battle pass and free seasons?

Artem_gig · January 8

Since the recent announcement of the ZOS has caused a lot of controversy, I want to understand something.

Which is better:
*I understand why players are against the battle pass, but it only adds cosmetics, but we'll get the content for free in return. So, which one is better?

Thevampirenight · January 8

Honestly this system is better, because like, it adds like stuff, to it, now basically new armor sets whatever, would be all free of course, so like you can earn those, anything that could be seen as pay to play would obviously be free, so there is a lot of stuff that people can beneift from the free pass. Premium would all be cosmetic stuff and like it would be stuff would there be stuff in there you want is there anything worth it, like it gives more options. Of course they are still making a lot of money from the crownstore and such, and this basically means more content that like you don't have to pay for, new storylines that are all base game new zones that are all base game. So it opens up the game to those that refuse to spend more money in the long haul and adds a lot more content for those that play it without subscriptions and microtransactions. Those are the people that are going to be benefiting a lot from many of the changes. I'm one of those people who do in fact spend money to support games and get comsetics and stuff like that. The only thing I care about witha battlepass is an option to buy skip tiers so I can skip all the grinding which they do add in the premium bonus which I think would be worth it depending on factors. Hoe much does it allow me to skip, and how much grinding can I skip? That is what I think personally.

spartaxoxo · January 8

We'll have a battle pass, but now all the content from the seasons will be free (which is what they want to do)

I think this will be better in the long run because it makes the game less confusing for new players to purchase. I've seen a lot of people completely confused on what they should buy to play what they want to play over the years. "You want the Collector's Edition Collection not the Collector's Edition Upgrade," is not exactly the easiest thing to parse for someone new. It was a barrier to getting people into this game and it's good that it's gone.

LunaFlora · January 8

We'll have a battle pass, but now all the content from the seasons will be free (which is what they want to do)

i like the Tamriel Tomes (battle passes). i love cosmetics and we even get 8000 seals of endeavour from the tome.

zones, classes, quests, and such being free is wonderful. helpful for questers and new players.

Plus old DLC is getting added to the base game!
Not just the year 1 dlc, but also Greymoor! (which gets new dynamic events(?))

i think it is likely other DLC gets added to base game too, if zos is adding something to it like
- Murkmire sequel story
- Clockwork City public dungeon
- Summerset psijic order sequel

edited to add pictures at the top of comment.

Syldras · January 8

We won't have a battle pass, but we'll need to purchase new content in the seasons (as it was before)

I don't care much for cosmetics. I'm here for stories, exploring zones and lore. And yes, I'd be willing to pay for well-written, interesting story content, of course. I know we won't get that for free.

Soarora · January 8

We'll have a battle pass, but now all the content from the seasons will be free (which is what they want to do)

There gets to a point that the game is like the Sims 4 in terms of all the DLCs you have to buy. This is not a free to play game.

I'm just worried about the FOMO of the season pass. My suggestion would be to sell previous season passes at a higher price and make the upcoming season pass cheaper. This way, people can still get passes they missed and there's no FOMO... but people are enticed to buy immediately.

Tommy_The_Gun · January 8

We won't have a battle pass, but we'll need to purchase new content in the seasons (as it was before)

B2p model is infinitely better than sub. Do you prefer to own things or rent things ?

Soarora · January 8

We'll have a battle pass, but now all the content from the seasons will be free (which is what they want to do)

Tommy_The_Gun wrote: »

B2p model is infinitely better than sub. Do you prefer to own things or rent things ?

I mean, it's not ESO+. The new additions are base-game. But really, we're all renting everything in the game. We don't own a thing, ZOS could ban us all tomorrow and we'd have a useless launcher.

TheMajority · January 8

We'll have a battle pass, but now all the content from the seasons will be free (which is what they want to do)

Tommy_The_Gun wrote: »

B2p model is infinitely better than sub. Do you prefer to own things or rent things ?

