re not being ostracized. You can just wait a week—or subscribe to ESO+. This isn’t comparable to being shunned from a fundamentalist community, no matter how unfair it may feel.

Your examples are why I am calling it systemic ostracization. It is not being imposed by their peers, but by the system. It doesn't matter if it's a day or a year or a lifetime, they are still being prevented from playing with their friends based on the way they've chosen to pay for the game.

sans-culottes · January 16

Desiato wrote: »

No, console players aren't being ostracized in the same way because they never play with PC players while on playing on console.

Huh. So if they’re intentionally excluded, and the exclusion is being done by an external group capable of dictating the terms of in-group membership, then it’s almost like they’re systematically ostracized. In fact, it’s clear the level of ostracism is much higher re: console players, by this thinking, because they’re excluded from, say, using a keyboard and mouse. It’s like they’re ostracized.

TaSheen · January 16

rrbreezy wrote: »

Desiato wrote: »

No, console players aren't being ostracized in the same way because they never play with PC players while on playing on console.

Huh. So if they’re intentionally excluded, and the exclusion is being done by an external group capable of dictating the terms of in-group membership, then it’s almost like they’re systematically ostracized. In fact, it’s clear the level of ostracism is much higher re: console players, by this thinking, because they’re excluded from, say, using a keyboard and mouse. It’s like they’re ostracized.

Well, I think some people can use kb/m with consoles? In any case, if they're ostracized, surely that's on them, since they've chosen to game on console rather than pc?

sans-culottes · January 16

TaSheen wrote: »

rrbreezy wrote: »

Desiato wrote: »

No, console players aren't being ostracized in the same way because they never play with PC players while on playing on console.

Huh. So if they’re intentionally excluded, and the exclusion is being done by an external group capable of dictating the terms of in-group membership, then it’s almost like they’re systematically ostracized. In fact, it’s clear the level of ostracism is much higher re: console players, by this thinking, because they’re excluded from, say, using a keyboard and mouse. It’s like they’re ostracized.

Well, I think some people can use kb/m with consoles? In any case, if they're ostracized, surely that's on them, since they've chosen to game on console rather than pc?

That’s not the point of this post. Also, PSN players literally can’t play with a keyboard and mouse. But choosing to subscribe to ESO+ or not for two weeks prior to some other pricing schema coming out is, arguably, at least as much of a “choice.”

In case it’s not clear, the point is that neither of these things are ostracism.

katanagirl1 · January 16

Alinhbo_Tyaka wrote: »

Danikat wrote: »

XSTRONG wrote: »

Danikat wrote: »

I'm glad they changed their minds. I'm still concerned that it sounds like this is the model they plan to use in future, which means all the problems raised in this thread are going to come up, just with later DLCs, but at least we'll get more notice before it happens.

sarahthes wrote: »

Ph1p wrote: »

tomofhyrule wrote: »

Matt just posted a letter talking about the purchasing scheme of the new dungeons, and does confirm that they will be purchaseable with Crowns "after Update 45 console launch."

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/672037/u45-purchasing-clarification-recent-network-attacks#latest

Credit where credit is due: This is a positive development out of this whole mess, and it’s good that we got an official clarification after less than a week.

Still, looking back I can’t help but wonder:
Why not just communicate clearly instead of risking a negative reaction? I can guarantee you that I would have been more curious and positive about the April reveal, for example, than I am now.

What’s even the point of giving subscribers a 2-week exclusivity period that makes almost no difference to them, except that they still may not be able to play with all their friends at launch?

If the engagement on this topic here and elsewhere had been different, where would we be now? In that vein - and to end on a positive note - thank you to everyone who took part in the discussion, regardless of your stance on the matter!

It's possibly a technical limitation of the crown store, or something to do with their agreements with Microsoft and Sony.

Clarification would be nice.

If that is the reason then it's a new change, because until now PC players have always been able to buy the DLC as soon as it's released on PC, we haven't needed to wait for the console release.

Welcome to the world of Eso Console players, we are getting every update and new chapters two weeks after PC and this is the only game I know of that do this.

Im really hoping they wont continue this, how fun would it be to start the new seasons two weeks after they are released? Lol

I think what happens is when an update is ready they submit it for console certification (which takes 2 weeks) and release it immediately on PC because there's no certification process there.

I think other games hold back the PC version until the console versions are certified so they can release them all together.

I don't have any strong feelings on that, there's pros and cons to both schedules, but it seems odd that the only people getting a 'delayed' release on this DLC are PC players who want to buy it instead of subscribe, because console players will be able to buy it as soon as it's released for them.

Its still a big improvement over their previous plan, and it sounds like it will only affect this 1 DLC but it's still odd.

