The last hope: Update 49

Getsugatenso · November 27

A rant about the current state of The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) in 2025, highlighting how the game has lost quality, attention, and balance over the years.it's no longer worth playing, especially for those seeking PvP.

Decline in audience and abandonment

Views on Twitch and YouTube have plummeted.

Well-known content creators have abandoned the game.

The average number of players on Steam has fallen to less than 10,000.

ZOS doesn't listen to the community

Developers seem disconnected.

Lack of communication and confusing decisions.

Recent events and updates are considered weak or shameful.

Serious Problems in PvP

The meta is completely broken.

Items like Monmoth completely unbalance duels.

Overprotective builds dominate the game.

Poorly implemented subclasses, without in-depth testing.

Competitive Battleground (4v4) is not competitive.

Vengeance, the experimental mode, was a total failure.

PvE equally compromised

Exaggerated builds that make players practically immortal.

Nerfs applied after players achieve certain milestones, harming common groups.

New trials and dungeons seem uninspired and lack a well-structured challenge.

Bad Events and Decisions

The new zone's wall event was ranked as the worst ever seen.

Paid content, such as expensive passes, includes essential meta items.

Lack of Relevant Updates

Three consecutive patches without any real balancing.

Crossplay promised for years, but never delivered.

Update 48 was empty, with no significant fixes.

The last hope: Update 49

that Update 49 is the game's last chance.

If a major balancing patch doesn't arrive, he considers abandoning it permanently.

The game still has a lot of quality content—but only the old content.

The new content is weak, poorly balanced, and disappointing.

Last'One · November 27

Update 49 will be like:

Corrected the tooltip for item X.
House guest Y can now run.

Thank you. Happy gaming!

colossalvoids · November 27

Last'One wrote: »

Update 49 will be like:

Corrected the tooltip for item X.

House guest Y can now run.

Thank you. Happy gaming!

Forgot a "fixed lorebook that was underground for five years".

valenwood_vegan · November 27

Also forgot the obligatory "but we can't wait to talk to you about all the amazing things we're totally working on but can't ever talk about."

Calastir · November 27

Once in a lifetime events will now occur monthly.

robwolf666 · November 27

Since when have "Views on Twitch and YouTube..." influenced or reflected how many people play the game? I never watch ESO, or gaming in general in terms of gameplay, on YT or Twitch, yet I still play ESO regularly. Seems Creators are just a bit salty their views have dropped.

Tandor · November 27

"Crossplay promised for years, but never delivered."

I don't agree with some of the other points made, but that particular point is completely false. It was never promised, and still isn't. They're now working on it and hoping to be able to overcome the many challenges it poses, but there are no guarantees. Prior to just a few months ago they were very clear in saying they had no plans to introduce it.

Getsugatenso · November 27

robwolf666 wrote: »

Since when have "Views on Twitch and YouTube..." influenced or reflected how many people play the game? I never watch ESO, or gaming in general in terms of gameplay, on YT or Twitch, yet I still play ESO regularly. Seems Creators are just a bit salty their views have dropped.

Of course it influences and promotes the game to people who are fans of the genre, like me for example, who discovered ESO on YouTube.

colossalvoids · November 27

Always a bit confused why people try to diminish the influence "content creators" (or just people in groups) have on a playerbase or the health of the game. Joe generally prefers getting his builds the day the patch goes live, Ben surely wants a patch breakdown or a discussion about his favourite game to watch on a lunch break after unloading a truck. And developers want the word of mouth to spread like a wildfire, be it how immersive the game is or how mechanically good or interesting it is compared to their rivals. Where you would always get help and assistance, encouragement and not discouragement or doom and gloom.

The power of any communities is also a lot understated. Tight circles of same minded people is the many beating hearts of the game, not the mindless hive of disjointed players who happen to be around. People running guilds, events, showcases etc. daily are the ones who made it all happened and we see clearly how absence of a lot of those people negatively affected the game from huge PvP participation of the past to endgame PvE being literally absent comparatively to "before" or even housing YouTube.

Remember streamer orc armies waving blue flags, raging for their god emperor? Remember guilds going for top scores and server firsts being super popular with actual competition and figures to look at, who also teached people every single day on an off streams, answering the most stupid questions that weren't a obvious viable the game itself? The actual build crafting and always top notch information available on every possible subject at the speed of light? I surely do, and I miss those times where there were actual huge communities where you can support or be supported.

licenturion · November 27

According to the forum the last hope was update 35…yet here we still are.

licenturion · November 27

colossalvoids wrote: »

Always a bit confused why people try to diminish the influence "content creators" (or just people in groups) have on a playerbase or the health of the game

I think ESO has a lot of older gamers and more casual crowd that don’t really go watch Twitch or Youtube streamers.