Its only cosmetics, not the gameplay itself.

I am for one in huge support of this movement, the rewards and the value of the package looks great. It's optional so I can skip ones that I'm not interested in, but so far it looks like a promising system.

Desiato · January 8

Chapters were a decent enough value to buy and continuing to sub. The new value proposition of what has been presented so far is comparatively awful.

I don't really care about cosmetics. I seem to care less than every other player I know. Yet, I don't like the idea of other players being rewarded more for the same activities.

ZOS would have been smarter to greatly improve the value of ESO and reduce its complexity to cast a wider net for straight forward Crown Store cosmetic sales.

What this game needs more than anything at both a player and provider level is more players. I don't think what they're offering is going to achieve that.

I'll tell you what I'm not going to do. I won't pay $370-400 a year to get less from ESO than I used to, and I won't be a second class citizen.

I'm part of a lot of Discord channels I joined because of an ESO Trial. In almost all of them, no one plays ESO anymore. Instead they spend their money to play variety of new games with better engines and interesting new gameplay.

Another other game I play a lot is Rust. Players keep coming back to it -- and spending money on optional cosmetics -- because it gets regular updates and the value is so good, despite its dated engine and performance issues.

Sheridan · January 8

We won't have a battle pass, but we'll need to purchase new content in the seasons (as it was before)

You could buy chapters (and season pass) through redeeming game codes. I hope that this "battlepass" will also be avaliable for purchase through codes, because otherwise it will be unavaliable for me just like ESO+ was lost since March 2022 when Bethesda withdrew from Russia. In this regard, the new system would be much, much worse for me.

Artem_gig · January 8

We'll have a battle pass, but now all the content from the seasons will be free (which is what they want to do)

Sheridan wrote: »

You could buy chapters (and season pass) through redeeming game codes. I hope that this "battlepass" will also be avaliable for purchase through codes, because otherwise it will be unavaliable for me just like ESO+ was lost since March 2022 when Bethesda withdrew from Russia. In this regard, the new system would be much, much worse for me.

Так этот баттл пасс не даёт нового контента. Это исключительно косметика и расходники из ежедневных наград. Зачем его покупать и что ты пропустишь если не приобретёшь его? Волка из винтерхолда?

Sheridan · January 8

We won't have a battle pass, but we'll need to purchase new content in the seasons (as it was before)

Artem_gig wrote: »

Так этот баттл пасс не даёт нового контента. Это исключительно косметика и расходники из ежедневных наград. Зачем его покупать и что ты пропустишь если не приобретёшь его? Волка из винтерхолда?

By not purchasing battlepass I obviously will lose everything that it will contain, whatever it will be. Currently it's only an occasional painting or a figurine every couple months from ESO+ gifts (and it's still a bit sad every time). With the new system, as far as I understand, I will potentially be locked out of much more every quarter. So my main concern is about purchase options.

Gabriel_H · January 8

Sheridan wrote: »

Artem_gig wrote: »

Так этот баттл пасс не даёт нового контента. Это исключительно косметика и расходники из ежедневных наград. Зачем его покупать и что ты пропустишь если не приобретёшь его? Волка из винтерхолда?

By not purchasing battlepass I obviously will lose everything that it will contain, whatever it will be. Currently it's only an occasional painting or a figurine every couple months from ESO+ gifts (and it's still a bit sad every time). With the new system, as far as I understand, I will potentially be locked out of much more every quarter. So my main concern is about purchase options.

At $15 a quater year 1 is the same price point as previous chapters - allowing you to complete at your own pace, or $0 a quarter but having to complete within a time frame. All other things are simply cosmetics.

For year 2, it's $60 a year if you didn't have ESO+ and again $45 a year if you did have it.

It's a comparable price with previous chapters, with ZOS trying to push people into ESO+ (it is a business after all), the question becomes does the content + cosmetics match what we got in chapters?!

