ESO in 2024: a dead game? Is it even possible to save it anymore?

[𝒞𝒶𝓉𝓎𝒶♡]

With all the last years low effort content (only Endless Archive was something semi-new, idea taken from another mmo) and the exodus away from the game by both the PVP communities oldschool players and Veteran Trial players, to a point where the ones left meme being the "Last Veteran Trial players", at least at the Trifecta level. The communities have become so small that it is sad when remembers the better times and years.

Is it possible to save ESO anymore? Do the Developers even listen the feedback? Do they even think and see the game as MMO game anymore, or more like just single player "Skyrim Lite"?

It feels they aim to just sell mounts and cosmetics and leveling stuff and Vampire Bites etc (that can get for free in game from other players, but not all new players know these kinds of things and gets milked) to grind money with minimal effort.

I know some have the good old sunk cost fallacy hitting, and feels needless anger rising, when has spent so much money to the game already, that feels the need to defend it in any case, or even attack personally anyone telling truths, even when the game is pretty much abusive to them also and do not respect their spent time and money. Anything you buy (sets, classes, skills in paid content, chapters) can be nerfed up and down from decent to useless every 3 months inverval so there never is a feeling of being respected or being able to relax and plan your goals, just so you buy the next thing that is buffed, on and on, meanwhile not having anything cool farmable even in the game like in other MMO games.

Imagine actually having most stuff in game as rewards and not in cash shop? Yes, that is how it is in most other MMO games. Can say that after played several other mmo games. ESO has been by far nothing but a Cash Shop front, game made to sell you Crowns so you buy cosmetics in a laggy, buggy game with bad performance. Would imagine with all that income they would have fixed at least Cyrodiil during all these years, but nope. They only want your money, not your loyalty as a player, they aim just to get new players that spend before they quit.

Do you feel there is anymore even a chance to turn the course of this game? Or will it just slowly fade away, with every chapter giving small nostalgia to the old ESO andies, but each time less and less, and faster and faster after update comes disappointment and player amounts drop back down and game feels lifeless and broken. Ravaged by greed and incompetence. When it could have been so much more, sad times.

Here is a good Youtube clip from a known ESO content creator Azura, explaining the greedy monetization model and backgrounds of the same points i am talking about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XunPmoW0Yf0

Watch that video before going into some reactive emotional anger towards your fellow gamers. If the ESO's own old fans and players say the same things, you know it's an actual issue. But for sure some gonna again tell any negative feedback is just "trolling" and try to silence.

Good thing we are in Steam forums where can say opinions on important issues that are impacting gaming negatively. And this one is.

How do you feel about this issue personally?

My own solution was to Uninstall ESO and play other mmo games until they fix things, put way more rewards into the game instead of 90% into the cash shop, and actually start giving the game same kind of effort and passion that was still visible during Summerset Chapter times. We as players, as their important customers deserve better.

With love,

Lelu, content creator and gaming news enthusiast

[Rhomak]

only read the title but yea game can't be saved anymore and in the end is just what the developers wanted they turned the game from a social mmo where no matter what area u'd go there'll always be people chatting and getting together to do things, set farming and stuff like that into a ghost town single player mmo type thing, kinda sad because the game was great back in 2018-2019

[Sith Lord Seyz]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Lelu💜:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Sith Lord Seyz:

I actually like proved with data in your last "ESO dead" thread, that eso is in fact not dying.
now you post the same stuff again in a new thread for what?

I get that you don't like ESO anymore. The communities disbanded, that you played with in the past. The content, that gets released don't appeal to you.

But what on earth is the point of this post except farming visibility to get some steam awards? I mean you continued the last post for weeks/months even after the "ESO is dying" point was disproven.
It's obvious, that you don't want to return to ESO. Why even camp the steam forum with its like 10 users all day?

I like MMO topics and discussions, and have always lots of feedback and opinions to give. It being the whole point of Steam games discussions, you know? :)

Sometime some topics do intertwine or what is the english word for it, so might have some same themes, since same genre games, and same issues.. so of course there is some repetition every now and then. Same as ESO has in content. *shrug* It is very formulaic, as you know.

So of course naturally posts about it can feel too. Not like there is something "brand new" to talk about ESO when there literally is not much anything new to talk about ever. That is one part of the issue. And i am not only one saying that.

Are you saying i am not allowed to post here? Or am i just personally annoying to you and it's just personal bad chemistry?

