ESO+ just lost a significant amount of value AGAIN!

spartaxoxo · April 11

First, I just want to say this is not a thread for discussing the price of the content pass. If you'd like to discuss the content pass (or plus) price, I recommend using another thread that focuses on that so as not to derail this one, if that's what you prefer to discuss. Thank you!

That out of the way, let's begin. A few years ago, I made this thread expressing concern about the removal of the small zone dlc and 1 dungeon dlc from the game as DLC access was a major perk of Plus. Since then, chapters have been removed from the game. And ----btw I am only mentioning this next point tangentially so please focus on this elsewhere ---- the content pass has now removed the incentive to buy the remaining dungeons by making them something you own outright upon purchase. The furnishing vault has added a brand-new perk to Plus, which I do appreciate. I very much look forward to that feature. But now, there is no point in subbing for ESO+ as a way to gain access to current year DLC. You'll still retain access to old DLC so that's nice. But new DLC will no longer be a new, added value to Plus each year for those who previously bought chapters early. And I think that's probably a lot of subscribers.

So, this brings me to my next question for ZOS. Now that Plus has been displaced as an access model for new and current DLC, how should ESO+ be viewed? Is it transitioning to something that is primarily aimed at providing QOL things like the furnishing vault and crafting bag? With that in mind, will we perhaps receive other things down the line that increase quality of life of the game for subscribers? Can we expect any new cosmetics perhaps to be added for subbing? Or is Plus going to morph into something else entirely? What are the plans for ESO+ in particular, moving forward? For players, how do you view Plus now? How do you think Plus should evolve moving forward? Is there anything you'd like to see added to Plus that we don't currently have?

Thank you.

alternatelder · April 11

The furnishing vault is great, but it still doesn't make up for all that we've lost. As of now, I'm done spending money on the annual pass, it's no longer worth it for me. I'll buy 1-3 months out of the year, if even that, but more needs to be added to the subscription to make it a better value for everyone.

Rkindaleft · April 11

I’d also like to mention there’s still a thread in the ESO Plus and Crown Store section of the forums asking for ideas and suggestions on ESO+ that still gets the occasional post in it but has had no developer engagement for like 7-8 years.

AzuraFan · April 11

I've been a subscriber for a while now. Given what's happening (ESO+ losing more and more value over time), I'd much rather just pay for stuff outright. So I'd prefer that ESO+ go away, and things like the craft bag and furniture vault be a one-time purchase.

It feels like ESO+ is a legacy thing. As ESO's content model evolves, ZOS is trying to evolve ESO+ with it, but the result has been a devaluation of the whole sub. Which brings us to today, when subscribers have been told that if they'd like to play the new content at release, they have to buy a pass that includes content they already pay for every month through their sub. To me, that's double-dipping, and it certainly means that non-subscribers are getting more value for their money from the content pass (an expensive pass, I might add). I don't begrudge at all non-subscribers getting the dungeons. I just don't like the way subscribers are being treated.

I question why two version of the content pass weren't offered: one that includes the dungeons, and one that doesn't. Not everyone wants the dungeons, and non-subscribers who don't want them are being forced to pay for them if they want to play the new content.

For ESO+, I think it should be let go at this point, and the perks that can go into the crown store should go into the crown store. That would be the craft bag, the increased bank slots, and the furniture vault. Just sell them outright and get rid of ESO+.

Metafae · April 11

I know of many people who really don't like the DLC dungeons and avoid owning them, so they never have to do them.

This just forces people to buy the DLC dungeons when they don't want to.

There were people who stopped claiming login rewards because they gave away DLC dungeons for free in the first week of rewards.

I think it is time to make all the ESO+ perks be one and done purchases and remove it from the game.

But this will be bad for their investors as this is a stable source of income.

valenwood_vegan · April 11

I used to sub for a full year at a time, and have scaled it back in recent years as content has been reduced. I will probably just scale it back further to make up for the increased up front price of the season pass.

TaSheen · April 11

This new model doesn't fit me at all. *sigh*

Stx · April 11

I would like it if ESO+ got a lot more crowns monthly as compensation. The way it is now you get barely enough crowns to buy half an item and there’s TONS to spend them on.

MasterSpatula · April 11

ESO+ doesn't feel like a subscription anymore. It feels like a convenience fee.

Castagere · April 11

I was thinking about subbing again, but now not so much.

WhiteCoatSyndrome · April 11

+1 for putting the Craft Bag etc. in the Crown Store as a one time purchase. (And yes, I acknowledge it’s unlikely ZOS will actually do that.) It’s getting to the point that I’m having trouble following all the ins and outs of the various pay gates (Sub, Season, Chapter, Crown Store, Crown Crates…) and I’ve been here since beta, I can only imagine how rough it must be for a potential new player to try to figure out what they need to do to get the content they want. Folding the subscription perks into the Crown Store would help consolidate and simplify matters. None of the remaining perks are worth subscribing consistently for.