Sheridan · January 8

We won't have a battle pass, but we'll need to purchase new content in the seasons (as it was before)

Gabriel_H wrote: »

At $15 a quater year 1 is the same price point as previous chapters - allowing you to complete at your own pace, or $0 a quarter but having to complete within a time frame. All other things are simply cosmetics.

For year 2, it's $60 a year if you didn't have ESO+ and again $45 a year if you did have it.

It's a comparable price with previous chapters, with ZOS trying to push people into ESO+ (it is a business after all), the question becomes does the content + cosmetics match what we got in chapters?!

I am not talking about the price, I am talking about the ability to buy.

Gabriel_H · January 8

Sheridan wrote: »

I am not talking about the price, I am talking about the ability to buy.

Previously you had to fork over $50 for content - it's now free. It's only the premium cosmetics that will require purchase, and by the sounds of it you'll be able to earn basic cosmetics through playing.

wolfie1.0. · January 8

We'll have a battle pass, but now all the content from the seasons will be free (which is what they want to do)

i understand wny people hate the battlepass system, and how badly its been implemented in the FPS genre of games.

and quite honestly, whether or not it works is going to be based on how its implemented and executed.

based on what we have been told, and seen from the presentation and the slides, it looks like one of the better implementations.

The Tomes are set up to provide items and access to items that normally would have been provided via daily login rewards, endeavors, events, and other release options. its spread out over a 3 month period and IF you buy in your dont lose the opporunty to complete it. Meaning you can buy 2 of them and complete them while a 3rd is also running. There is less FOMO. and its optional to get the upgrades.

that any new dungeons, trials, or overland content is base game will help resolve issues around getting players to participate.

i think the way they appear to be doing it is the best option for the longevity of the game. and it gives players one thing that we have all be asking for, more flexiblity, less forced participation, and more acccess to cosmetics.

wolfie1.0. · January 8

We'll have a battle pass, but now all the content from the seasons will be free (which is what they want to do)

Gabriel_H wrote: »

Sheridan wrote: »

I am not talking about the price, I am talking about the ability to buy.

Previously you had to fork over $50 for content - it's now free. It's only the premium cosmetics that will require purchase, and by the sounds of it you'll be able to earn basic cosmetics through playing.

its not the basic cosmetics they are worried about. teh premium levels of the season pass will likely HAVE cosmetics in them. they will lose acccess to that, as from what i am aware ZOS is banned from doing business in Russia (i wont mention anything further) which likely wont be changing. you likely wont be able to access these unless they start selling ESO+ and Battlepass key codes (I really wish they would)

baring that, a lot of the cosmetics may be moving to the Bazaar which is where i hope they put the bulk of any new non-crown cosmetics. those should be purchaseable using the new Trade Bars currrency. so that is really the only hope i can provide at the moment.

Turtle_Bot · January 8

We'll have a battle pass, but now all the content from the seasons will be free (which is what they want to do)

Honestly, as problematic as battle passes can be for games, the ones proposed here seem decently fair.

The gameplay aspects of the passes (quests, stories, gear sets, etc.) are all included in the free pass (no way this can be claimed as "pay to win") and will remain available after the season has ended, and based on the clarifications from Kevin on the main feedback thread, it seems as though the paid passes will remain available on the purchasers account permanently to be completed at any time after purchase, so no way to "miss out on content" as long as someone purchases the pass, even if they don't play at all during the season as long as they purchased the pass they will have access to the content.

