The value of this year's seasons doesn't make much sense, to be honest

FabresFour · June 3

Let me explain my point more clearly. I'll use values in Brazilian Reais (BRL), since that's the currency I'm familiar with—but I think the logic applies universally.

Previously, The Elder Scrolls Online expansions—known as "chapters"—were typically sold for about R$160. Sometimes a bit more, sometimes less. These chapters usually offered a large map, with multiple forms of content, albeit in a formulaic structure (which, for the record, I’ve always been against, since it undermines the surprise element in what’s supposed to be an exploration-focused game—but that’s a discussion for another time).

So, what’s the issue?

Well, the current "Seasons of the Worm Cult" is being sold for about R$240. That’s a R$80 increase compared to previous expansions.

Now, technically, when you buy Seasons of the Worm Cult, you’re getting more content than in a standard expansion: you’re receiving the four dungeons plus the chapter itself. There’s also mention of an exclusive event, but it’s worth noting that every chapter in previous years has had its own exclusive events with special rewards for players—so that’s not exactly new.

But here’s where it starts not making much sense: doesn’t this seriously diminish the value of ESO Plus?

I mean, one of the core benefits of ESO Plus is having access to all DLCs, including dungeons. Yet with this new model, the only version of the expansion available is the one that bundles the dungeons together with the chapter—content that, technically, you’d already have access to if you’re an ESO Plus subscriber.

Isn’t that… well… kind of counterproductive?

Sure, buying the season unlocks the content permanently, whereas ESO Plus is a subscription. But realistically, if you’re paying for, say, a full year of ESO Plus, those dungeons are already part of what you’re paying for within that timeframe. So now, to stay up to date, you’re essentially being asked to pay for ESO Plus AND the new season, which contains content you’re already paying for.

In other words: you’re pretty much paying twice for the same content, LOL.

The only justification for the price increase compared to previous chapters is the addition of the dungeons. But… even then, this expansion doesn’t even introduce a new game system—something that previous chapters sometimes did.

Honestly, I find this incoherent… maybe even poorly thought out.

ZOS, I’m not sure this is a good idea. I know many players who are already feeling like they’re spending more money for less.

From my perspective, there are probably smarter solutions to be explored than the approach you’ve taken this year. I hope you learn this in the upcoming seasons!

Northwold · June 3

FabresFour wrote: »

Let me explain my point more clearly. I'll use values in Brazilian Reais (BRL), since that's the currency I'm familiar with—but I think the logic applies universally.

Previously, The Elder Scrolls Online expansions—known as "chapters"—were typically sold for about R$160. Sometimes a bit more, sometimes less. These chapters usually offered a large map, with multiple forms of content, albeit in a formulaic structure (which, for the record, I’ve always been against, since it undermines the surprise element in what’s supposed to be an exploration-focused game—but that’s a discussion for another time).

So, what’s the issue?

Well, the current "Seasons of the Worm Cult" is being sold for about R$240. That’s a R$80 increase compared to previous expansions.

Now, technically, when you buy Seasons of the Worm Cult, you’re getting more content than in a standard expansion: you’re receiving the four dungeons plus the chapter itself. There’s also mention of an exclusive event, but it’s worth noting that every chapter in previous years has had its own exclusive events with special rewards for players—so that’s not exactly new.

But here’s where it starts not making much sense: doesn’t this seriously diminish the value of ESO Plus?

I mean, one of the core benefits of ESO Plus is having access to all DLCs, including dungeons. Yet with this new model, the only version of the expansion available is the one that bundles the dungeons together with the chapter—content that, technically, you’d already have access to if you’re an ESO Plus subscriber.

Isn’t that… well… kind of counterproductive?

Sure, buying the season unlocks the content permanently, whereas ESO Plus is a subscription. But realistically, if you’re paying for, say, a full year of ESO Plus, those dungeons are already part of what you’re paying for within that timeframe. So now, to stay up to date, you’re essentially being asked to pay for ESO Plus AND the new season, which contains content you’re already paying for.

In other words: you’re pretty much paying twice for the same content, LOL.

The only justification for the price increase compared to previous chapters is the addition of the dungeons. But… even then, this expansion doesn’t even introduce a new game system—something that previous chapters sometimes did.

Honestly, I find this incoherent… maybe even poorly thought out.

