Poll: How Do You Feel About the Visual Upgrades in ESO's Starter Zones?

katanagirl1 · March 12

Stunning! – The updated visuals make the world feel much more immersive and is a gamechanger.

Won’t get a chance to see it until the update drops on consoles, but I was really expecting texture improvements for rocks and such. So many areas have low res textures stretched thin on large rocks and they are so blurry. What did they change?

I guess on the upside it isn’t too different, could have been bad that way.

DreamyLu · March 12

Unnoticeable – I barely noticed any difference compared to before.

Sorry, but honestly, I didn't notice changes. I will try to take more care today.

Vulkunne · March 12

Unnoticeable – I barely noticed any difference compared to before.

Didn't notice. I kind of expected more but I'm not surprised. I can login at least and do what I need to do so, if nothing else I am thankful for that.

Jestir · March 12

Stunning! – The updated visuals make the world feel much more immersive and is a gamechanger.

I absolutely love most of what I have seen

But the biggest offenders left being stuff like rocks and the very outdated styles and in some cases models used by the NPCs

licenturion · March 13

Unnoticeable – I barely noticed any difference compared to before.

It's interesting to see the results so far. So keep on voting

One recurring piece of feedback—mentioned even by those with a positive view on the changes—is the outdated rock textures and assets. This concern was frequently raised during the PTS cycle as well. While graphical updates are always welcome, the fact that nearly every base game map is filled with rocks makes these improvements a lot less noticeable than they could be.

I still find it very strange that they still use the pre 2015 assets for these, while there have been a massive improvements of these assets since the Wrothgar DLC.

@ZOS_Kevin Has this feedback been considered for future zone reworks? Or is it something that’s firmly off the table?

valenwood_vegan · March 13

Unnoticeable – I barely noticed any difference compared to before.

Didn't spend a lot of time looking around, but I was in each of the starter zones to do the new safebox achievement and really didn't notice the difference.

Pixiepumpkin · March 13

Unnoticeable – I barely noticed any difference compared to before.

What zones were changed? I don't have the crowns to make a new toon and only have 1 slot left anyway. I'd love to see them.

sans-culottes · March 13

Looks better, but not a game-changer – The improvements are nice but not drastic enough to make a big impact.

Pixiepumpkin wrote: »

What zones were changed? I don't have the crowns to make a new toon and only have 1 slot left anyway. I'd love to see them.

You may still visit starter zones.

AllenaNightWood · March 13

Stunning! – The updated visuals make the world feel much more immersive and is a gamechanger.

its nice to see this, im on console so i gotta wait but hope these improvements keep coming to all zones

ZOS_Kevin · March 13

licenturion wrote: »

It's interesting to see the results so far. So keep on voting

One recurring piece of feedback—mentioned even by those with a positive view on the changes—is the outdated rock textures and assets. This concern was frequently raised during the PTS cycle as well. While graphical updates are always welcome, the fact that nearly every base game map is filled with rocks makes these improvements a lot less noticeable than they could be.

I still find it very strange that they still use the pre 2015 assets for these, while there have been a massive improvements of these assets since the Wrothgar DLC.

@ZOS_Kevin Has this feedback been considered for future zone reworks? Or is it something that’s firmly off the table?

The team has the rock feedback for future work consideration. One thing to note about some feedback not being immediate addressed and being interpreted as ignored: The note about the rock textures is a fair point. However during the PTS cycle, we outlined specifically what our goals in this first pass of improvements were addressing. The rock textures mentioned were outside of the scope of this specific pass, which is why they were not updated in this pass. So just wanted to clear up that we are not ignoring anyone. But the team has seen the feedback. We will have other refreshes down the line. This this was just our first one.

licenturion · March 13

Unnoticeable – I barely noticed any difference compared to before.

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

licenturion wrote: »

It's interesting to see the results so far. So keep on voting

One recurring piece of feedback—mentioned even by those with a positive view on the changes—is the outdated rock textures and assets. This concern was frequently raised during the PTS cycle as well. While graphical updates are always welcome, the fact that nearly every base game map is filled with rocks makes these improvements a lot less noticeable than they could be.

I still find it very strange that they still use the pre 2015 assets for these, while there have been a massive improvements of these assets since the Wrothgar DLC.

@ZOS_Kevin Has this feedback been considered for future zone reworks? Or is it something that’s firmly off the table?