As with all things, these passes could still be improved upon:
- made cheaper (ZOS is still a business and needs to make money and at least the future passes aren't as expensive as this years solstice season pass)
- ESO+ subscribers get the mid tier pass each season (keep some value in ESO+ since the passes will be adding DLCs to base game which is removing some value from ESO+)

but overall, there's no "pay to win" and there's no FOMO once the pass has been purchased since the gameplay content will still remain available in game after the season ends and the cosmetic rewards of the paid passes can be earned anytime after being purchased, even long after the season itself has ended (according to the clarifications by Kevin on the main feedback thread).

licenturion · January 8

We won't have a battle pass, but we'll need to purchase new content in the seasons (as it was before)

I don't mind the battlepass system. I do mind that that all new content will be for free. Because I have seen this happen with many many games before and it means that there will be way way less actual new content added to the game. And most drip feed content is usually reimagined or remastered old stuff and a bunch of new temporary 'modes' (which they also announced with Night Market and experimental modes)

This is good value for new players or people that are playing not for very long. But I feel like the people who finished all quests, have all dungeon/trial sets and played every class are left behind. The only thing on the roadmap for me is the new trial. The rest was all rewards, rewards, rewards and quality of life stuff. For me, that's not 'content'.

Also be prepared. This is just the beginning. Next will be 'event mini battlepasses' like other free to play games do. New Life/white streak/witches/jester-event passes with 5 free items and 15 'premium' items if you buy the event pass. Also buying battlepass tiers with crowns will be a thing at some point.

xXCJsniperXx7 · January 8

I can't pick either of these. I like the old 4 dungeons, one big zone, one small zone status quo.

Lugaldu · January 8

I'd like to continue financially supporting the game I've been playing for eight years, but now there's hardly any reason to. I don't see why I need a battle pass for cosmetics—my characters always just use the same mounts and one or two costumes/styles. I'm interested in new stories, new lore, new areas to explore, new characters...

Danikat · January 8

We won't have a battle pass, but we'll need to purchase new content in the seasons (as it was before)

This new system makes zones, quests and stories a temporary bonus, only available during a season, with the focus on selling items. Yes it's free, but it sounds like it's free because they know it's not worth charging for it.

Since my interest in this game is the world and the lore the new system is a huge loss.

I'd be happy to be proven wrong. For a few years Guild Wars 2 managed to get by with giving away zones and storylines to some players (there was a 2 week window to get it free, after that you had to pay) in between paid expansions. ZOS have never stuck with a business model for long so maybe they can make it work until they shift to something else.

But for now it seems like they're shifting to a generic "live service" game where the focus is on selling items and the actual game is secondary, and on top of the fact that I don't like it the usual fate for those games is being shut down because they're not profitable.

Blood_again · January 8

We won't have a battle pass, but we'll need to purchase new content in the seasons (as it was before)

If the most part of the revenue comes from the cosmetics shop, the cosmetics will pull the main development focus earlier or later.
Just double check the list of the things promised for this year. New content is:
- a trial
- an event zone like some kind of latest event fortress
Everything else is remaking, reskinning and updating. Half of that are updates to sell more cosmetics: tomes, bazaar etc. And you can see it is introduced first, before any new content.

So you can see this focus today, in their plans. Just watch carefully.
We will get a new content for free because there is not so much content to sell for a good amount of money.
Would many people buy just a new trial, a new fortress and two existing dungeons turned to solo mode for 30$?! Tell me more.
So you get it for free, and lose the main focus of the development, which works for cosmetics shop for now. That is far from a great deal, if you ask me.

CalamityCat · January 8

We'll have a battle pass, but now all the content from the seasons will be free (which is what they want to do)

I think it's much better if the paid content is not essential or locking players out of new areas unless they pay for a whole expansion. As long as the passes are just cosmetic, it becomes a lot more optional which you buy. Hopefully an end to guild activities being scuppered because some don't have the right expansion yet

I do think the pricing is higher than I'd pay for what's included, and potentially less appealing for those who pay for ESO plus. Just giving plus players a single free season pass seems a bit stingy. Elsewhere I can pay for a year's subscription and it includes all the season passes. But if they are purely cosmetic passes, it makes it easier to skip that expense if the bonus cosmetics don't suit the player's taste, as you don't lose access to any new areas/dungeons etc. Which may work out better value.

allochthons · January 8

We'll have a battle pass, but now all the content from the seasons will be free (which is what they want to do)

I think that, going forward, having new mythics be available to all players is a real win. Greymoor will enter the base game later in '26, so everyone will have access to antiquities.