Personofsecrets · April 11

The ship sailed on ESO Plus being a value proposition as soon as Paul Sage saying "put a few Crowns into your pocket" fell on deaf ears.

Now it's just about supporting a game you like. If you like it, pay. If you don't like it, don't pay.

What seems to be the issue is the question of if there advantages that one get's by paying. I already wrote that the ship has sailed on that potentially problematic issue though.

majulook · April 11

Any real advantage to get ESO+ once Game pass goes live?

TaSheen · April 11

majulook wrote: »

Any real advantage to get ESO+ once Game pass goes live?

Doesn't seem like it. And after years of subbing.... I'm not really interested in the new model. At all. Right now, what they just did was telling me I was stupid for subbing for seven years on 4 accounts.

Orbital78 · April 11

What has changed? I am confused, I mean the game already semi requires ESO+ to enjoy the game and not be constantly messing with your inventory. ESO+ never gave access to the current "chapter" but to all of the dungeon dlc's and previous zones.

icefyer_ESO · April 11

AzuraFan wrote: »

For ESO+, I think it should be let go at this point, and the perks that can go into the crown store should go into the crown store. That would be the craft bag, the increased bank slots, and the furniture vault. Just sell them outright and get rid of ESO+.

Man, I'd love craft bag and increased bank slots being on the crown store. I live on disability so I can't always sub, to the point I rely on crown selling stuff for the crown store goodies I need, grinding out gold to pay for one old DLC pack at a time. I'd much prefer a "one-and-done" price for them to have them for keeps.

Toanis · April 11

The season pass costs $10 more than an chapter, but includes the dungeon dlc so that's $5 saved if you are not a subscriber.

As a subscriber, sitting this one out and getting the story content next year via ESO+ seems the best deal.

As a non-subscriber who doesn't do dungeons, it also seems a better deal to get ESO+ to test the story in a year, and if you want to unlock it permanently do it with your ESO+ crowns.

I don't really feel the hype to get the "chapter" ASAP, especially with he big gameplay feature (subclasses) being for everyone.

katanagirl1 · April 11

I really can’t do without the craft bag and the increased housing slots, so I feel I have to keep eso plus.

Feels really bad for paying every month for the greater portion of ten years to keep the lights on and the servers running and lose more stuff.

Maitsukas · April 11

Stx wrote: »

I would like it if ESO+ got a lot more crowns monthly as compensation. The way it is now you get barely enough crowns to buy half an item and there’s TONS to spend them on.

Considering that the swap of permanent mounts a month ago has increased their average price, I find this a reasonable approach:

Imo, it should be at minimum 2000 Crowns per month now.

spartaxoxo · April 13

Stx wrote: »

I would like it if ESO+ got a lot more crowns monthly as compensation. The way it is now you get barely enough crowns to buy half an item and there’s TONS to spend them on.

Yeah a crowns increase would be nice. Maybe enough crowns to cover the cost of dlc dungeon?

In the past they added the little statuettes and the paintings. It would be cool to see something else added like maybe Plus exclusive skill styles.

AlterBlika · April 13

Honestly they should include all dlcs and whatever in eso+, and maybe provide some additional benefits for subscribers to make more people sub. For me eso+ was never a good deal.

agelonestar · April 13

It is astonishing to me that ZoS has launched their new game content structure without considering or addressing the impact on ESO+ subscribers - potentially the biggest fans of the game and certainly those who keep it afloat!

@ZOS_Kevin can we please have some kind of statement for ESO+ subscribers from ZoS in this subject?

There are two main issues:-

1. ESO+ value is being eroded year on year. Originally we got the usual “+” perks and access to x2 dungeon drops and the DLC content.
2. This year, ESO+ subscribers are paying TWICE if they buy the Season Pass. e.g. The dungeons are included in ESO+ AND the Season Pass.

1+2 means your biggest financial supporters are paying more than ever before, but we’re getting less and less value and even paying twice for stuff.

Surely this is an oversight? Please tell us there’s more coming for ESO+ subscribers…….

Muizer · April 13

Under season's pass we get less zone content which ostensibly is 'compensated' for with getting to own dungeons. Of course if you're an ESO+ subscriber, you already have access to that. So then what remains is that you get to own something you already had access to. Hardly impressive, also considering you cannot just now let your ESO+ lapse without losing access to past Dungeons.