I've been thinking along the same lines. While we have a somewhat definitive timeline of purchase availability it still divides ESO+ and purchase players on PC such that friends or guilds will need to decide whether to wait for all players to be able to access the DLC or leave the purchasing players behind.

With all of ZOS's talk about no more firm schedules it might be time to hold any PC release back until consoles can be released. It would resolve the problem of dividing the PC player base. Another thing it would help is not spoiling the new release for consoles. If I played on consoles I'd certainly consider the new release to be somewhat of a letdown with everything having been exposed on the PC side for a few weeks beforehand. I'd posit that waiting until consoles release wouldn't affect overall revenue as the players who subscribe for new content and cancel will continue to do so, those who buy the new Crown Store item still will and regular ESO+ subscribers will stay subscribes regardless. I don't really see a down side other than maybe we PC players will need to learn a little patience when it comes to content releases.

It used to work well for us on console because a lot of bugs would get fixed in the two weeks before console launch, but that doesn’t happen as much anymore. I try to avoid spoilers but a lot of PTS bugs show up the Bug Reports section and they may have spoilers in them. Then the live bug reports show up. Then two weeks later another set of bug report threads show up when consoles get them, so it sort of makes a mess of the whole section.

EDIT: clarification

sans-culottes · January 16

Alinhbo_Tyaka wrote: »

Danikat wrote: »

XSTRONG wrote: »

Danikat wrote: »

I'm glad they changed their minds. I'm still concerned that it sounds like this is the model they plan to use in future, which means all the problems raised in this thread are going to come up, just with later DLCs, but at least we'll get more notice before it happens.

sarahthes wrote: »

Ph1p wrote: »

tomofhyrule wrote: »

Matt just posted a letter talking about the purchasing scheme of the new dungeons, and does confirm that they will be purchaseable with Crowns "after Update 45 console launch."

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/672037/u45-purchasing-clarification-recent-network-attacks#latest

Credit where credit is due: This is a positive development out of this whole mess, and it’s good that we got an official clarification after less than a week.

Still, looking back I can’t help but wonder:
Why not just communicate clearly instead of risking a negative reaction? I can guarantee you that I would have been more curious and positive about the April reveal, for example, than I am now.

What’s even the point of giving subscribers a 2-week exclusivity period that makes almost no difference to them, except that they still may not be able to play with all their friends at launch?

If the engagement on this topic here and elsewhere had been different, where would we be now? In that vein - and to end on a positive note - thank you to everyone who took part in the discussion, regardless of your stance on the matter!

It's possibly a technical limitation of the crown store, or something to do with their agreements with Microsoft and Sony.

Clarification would be nice.

If that is the reason then it's a new change, because until now PC players have always been able to buy the DLC as soon as it's released on PC, we haven't needed to wait for the console release.

Welcome to the world of Eso Console players, we are getting every update and new chapters two weeks after PC and this is the only game I know of that do this.

Im really hoping they wont continue this, how fun would it be to start the new seasons two weeks after they are released? Lol

I think what happens is when an update is ready they submit it for console certification (which takes 2 weeks) and release it immediately on PC because there's no certification process there.

I think other games hold back the PC version until the console versions are certified so they can release them all together.

I don't have any strong feelings on that, there's pros and cons to both schedules, but it seems odd that the only people getting a 'delayed' release on this DLC are PC players who want to buy it instead of subscribe, because console players will be able to buy it as soon as it's released for them.

Its still a big improvement over their previous plan, and it sounds like it will only affect this 1 DLC but it's still odd.

I've been thinking along the same lines. While we have a somewhat definitive timeline of purchase availability it still divides ESO+ and purchase players on PC such that friends or guilds will need to decide whether to wait for all players to be able to access the DLC or leave the purchasing players behind.

With all of ZOS's talk about no more firm schedules it might be time to hold any PC release back until consoles can be released. It would resolve the problem of dividing the PC player base. Another thing it would help is not spoiling the new release for consoles. If I played on consoles I'd certainly consider the new release to be somewhat of a letdown with everything having been exposed on the PC side for a few weeks beforehand. I'd posit that waiting until consoles release wouldn't affect overall revenue as the players who subscribe for new content and cancel will continue to do so, those who buy the new Crown Store item still will and regular ESO+ subscribers will stay subscribes regardless. I don't really see a down side other than maybe we PC players will need to learn a little patience when it comes to content releases.

This is an interesting idea. I’ll admit I’ve never found “spoilers” related to new dungeons, etc. to be much of a concern. However, providing more parity between console and PC versions of the game is a horse of a different color. Console players are something of the “redheaded stepchildren” of this game.