Also a lot of content creation around ESO is also very boring. They usually go like ‘let me read this forum post of 2 pages out loud, then highlight a few reddit posts that fit their own opinion and then end with 1 minute of their thoughts of the latest news. In the background plays either some ZOS press material video to highlight how pretty the latest expansion looks,in camera standpoints you will never actually play the game in, or some random gameplay they recorded that has nothing to do with what they are reading.

And there is the variant ‘let me read this build page out loud’ titled ‘Most easy ESO built ever made’ while reminding people every 3 minutes about even better member only builds available.

That is basically most there is for ESO. Other way smaller games usually have so much great and creative content being made that inspires people.

moonio · November 27

OP be like.. 'We want our game back'..

Sarannah · November 27

Disagree with everything the OP mentioned... yet he forgot the only thing I would have agreed on: "Too many bugs in new updates/events!"

Funny!

PS: Vengeance wasn't a 'total failure' as you call it, most feedback was positive! (as noted by ZOS in the vengeance pinned thread)

Gabriel_H · November 27

robwolf666 wrote: »

Since when have "Views on Twitch and YouTube..." influenced or reflected how many people play the game? I never watch ESO, or gaming in general in terms of gameplay, on YT or Twitch, yet I still play ESO regularly. Seems Creators are just a bit salty their views have dropped.

There's a Twitch and YouTube channel?

jm42 · November 27

robwolf666 wrote: »

Seems Creators are just a bit salty their views have dropped.

but it did drop? everything you need to know. and I honestly can't understand why are you denying the obvious

moderatelyfatman · November 27

Getsugatenso wrote: »

A rant about the current state of The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) in 2025, highlighting how the game has lost quality, attention, and balance over the years.it's no longer worth playing, especially for those seeking PvP.

Decline in audience and abandonment

Views on Twitch and YouTube have plummeted.

Well-known content creators have abandoned the game.

The average number of players on Steam has fallen to less than 10,000.

ZOS doesn't listen to the community

Developers seem disconnected.

Lack of communication and confusing decisions.

Recent events and updates are considered weak or shameful.

Serious Problems in PvP

The meta is completely broken.

Items like Monmoth completely unbalance duels.

Overprotective builds dominate the game.

Poorly implemented subclasses, without in-depth testing.

Competitive Battleground (4v4) is not competitive.

Vengeance, the experimental mode, was a total failure.

PvE equally compromised

Exaggerated builds that make players practically immortal.

Nerfs applied after players achieve certain milestones, harming common groups.

New trials and dungeons seem uninspired and lack a well-structured challenge.

Bad Events and Decisions

The new zone's wall event was ranked as the worst ever seen.

Paid content, such as expensive passes, includes essential meta items.

Lack of Relevant Updates

Three consecutive patches without any real balancing.

Crossplay promised for years, but never delivered.

Update 48 was empty, with no significant fixes.

The last hope: Update 49

that Update 49 is the game's last chance.

If a major balancing patch doesn't arrive, he considers abandoning it permanently.

The game still has a lot of quality content—but only the old content.

The new content is weak, poorly balanced, and disappointing.

You forgot to mention the new content in the Crown Store which makes up for all of this!

moderatelyfatman · November 27

Gabriel_H wrote: »

robwolf666 wrote: »

Since when have "Views on Twitch and YouTube..." influenced or reflected how many people play the game? I never watch ESO, or gaming in general in terms of gameplay, on YT or Twitch, yet I still play ESO regularly. Seems Creators are just a bit salty their views have dropped.

There's a Twitch and YouTube channel?

Yes, there is one Twitch streamer and on Youtuber covering ESO content. They do housing and fashion and the streams are fabulous!

Elvenheart · November 27

After that we’ll have Update 50 - The Devs Strike Back, and then finally Update 51 - Return of the Pure Class.

Gabriel_H · November 27

jm42 wrote: »

robwolf666 wrote: »

Seems Creators are just a bit salty their views have dropped.

but it did drop? everything you need to know. and I honestly can't understand why are you denying the obvious

And there could be a dozen reasons why that is, and none of them anything to do with player numbers.

Rkindaleft · November 27

Regardless of player numbers I think the problem is that ESO as a game just doesn't lend itself well to streaming at all.

The casual crowd (which is 90% of the player base) aren't gonna watch someone stream questing when the whole point is to experience the stories themselves, and it's a similar thing with housing players, I don't think anybody is going to watch someone move furnishings around their house. That's like watching paint dry.

1vX PvP or WR score pushing in raids is actually interesting to watch, but those communities don't really have big populations, so viewership isn't that high - although that part is largely due to those communities getting smaller because of things like bad updates and performance issues.

Tandor · November 27

I have no issues with people advising others how to play the content in a game, I just have a problem with them being called "content creators" when they don't actually create any content at all, they just seek to influence players as to how to play the content the developers create. "Content advisers" would be a more appropriate term for them.