Gabriel_H · April 13

agelonestar wrote: »

2. This year, ESO+ subscribers are paying TWICE if they buy the Season Pass. e.g. The dungeons are included in ESO+ AND the Season Pass.

You would only be paying "TWICE" if they increased the subscription price.

Darkstorne · April 13

Yep, it's objectively a bad value proposition now, and essentially just an £81.99/year fee for better storage options. But I appreciate they are clearly designating this year as a "transition period" as they figure out how to monetize and support ESO going forwards as they pull away from the Chapter model, so I'm hoping they take the opportunity to shake things up with ESO+ at some point this year as well.

Here's a suggestion I'll throw out there for helping ESO+ sit alongside the new Season model: Season Plus.

If the base price of a Season is £42.99 (which gets the entire year's worth of content), and the 365 day plan of ESO+ is £81.99, which has now lost a lot of value with all the year's content being part of the expansion price, then how about a Season + purchase option replacing ESO+? Something like a price of ~£99.99 for the year to get everything all in one.

My plan for this year is to sit the Season Pass out because I just can't justify paying for both the Season Pass AND ESO+. That's a lot of money in total, and they both overlap in what they offer which makes such a high cost hard to swallow. Subclassing is base game anyway, so I'd rather miss out on the new zone this year than try to make do with halving all my storage options and giving up on housing for 2025.

Ezhh · April 13

Muizer wrote: »

Under season's pass we get less zone content which ostensibly is 'compensated' for with getting to own dungeons. Of course if you're an ESO+ subscriber, you already have access to that. So then what remains is that you get to own something you already had access to. Hardly impressive, also considering you cannot just now let your ESO+ lapse without losing access to past Dungeons.

This sums it up perfectly. I can't drop Plus without losing access to past dungeons, since I assumed it would always be worth buying Plus and never bought them. But if I don't get the new Pass, I also don't have access to all content, so continue playing as I enjoy I would need both. Then I'm getting "ownership" of something that's 100% redundant to have ownership of for the pleasure of paying more than I did for last year's chapter on launch. All while the big new feature is base game, not specific to the new content.

It feels like a very poor way to reward years of subscribing.

---

Gabriel_H wrote: »

You would only be paying "TWICE" if they increased the subscription price.

Can you point out the option for us to buy a version of the new content that doesn't include the dungeons we already have access to then?

Trier_Sero · April 13

Nothing really changed. I buy eso+ for craft bag, dlc access is just a bonus on top of that.

I agree that they should've added option to buy new zone without dungeons, but that doesn't really bother me since I would've bought those anyway eventually.

Jaimeh · April 13

I agree with you OP, and I'm surprised more people are not disappointed by this. ZOS shouldn't have bundled up chapter, dungeons and Q4 in one pass, because aside from higher price tag, ESO+ gets devalued as a result, and they are locking away options for getting access to content in general. Also, for people not interested in housing, the vault doesn't hold any extra value, and let's not forget that it's basically like a house chest with a larger capacity, not an actual furnishing craft bag (and we could get these chests with in game currency no less).

Aylish · April 13

The double price for dungeons in my ESO+ subscription will make me only buy the content pass if I can get it for less than 30€ - better 25€ - from any seller until the wall event.
I can wait and sit out the new content until then. There are plenty old plans I can farm for until then.

TaSheen · April 13

Jaimeh wrote: »

I agree with you OP, and I'm surprised more people are not disappointed by this. ZOS shouldn't have bundled up chapter, dungeons and Q4 in one pass, because aside from higher price tag, ESO+ gets devalued as a result, and they are locking away options for getting access to content in general. Also, for people not interested in housing, the vault doesn't hold any extra value, and let's not forget that it's basically like a house chest with a larger capacity, not an actual furnishing craft bag (and we could get these chests with in game currency no less).

Kind of the last straw for me. I have zero use for dungeons, so....

liliub17_ESO · April 13

I haven't finished a new zone/chapter fully since Markath and Skyrim. Definitely have not kept up with dungeons. There's simply not enough time in a day, not with work and other obligations.

IF I keep up with ESO+ on both accounts, it'll just be for the craft bag and the new housing vault IF it's worth it. But I'm seriously considering dropping even that - seemingly endless "events" with increasingly odd rewards (the Vegas-style outfits and emotes of the Jester Fest were seriously off-putting and non-fantastical/game-related to me) and stale regular content (which is why I've only dabbled, at best, with anything after Skyrim) really curtailing my enthusiasm for the game lately.

Some folks love all the above, though, so it's good that ZOS provides, I s'pose.

Edit: I did complete Blackwood on one account, NA. Forgot about that. But High Isle, Necrom (gag), and Gold Road with associated dungeons are visiting destinations only.