The team has the rock feedback for future work consideration. One thing to note about some feedback not being immediate addressed and being interpreted as ignored: The note about the rock textures is a fair point. However during the PTS cycle, we outlined specifically what our goals in this first pass of improvements were addressing. The rock textures mentioned were outside of the scope of this specific pass, which is why they were not updated in this pass. So just wanted to clear up that we are not ignoring anyone. But the team has seen the feedback. We will have other refreshes down the line. This this was just our first one.

Thanks for the added insights. I understand the scope of the rock textures is a lot bigger because most maps are filled with them. But I am happy that more updates are not completely of the table.

I also want to add that you are doing a very good job as a community manager with your added insights on several topics on here. I appreciate it.

LPapirius · March 13

Unnecessary changes – The old assets and visuals were just fine.

I couldn't care less about some minor cosmetic changes to the starter zones, and new players aren't ever going to notice the difference anyway.

Mathius_Mordred · March 13

I think they look great, they brought the zones up to date. Looking forward to the larger zone revamp now.

NikkoDarwin · March 13

Unnoticeable – I barely noticed any difference compared to before.

Unnoticeable, honestly didn't notice anything changed

BixenteN7Akantor · March 13

Looks better, but not a game-changer – The improvements are nice but not drastic enough to make a big impact.

I wandered all 5 starter zones to see what was changed.
I noticed so many improvement accros all Stros M'Kai, it's great !
On Betnikh it's night and day with the shores, otherwise I haven't noticed anything special.
On Bleakrock Isle I only noticed the wayshrine that is now burried under snow lol.
On Bal Foyen I also noticed the wayrshrine has been changed, otherwise I noticed nothing.
On Khenarthi's Roost I noticed minor improvements in Mistral, the big change are the shipwrecks along the coast, otherwise I noticed nothing.
But I know those kinds of overhauls are dirty work, a lot of work for details we, the players, usually don't notice but we unconciously feel something has changed.
It is also weird to me that Bleakrock Isle has changed so little. I might be under Copium but my Copium theory is that we could get a repaired Bleakrock Village in the future.

kaushad · March 13

Unnoticeable – I barely noticed any difference compared to before.

I haven’t noticed any differences. I’m a little glad about that because I considered that it might entail replacing in DLC assets. I’d be be particularly disappointed if Bal Foyen looked like Vvardenfell partly because I want provinces too look diverse and mostly because I find Bal Foyen/Stonefalls more visually appealing.

opalbee · March 13

Looks better, but not a game-changer – The improvements are nice but not drastic enough to make a big impact.

The changes were more noticeable in some zones than others (Betnikh's west coast was lovely!), but I did really enjoy seeing the extra trees and plants as well as the improved water textures. It made the zones feel more "alive" for lack of a better term.

Avran_Sylt · March 13

Unnoticeable – I barely noticed any difference compared to before.

No good frame of reference like others have said, looks like most other zones which obviously means it did something. That being said, as others have noted, the large rock textures do stand out as dated, especially with the ground rock textures having more clarity.

ganzaeso · March 13

@ZOS_Kevin Hopefully the survey location for Jewelry Crafting Survey: Wrothgar III

|H1:item:139443:4:1:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:0:1:0:0:1:0:0:0|h|h

will also get looked at at some point. It is extremely inconvenient to have to jump down a cliff face, especially if you have multiple survey maps for the location. Perhaps just move it to the very bottom of the sea shore.

whitecrow · March 13

Unnoticeable – I barely noticed any difference compared to before.

I have only been to the Rift and have not noticed any difference.

16BitForestCat · March 14

whitecrow wrote: »

I have only been to the Rift and have not noticed any difference.

That's 'cause The Rift is not a starter zone. You didn't miss anything.

shadyjane62 · March 14

Stunning! – The updated visuals make the world feel much more immersive and is a gamechanger.

The water does it for me. I fish there and the sand and broken ships look great.

Pixiepumpkin · March 14

Unnoticeable – I barely noticed any difference compared to before.

sans-culottes wrote: »

Pixiepumpkin wrote: »

What zones were changed? I don't have the crowns to make a new toon and only have 1 slot left anyway. I'd love to see them.

You may still visit starter zones.

What are the starter zones?

I usually started in Coldharbor or a new Chapter zone (and obviously the chapters have not all been redone (or need to be).

BretonMage · March 14

I popped over to have a look at Betnikh, Stros M'Kai and Khenarthi's Roost, and they looked fine to me. I don't remember what they looked like before but they don't seem lacking compared to the zones I'm used to, so I guess the update was appropriately designed. The rock textures seemed fine as well, but I tend not to notice rocks much.

I do think the textures of early motifs are where the game's age really shows, less so environmental textures.