Maybe we can just focus on talking about games. Feedback about them is Steam main point. You can safely ignore me and my posts if not like them. Good thing we live in a free forum, right? ^^

Hope you have a good day, you have been polite at least and not name calling like some. So i thank you for that. Wish you have a great starting week! :UDG_Heart: (at least here in my timezone starting to be monday morning)

Edit: "Stop argumenting with feelings"? Why? I am not, but i do have feelings and gaming is about having feeling reactions, to find enjoyment (or not in case of some games and their current situations), i am not some "cold bosslady", but more like a sassy princess with emotional rollercoaster of a mind, so i HAVE feelings and play by them and make them known, so excuse me about that lol. :D

in fact it is annoying, because you are not trying to discuss stuff. instead you are baiting with statements like "game is dead/dying" while obviously knowing better.

the question from my post was regardless of beeing annoyed, what the intentions were.
i guess you just like to talk to people in steam forums about games.
even if its completly unproductive. i mean thats ok :D
I just suspected some steam point farm


just read all the comments here. most are uninformed or even completely false.
most stuff is not based on facts in this discussion, no... its just feelings.

just one example:
you and other people say that most/everything new gets added via cash shop and not as ingame rewards.
thats just wrong. yes there is stuff added to the crown store and the monetarization of some stuff is questionable and can be discussed (gamba crates for example),
but saying nothing is earnable by playing the game is just wrong.
maybe you dont like the stuff, that you can get via playing the game. that is fine, too.
(to some extend you can get cash shop stuff free, too)
but staying in reality would be nice.

[𝒞𝒶𝓉𝓎𝒶♡]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Hefutoxin:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Lelu💜:

Yeah i have seen it all. In so many MMO forums i have played, also even in FF14 forums. It has it's own special cases, oh the archetypes you know for sure very well too, since seen you around also. ^^

I have seen things, things you would not believe. :P

It's the same in there too, in FF14 forums, with couple of the "one guy'd" types who all write same style enough to actually be like the same person from ALL of the said game forums, like someone who does it as their full time personal "content", if can say it that. It's low effort though without imagination, more like copy paste tier.. you know, like once you read one message, no need for more and no surprises incoming, and does not miss anything if puts in Block list, because knows there won't be any pearls in forms of posts incoming also in future.

Like when you realize that you can make better memes about their posts with more creativity than what they did with their originals. It's a priceless feeling. ^^

You are a smart person though based of your posts, mind of analytic thoughts. So you get my point and motives i believe. It is not "trolling" i can assure you about that.

I do admit i am passionate about mmo games, if i would not care, i would not give critical feedback, apathy is the sign of not caring. As i have said, one of the fun memories of mmo games were the times me and my bestie did grind her Empress title the 1st time, we were so tired but laughed in comms all the time, around the clock to silly things. So yes, there was a time i loved ESO. But i feel i am allowed to give negative feedback when it is earned. Some people just do not want to listen any negative feedback or they take it personally. When i only talk about the game, and improving the game and fixing issues would also help others, not just me.

I have full account, full of cool stuff, shinies, radiant apex mounts, fancy titles.. all of that, waiting for me to go back playing.. IF they actually fix their game and make it great again. But i fear they do not even care anymore. It's a sad feeling.

I don't consider it trolling. I was meaning aside from the trolls. Each MMO has parts that just aren't good and will never be good due to how the game is designed.

ESO never had good combat. ESO never had good group content. ESO never had good PvP. ESO is simply not going to focus on that stuff going forward. It's a waste of time and resources.

Nothing you have suggested is new. It's not that they are ignoring the community; it's that they are listening to them.

The interrupt-everything-to-block mechanic has a massive downside with the form of animation canceling which leads to weaving. They have tried multiple ways to get it to fit. It's just garbage no matter what they do.

This loose form of combat leaks into both PvP and Engame group content, since the combat is the core aspect of both of those systems. People do not like this. People who focus on PvP and Endgame group content have left the game.

There is no reason for ESO to focus on combat-focused systems because that's the weak part of ESO.

New classes/skill lines are the odd man out here, because while they do relate to combat, people enjoy them more for the class/player fantasy.

ESO is a casual MMO that caters to solo players. The best places to focus are world expansion and content for solo players to enjoy.

Yeah well.. as said - i am very passionate about MMO games, and yes, i sort of since have those very important and fond memories (like when Cyrodiil worked at least in "playable" tier in some updates and like 3am weekends lmao) about ESO PVP i miss those "good old times" with friends there and have this feeling that it all was sort of taken away from me, from us. By not us, but by the Devs literally ruining their own game that has great potential, but just really bad management.

Like i honestly feel the game would improve a lot, if it would have all it's leaders be replaced with people who are competent and have passion. I feel current Devs have lost their passion, creativity and do not anymore care how they game is, but do only minimum effort, milk money with all possible ways from diehard fans, some who are loyal even during the rough years.

Yes, i am driven by emotions. In any game i play. I love games pretty much like i love people, games are extensions of reality for me, where i can hangout with people. I'm shy and awkward in real life with people, but in games not so much. People often assume things about me based on my looks or posts or whatever, but i am just actually helpful and kind. Some just see me annoying tho, because i speak my mind, but it comes from passion. Maybe even sort of "motherly instinct" (i got no kids, so maybe i treat games as such lol) so i go very much at topics and things that some are not willing to do, because they know they get bullied/attacked for their opinions. What is surprising that people do that, in a gaming forum about games. Surprising that so many cannot respect other peoples views if they are different.