Greystag · January 16

It's good that they will be purchasable later on, but I wonder why they didn't clarify this on the original official post, and why it took them 5 days to address it, when it's clearly a big issue (as demonstrated in this thread).
Either they were testing the waters or it's just another misstep regarding communication.
Regardless, thanks for the clarification.

DenverRalphy · January 16

I think people are "Seeing the Devil where he doesn't exist".

It was so obviously a disconnect between what was intended, and how the person who wrote the article interpreted it. Nothing more. Despite recent popular opinion, ZOS isn't in the business of stickin it to the players.

Kappachi · January 26

wait so what the heck, after 2026 i won't be able to keep playing with all the content unless I have eso+? I paid my way in, multiple years of subs and tons of crowns to buy every available DLC and I continue to buy every DLC as they come out... Why is this happening?

Danikat · January 26

Kappachi wrote: »

wait so what the heck, after 2026 i won't be able to keep playing with all the content unless I have eso+? I paid my way in, multiple years of subs and tons of crowns to buy every available DLC and I continue to buy every DLC as they come out... Why is this happening?

We don't know what the release schedule will be or how DLC will be paid for after the next one.

The Studio Director's Letter for 2025 announced that they're dropping the chapter + dungeon DLC format and instead implementing 'seasons' but we won't get the details of what that means until April.

The Letter says seasons will start in 2025 and will be 3 or 6 months long and will include "themed story content, events, store items, dungeons and more" and they later clarified that they will still make new zones as part of that. It also says 2025 will be a transition year, going from the old format to the new one. What it didn't say is how this mix of story, events, store items, dungeons, 'more' and maybe zones will be released or paid for, all we can do is speculate.

Kappachi · January 26

Danikat wrote: »

Kappachi wrote: »

wait so what the heck, after 2026 i won't be able to keep playing with all the content unless I have eso+? I paid my way in, multiple years of subs and tons of crowns to buy every available DLC and I continue to buy every DLC as they come out... Why is this happening?

We don't know what the release schedule will be or how DLC will be paid for after the next one.

The Studio Director's Letter for 2025 announced that they're dropping the chapter + dungeon DLC format and instead implementing 'seasons' but we won't get the details of what that means until April.

The Letter says seasons will start in 2025 and will be 3 or 6 months long and will include "themed story content, events, store items, dungeons and more" and they later clarified that they will still make new zones as part of that. It also says 2025 will be a transition year, going from the old format to the new one. What it didn't say is how this mix of story, events, store items, dungeons, 'more' and maybe zones will be released or paid for, all we can do is speculate.

i would hope if they do something like EA it isn't for the whole season. honestly I could see that being a negative for both eso+ and people who just buy crowns to buy dlcs, since for eso+ there'd be less people in the dungeon queue. something like a week EA would probably be fine even though it's still weird given that buying DLC dungeons still cost money and is effectively a month sub by itself.

I think one thing most people would agree on is one of the major benefits of ESO is that it is not a sub required MMO; locking any gameplay content behind sub only automatically makes it sub required IMO.

licenturion · March 7

UPDATE:

I just noticed they put this in the latest article about these dungeons:

Look for more details on additional ways to acquire Fallen Banners during the upcoming April ESO Direct.

So I guess they will probably introduce a 'buy year 2025 pass' with real money (not crowns) like chapters used to be where you get all the upcoming content packaged in 1 pack.

I assume a 'buy with crowns' will also be available down the line but I think they just want to prevent that people buy the dungeons with crowns day 1 and then feel ripped off when it is part of the 'year pass' if they already spend crowns on it. Or that people don't buy the year pass at all because they already have paid for a part of it.

This is all speculation of course, but seeing how ESO has been doing business and how other live service games do it, this makes the most sense to me.

colossalvoids · March 7

Thanks for reminding there will be no content on a patch drop day.

Ph1p · March 7

licenturion wrote: »

UPDATE:

I just noticed they put this in the latest article about these dungeons:

Look for more details on additional ways to acquire Fallen Banners during the upcoming April ESO Direct.

So I guess they will probably introduce a 'buy year 2025 pass' with real money (not crowns) like chapters used to be where you get all the upcoming content packaged in 1 pack.

I assume a 'buy with crowns' will also be available down the line but I think they just want to prevent that people buy the dungeons with crowns day 1 and then feel ripped off when it is part of the 'year pass' if they already spend crowns on it. Or that people don't buy the year pass at all because they already have paid for a part of it.

This is all speculation of course, but seeing how ESO has been doing business and how other live service games do it, this makes the most sense to me.

If this is their concern, ZOS could have easily resolved it without devaluing Crowns people have already paid for and without preventing non-subscribers from playing with their friends on day 1. For example:

Give people who bought the DLC a discount on the later pass
Don't include the DLC in the pack - previous dungeons weren't part of the summer chapter after all