Alaztor91 · January 8

We won't have a battle pass, but we'll need to purchase new content in the seasons (as it was before)

Free content sounds really good in theory, but ZOS is a business. Content being free means less incentive to actually develop new content, since cosmetics(and subs I guess) are now the sole revenue generator. This is already evident with the confirmation of zero new group dungeons this year for example.

I don't really see this utopia where cosmetics will fund the game just fine by themselves, while at the same time we get roughly the same amount of content that we used to get, but for free.

Tyrobag · January 9

We won't have a battle pass, but we'll need to purchase new content in the seasons (as it was before)

The premium battle pass is just an excuse to sell items in a bundle. Do you want this new armor that's locked behind the "premium" option? Too bad: you have to shell out for the armor, two mounts, a pet, a personality, and a pile of skill styles to get the one item you actually wanted! Oh, and did we mention that you still have to grind for it? Well now we have! Meanwhile you still have to pay a subscription to bypass the arbitrary inconveniences we've put in the game!

I'd much rather get high quality full sized DLC (not like solstice) and have to pay, while giving zos a better incentive to keep cosmetics in game instead of stuffing them all in the "premium" battle pass.

couriersix · January 9

We'll have a battle pass, but now all the content from the seasons will be free (which is what they want to do)

I'm not the biggest fan of battlepasses, but coming from Dead by Daylight (which is a paid game btw), in that game there is both a battlepass sold at a premium and you need to purchase quarterly chapters (which range anywhere from $5-$15) on top of grinding the battlepass for cosmetics, and if you buy DBD's battlepass then you don't own it forever and you still have a limited amount of time to complete it. It sucks. It's also really the only way to earn cosmetics for characters outside of purchasing them.

With ESO, I honestly don't think it'll be that bad? Like the way they phrased it made it sound like it'll be reworked endeavors + event tickets, and like if you have trade bars saved up then you can put them towards future battlepasses which does have cosmetics that you want. I also can't imagine that they'll be totally replacing things like style pages, motifs, etc.

I do think that the premium track should be given to ESO+ members, but I'm content with a battlepass as a means to support the game if it means that all meaningful gameplay content is free forever. I have a number of friends who cannot afford yearly chapters but love the game, so in the long run it means we will all be able to explore and play together without any monetary barrier.

lillybit · January 9

We'll have a battle pass, but now all the content from the seasons will be free (which is what they want to do)

I really don't understand people saying they aren't interested in a battle pass and/or cosmetics and want to buy content. Isn't this a win-win for them? They don't have to shell out on battle passes and can play what they want for free.

I know some people don't like change but the chapter model really was failing. Quality was declining every year and people were leaving quicker than new people starting. Something had to give. I love having new zones to explore but I'm happy to have less if it means new, more interesting and engaging things to do.

Different doesn't necessarily mean bad and we haven't even seen anything yet

Danikat · January 9

We won't have a battle pass, but we'll need to purchase new content in the seasons (as it was before)

lillybit wrote: »

I really don't understand people saying they aren't interested in a battle pass and/or cosmetics and want to buy content. Isn't this a win-win for them? They don't have to shell out on battle passes and can play what they want for free.

So I'll still be able to explore the new zone and play it's 30 hours of quests, but now it's free?

Oh no, I can't, because they're not making one because it's not as profitable as charging the same price for a few items.

Instead we get an "event zone" that ZOS say is sort-of like 1 dungeon but not really, and only available temporarily.

If it was "you still get what you like but now it's free" then I don't think anyone would complain, but that's not the case. They're changing not just what they charge for but what they're making and for those of us who play ESO for the story and the world it's an overall loss.

The Elder Scrolls Online

battle pass and free seasons?

battle pass and free seasons? 82 votes