DenverRalphy · November 28

Tandor wrote: »

I have no issues with people advising others how to play the content in a game, I just have a problem with them being called "content creators" when they don't actually create any content at all, they just seek to influence players as to how to play the content the developers create. "Content advisers" would be a more appropriate term for them.

The moniker Con'tntent Creator isn't intended to infer that they create content for the game itself. Only that they create content in the form of media like websites, videos, podcasts, graphics, etc.. for use in guides, databases, wikis, reviews, demonstrations, editorials, and the like.

AllenaNightWood · November 28

i like my friends continue to enjoy this game and have logged thousands of hours we have fun every time we play despite your list of gripes because we dont let it effect or time playing or together

olsborg · November 28

Getsugatenso wrote: »

A rant about the current state of The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) in 2025, highlighting how the game has lost quality, attention, and balance over the years.it's no longer worth playing, especially for those seeking PvP.

The meta is completely broken.

Overprotective builds dominate the game.

Poorly implemented subclasses, without in-depth testing.

I agree with almost all of your points in your post, but these points most of all.

fizzybeef · November 28

Sarannah wrote: »

PS: Vengeance wasn't a 'total failure' as you call it, most feedback was positive! (as noted by ZOS in the vengeance pinned thread)

Lmaoooo do you believe that yourself ?

Getsugatenso wrote: »

A rant about the current state of The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) in 2025, highlighting how the game has lost quality, attention, and balance over the years.it's no longer worth playing, especially for those seeking PvP.

Decline in audience and abandonment

Views on Twitch and YouTube have plummeted.

Well-known content creators have abandoned the game.

The average number of players on Steam has fallen to less than 10,000.

ZOS doesn't listen to the community

Developers seem disconnected.

Lack of communication and confusing decisions.

Recent events and updates are considered weak or shameful.

Serious Problems in PvP

The meta is completely broken.

Items like Monmoth completely unbalance duels.

Overprotective builds dominate the game.

Poorly implemented subclasses, without in-depth testing.

Competitive Battleground (4v4) is not competitive.

Vengeance, the experimental mode, was a total failure.

PvE equally compromised

Exaggerated builds that make players practically immortal.

Nerfs applied after players achieve certain milestones, harming common groups.

New trials and dungeons seem uninspired and lack a well-structured challenge.

Bad Events and Decisions

The new zone's wall event was ranked as the worst ever seen.

Paid content, such as expensive passes, includes essential meta items.

Lack of Relevant Updates

Three consecutive patches without any real balancing.

Crossplay promised for years, but never delivered.

Update 48 was empty, with no significant fixes.

The last hope: Update 49

that Update 49 is the game's last chance.

If a major balancing patch doesn't arrive, he considers abandoning it permanently.

The game still has a lot of quality content—but only the old content.

The new content is weak, poorly balanced, and disappointing.

Agreeing on everything but can promise you NOTHING will happen

konrad.reibinger · November 28

unbalanced PVP has always been here
the same with bugs and feedback/communication
can't judge about twitch/youtube streamers as I don't follow them, but regarding steam charts the picture isn't that horrible (there is a dropdown compared to COVID times, but that's expected):

I understand what OP is talking about but tbh it feels like that the whole world is moved away from "quality meta" to "invest less, harvest more" because of political stuff that shouldn't be discussed here.

fizzybeef · November 28

konrad.reibinger wrote: »

unbalanced PVP has always been here
the same with bugs and feedback/communication
can't judge about twitch/youtube streamers as I don't follow them, but regarding steam charts the picture isn't that horrible (there is a dropdown compared to COVID times, but that's expected):

I understand what OP is talking about but tbh it feels like that the whole world is moved away from "quality meta" to "invest less, harvest more" because of political stuff that shouldn't be discussed here.

People who are claiming steam numbers dont matter because they dont understand its a INDICATOR, in 3..2..1..

Gabriel_H · November 28

fizzybeef wrote: »

People who are claiming steam numbers dont matter because they dont understand its a INDICATOR, in 3..2..1..

Indeed, and the indication is that the player numbers are slightly down on pre-pandemic numbers and on 2024 numbers but stable in comparison to previous years.

The decline in peak players is more pronounced than in average players. Peak is still at 19:00 which taken alongside the average numbers would suggest that some particularly sub-group was pushing those peak numbers and now that group isn't logging in on mass (*cough* end-gamers *cough*).

That is a concern, and it is also a snowball effect. A top tank or healer or DD not logging in can change a group dynamic and make the content harder than it was, which then puts others off, which then ... which then ... etc.

However, the core numbers remain intact and stable. So the sky isn't falling just yet.

Heronisan · November 28

How is the new trials and dungeons uninspired and lack a well structured challenge?

The dungeon team has been slapping out hits for years and have been the best team zos has to offer. Most of the other things i can agree with but the dlc dungeon packs have been the highlights of the year for a long time. If only they would stop with the stupid ass decision of waiting like months after a dungeon release before they turn on motif drops.