Elder Scrolls Online - News Roundup #5

The Elder Scrolls Online director Matt Firor has explained to Eurogamer why Zenimax Online Studios has decided to charge a monthly subscription for the massively multiplayer online role-playing game at a time when most observers consider the business model outdated.

Zenimax raised eyebrows this week when it announced that it will charge £8.99 / $14.99 a month to play TESO when it launches in the spring of 2014 - that's across PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

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Earlier this morning, Paul Tassi reported that upcoming MMO The Elder Scrolls Online will use a subscription-fee model, charging users monthly for access to the game.

Paul quotes ZeniMax’s Matt Firor, who told Gamestar that “players will appreciate not having to worry about being “monetized” in the middle of playing the game, which is definitely a problem that is cropping up more and more in online gaming these days.”

Like Paul, I agree that the constant monetization is annoying. Also, like Paul, I think that this doesn’t change some hard facts about the MMO market Elder Scrolls Online is facing. Gone are the days of just a handful of high quality pay-to-play MMOs and a rabble of low-quality free-to-play titles.

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The problem is others have tried to climb that Mt. Olympus only to get smacked back down to Earth. The list of MMOs that have gone free-to-play stretches on into the void: Everquest, Everquest II, Lord of the Rings Online, DC Universe Online, Rift, Champions Online, Star Trek Online, The Secret World, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Tera. I've played and enjoyed most of them, I admit. The problem is when it came time for me to start paying monthly, it never happened.

During the launch of most of these titles, I was subscribed to World of Warcraft, so that's part of the problem. I was once a raider, but those days are long gone. I don't play WoW everyday or even every week, but it's comfort food: I like it there when I need it. When I run my monthly budget - games journalists don't make a ton! - certain fixed monthly charges are just always there: Phone bill, Netflix, Spotify, and World of Warcraft. I've subbed to Rift, Champions Online, The Secret World, and Star Wars: The Old Republic for a month or two, but nothing has particularly captured my complete attention and their $15 charge wasn't completely off my radar like WoW's is.

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Roland said:

Happy to pay…as long as the game provides entertainment and interest.

But I'm fairly easy to please so most likely will be subbing for a substantial length of time.

If that's what it'll take for them to provide the best/fullest most accessible and enjoyable game they can…I think they made the right decision.

Anyone with "real" interest can scrape up $15 a month, I would think quite easily.

Looking forward to diving into a whole new world to explore and quest through!

Rol

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