ZOS, I’m not sure this is a good idea. I know many players who are already feeling like they’re spending more money for less.

From my perspective, there are probably smarter solutions to be explored than the approach you’ve taken this year. I hope you learn this in the upcoming seasons!

Yes. There were threads on this when the pricing / content model was first released. It's not entirely clear how ESO plus members aren't meant to feel like suckers (although ZOS have confirmed, if I remember rightly, that the zone content will become available via ESO plus after a year as before).

katanagirl1 · June 3

Northwold wrote: »

FabresFour wrote: »

Let me explain my point more clearly. I'll use values in Brazilian Reais (BRL), since that's the currency I'm familiar with—but I think the logic applies universally.

Previously, The Elder Scrolls Online expansions—known as "chapters"—were typically sold for about R$160. Sometimes a bit more, sometimes less. These chapters usually offered a large map, with multiple forms of content, albeit in a formulaic structure (which, for the record, I’ve always been against, since it undermines the surprise element in what’s supposed to be an exploration-focused game—but that’s a discussion for another time).

So, what’s the issue?

Well, the current "Seasons of the Worm Cult" is being sold for about R$240. That’s a R$80 increase compared to previous expansions.

Now, technically, when you buy Seasons of the Worm Cult, you’re getting more content than in a standard expansion: you’re receiving the four dungeons plus the chapter itself. There’s also mention of an exclusive event, but it’s worth noting that every chapter in previous years has had its own exclusive events with special rewards for players—so that’s not exactly new.

But here’s where it starts not making much sense: doesn’t this seriously diminish the value of ESO Plus?

I mean, one of the core benefits of ESO Plus is having access to all DLCs, including dungeons. Yet with this new model, the only version of the expansion available is the one that bundles the dungeons together with the chapter—content that, technically, you’d already have access to if you’re an ESO Plus subscriber.

Isn’t that… well… kind of counterproductive?

Sure, buying the season unlocks the content permanently, whereas ESO Plus is a subscription. But realistically, if you’re paying for, say, a full year of ESO Plus, those dungeons are already part of what you’re paying for within that timeframe. So now, to stay up to date, you’re essentially being asked to pay for ESO Plus AND the new season, which contains content you’re already paying for.

In other words: you’re pretty much paying twice for the same content, LOL.

The only justification for the price increase compared to previous chapters is the addition of the dungeons. But… even then, this expansion doesn’t even introduce a new game system—something that previous chapters sometimes did.

Honestly, I find this incoherent… maybe even poorly thought out.

ZOS, I’m not sure this is a good idea. I know many players who are already feeling like they’re spending more money for less.

From my perspective, there are probably smarter solutions to be explored than the approach you’ve taken this year. I hope you learn this in the upcoming seasons!

Yes. There were threads on this when the pricing / content model was first released. It's not entirely clear how ESO plus members aren't meant to feel like suckers (although ZOS have confirmed, if I remember rightly, that the zone content will become available via ESO plus after a year as before).

That’s not really much consolation if you want to play it while others are doing content in the zone rather than wait for it to become a ghost town. So you have paid for that content twice too.

BahometZ · June 3

Honestly it's a rip-off compared to previous content, which leaves a sour taste, even if you can justify it by time spent playing eso. I'm just not excited for any elements of this patch. I still haven't bought it, and based on early comments on the forums, reddit, discord and beyond, that seems like the right play.

Ezhh · June 3

My response has been to cancel ESO+. What I have runs for another month and that leaves me with enough time to sort out inventory so that it will be manageable.

I suspect the increased frustration of inventory management and no longer having access to the previous dungeons I enjoyed playing will, maybe within the next year, cause me to play less and less up to the point that I am just done.

shadyjane62 · June 4

Ezhh wrote: »

My response has been to cancel ESO+. What I have runs for another month and that leaves me with enough time to sort out inventory so that it will be manageable.

I suspect the increased frustration of inventory management and no longer having access to the previous dungeons I enjoyed playing will, maybe within the next year, cause me to play less and less up to the point that I am just done.

I subbed again after swearing I wouldn't because I spent first day without the bag doing inventory management. But I will abandon this game as soon as something else comes along.

This season thing, the subclassing thing and the UI debacle have made me question seriously where this is going.

I'm still in pain from U35 and AWA but I believe U46 may surpass those and not in a good way.