Pixiepumpkin · March 14

Unnoticeable – I barely noticed any difference compared to before.

BretonMage wrote: »

I popped over to have a look at Betnikh, Stros M'Kai and Khenarthi's Roost, and they looked fine to me. I don't remember what they looked like before but they don't seem lacking compared to the zones I'm used to, so I guess the update was appropriately designed. The rock textures seemed fine as well, but I tend not to notice rocks much.

I do think the textures of early motifs are where the game's age really shows, less so environmental textures.

Agreed that the motifs/clothing are what look the worst in early zones.

But I also think the rocks look terrible. They are kind of the first giveaway that a zone is old, along with flatish grass/lack of density.

Nydarisa · March 15

Stunning! – The updated visuals make the world feel much more immersive and is a gamechanger.

Aside from the rocks, which has already been discussed, the changes are pretty impressive.

For folks who are not seeing as much of the changes, it may have to do with your video settings. The more effects you permit, the more the changes are apparent. This makes sense as the whole point of reducing your video settings is to eliminate certain effects or assets - something pretty common for folks who do a lot of end game trials or PvP, where high graphics settings may turn your computer into a fire hazard.

JemadarofCaerSalis · March 15

MotherOfMoss wrote: »

TheKingofCats wrote: »

The buildings do not match the established design for each race. I'd like to see a larger sweep of changes that focus on having these beginner zones really look just as good as new zones. I'd like to be able to step onto Khenarthis Roost and not even see a hint of the old ugly designs.

I'd be for upgrading the environments a bit more, subtly, but the old racial styles are also a part of the established design of each race, and I'd personally hate to see e.g. the Khajiit style buildings flat-out replaced with Elsweyr style ones. The lace-like detailing on the Khajiit style doesn't exist in any other style, and I think it has its own charm. They're two different styles and both khajiit.

That said, the buildings in all the basegame styles do obviously look dated, and I'd love to see them spruced up somehow. That is probably quite unlikely to happen, though, because it would be an insane amount of work to re-draw all those structural parts. Cf. the water, sand, air changes which take effect in a blanket manner (or so one would assume). And, they'd almost certainly face backlash for doing that, as they have faced considerable negative feedback, as well as positive, for virtually any major visual overhaul of an existing thing (new skill animations come to mind, for instance).

So I find it very unlikely we'd be seeing a big architecture overhaul, just like we haven't seen the basegame outfit styles redrawn even though we keep wishing that would happen. I'd keep my hopes up for those rocks and other land textures. They seem the most likely to be changed further.

Sidenote, I also wish there were writ boards, full crafting areas and writ dropoffs in the starter zones. These are actually some of my favourite places in the game and I wish I could "live" in them! (I'd also like to have the Maormer embassy of Mistral as a home, but I know that's actually technically impossible )

One thing to note, on this subject is that it makes sense for Khenarthi's Roost to not necessarily have the exact same design as the buildings in Elsweyr. They are two different places, influenced by two different climates so it makes sense that the buildings would be different from each other. Similiar in style? Yes, but not exactly identical to each other.

I haven't noticed the changes (but then again, I rarely go to the starter zones) but I from the comparison pictures I have seen, I feel it is a good start.

Octagneh · March 16

That Cold Harbor opening screen is breath takingly clear. I run a 4090 on a 5k G9 Odyssey and it just pops. But when I went to the starter zones they were really clear but, not being able to see a before-and-after comparison, most of my opinion is just one side of my brain fact checking the other side. I convince myself I see a difference and then the other half says no. If I was allowed to have an opinion I would say that any time spend improving graphics is a positive.

WoW is certainly deeply detailed and there are many aspects where it is the market leader on complex and technical immersion with combat and such but, in 2025 and pretty much since the covid days, I have not been able to purchase a video card at honest prices. The video card I have cost more than the entire rest of the system. And with the power of these present day video cards with the cost of them, I don't want to play a game that looks like a 1960's cartoon. Which is why I don't play WoW. It's me. I just can't do it. That game looks like the Flintstones. I spent my time playing CGA and then EGA graphics in the 1980's. Fast forward to today, I'm not doing cartoons anymore. That was yesteryear. So when it comes to graphics, as far as I am concerned, don't hold back.

AvalonRanger · March 16

Unnoticeable – I barely noticed any difference compared to before.

Polygon amount of object is still lower than DLC contents.

redlink1979 · March 16

Looks better, but not a game-changer – The improvements are nice but not drastic enough to make a big impact.

I like the refurbishing, it seems less empty.