What is the $10. work-around to get off Steam?

[Isme]

Sorry I can't find the original post(s) with this info but I read everywhere here about what I believe is a work-around that costs $10. and switches me to Bathesda servers. Or something. Can someone list the steps in that process so I can try it?

[AC Denton]

You buy the game.

[Phibbus]

First off, if you can still get a refund from Steam, do that and just buy from the ESO store, directly. If not:

1. Go to the ESO store and log in using the Zenimax account that’s currently linked to your Steam account.

2. Purchase the base game + Morrowind, which should still be on sale for $10.

3. Locate the Bethesda.net_launcher.exe file in your Steam game files (you can also use the eso64.exe game executable, directly, if the game does not need to be updated.)

4. Log in to the game using the Zenimax account username and password. The first time you do so, you’ll get sent a confirmation code by email which you must enter.

That’s pretty much it. You can continue to use your Steam installation, just use the Bethesda launcher or the game .exe, directly, to avoid Steam login. You keep everything you purchased through Steam and your character progress.

[Isme]

Thank you, that's clear. One more question. When I look in task manager, I see ESO and Steam running 32 bit operations. Often there are 5 or more stacked repeats of Steam Bootstrapper at 32 bits when I expand that operation. Is this a prob? I thought this was all 64 bits?

[Phibbus]

The steam bootstrapper is what monitors your Steam games for updates and downloads them. I believe it only comes in the 32-bit flavor, but I’m not positive. Multiple instances of it means that it’s working on multiple tasks or multiple pieces of the same task. It’s only a problem if it’s eating up too much bandwidth, in which case you can throttle how much it uses in the Steam settings.

I’m not sure why your system would be running eso.exe instead of eso64.exe (if that’s what you mean)—unless your OS is 32-bit?

[Isme]

Again, thanks. I have Win 10 64. I was recently forced to get it. I will look in to the eso.exe vs eso64.exe