People have become too tribalistic and defensive about their few favorite games. And forget that negative feedback can have good intentions, "clickbait topics" might have been done due to shock value, since those are noticed, Developers at official forums remove them fast, due to knowing people agree with those and those gets attention a lot of posts and the reactions from others who are usually neutral but then go "Wait a minute.. yeah.. she IS right, i want this fixed too now that we talk about this [insert angry mob starting to gather torches]", and then people demand to fix said issues. Fixing issues reluctantly sometimes comes with bombarded shock feedback.

ZOS has shown it only fixes things when it feels it has to, otherwise they only do minimal effort. ZOS has shown also it has changed few of their plans in gameplay due to uproar of players, like the cast time on shields they were about to do? Remember that animation where it looked like sorc was about to poop their pants while casting a shield? Oh boy.. At least we forum outrage people managed to stop that from happening. But, how they managed to do Poopfist instead of making StamWhip is beyond me. They have had many chances of making cool new skill animations, sets etc, but they make some lame things. Creativity where? As said, i feel they have lost their creativity and passion and would badly need a "change of guard" to fresh people with skill and passion.

But to your point: ZOS still even deletes comments and bans users on live streams that have the words "Fix pvp, or fix cyrodiil". So yes, i know i am fighting a battle that has little chances to go anywhere. Still, i have to say out the things i feel (yes, i have feelings, to that one guy reading all of this haha) so i can say i have done my best.

And luckily there are many other MMO games to play, and other games too. I love co-op games etc also. But i'd like it if somehow magically even ESO would became slowly better, like it became slowly worse, it did not happen overnight. Me and all friends felt it slowly degrading (both mechanically, by design, and by just lost creativity).

Can probably compare it to a relationship, we felt they (Devs) stopped caring and loving the game and it became like a job anymore, where the game and players are only "tolerated" to make money, not loved and cared about. That is probably the best way i can put it honestly.

[𝒞𝒶𝓉𝓎𝒶♡]

Fix your quote please. That is as broken as Cyrodiil during primetime. :)

[skp]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Lelu💜:

Fix your quote please. That is as broken as Cyrodiil during primetime. :)

Yeah, I see^^

[skp]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Lelu💜:

People have become too tribalistic and defensive about their few favorite games.

People like you don't even realise that others might like the game, it's all about their ego and their little uptight view of the world.
Your title alone shows that you are not at all interested in the positive side of the game. Anyway, if the situation in ESO help that people like you stay away, I am more as happy.

[𝒞𝒶𝓉𝓎𝒶♡]

Oprindeligt skrevet af skp:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Lelu💜:

Fix your quote please. That is as broken as Cyrodiil during primetime. :)

Yeah, I see^^

And about your comment. As i explained, sometimes "shock titles/topics/posts" CAN have good intentions.. some game companies never fix any issues until there is enough of uproar and bad PR so they reluctantly put things on the fix list to do.

So while such things can be slightly annoying to read for some, about their favorite games, always good to remember it's only a game, a product, that can be improved.

Or are you saying honestly that ESO has zero issues and cannot be improved? Just answer me that. Is the game perfect or could you improve the monetization, creativity, content and performance of it if you had magic powers to do so, or someone you would trust to do so who has skill?

Like some other MMO games have lead Devs that are really good at their job, so it's not impossible thing to ask for. :)

[skp]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Lelu💜:

Or are you saying honestly that ESO has zero issues and cannot be improved? Just answer me that. Is the game perfect or could you improve the monetization, creativity, content and performance of it if you had magic powers to do so, or someone you would trust to do so who has skill?

As for ESO, like any game, it's not without its flaws. It's not perfect, and there's always room for improvement. Monetization, creativity, content, and performance can always be enhanced, even if it's a great game already. If I had magic powers, I'd definitely work on making it even better, or trust someone skilled to do so. Improvement is a natural part of any ongoing project, and it's okay to discuss ways to make things even more enjoyable for players. But the way you seem to want to have a constructive discussion ""shock titles/topics/posts" is absoulutely counterproductive.

[𝒞𝒶𝓉𝓎𝒶♡]

But it's my own unique style.. i am known for this, like in discord too. :D

I have weird humor and years of ESO Cyrodiil playtime in lag made my brain laggy & bugged probably also. :P I played for 5 years, from teen to adult, i'm 21 now. And of course any game played during those years are important, becomes sort of "nostalgia game", like WoW is for many older gamers i know, they play WoW classic even it looks a bit like Lego game graphics already. ^^

But as said, i have fond memories of many of my ESO years, i joined pvp guild at very young age and became healer in a "ball group", boys teased me always, but i became sort of mascot and liked anyways, even i say weird takes even in discord also, there is still some meme clips of my rants. I did same type of rants even when i was 16, guys said always i sound like angry anime character. :D

But i have good memories. So of course i also give harsh feedback when something i used to love is in a state of decline compared to what it was and what it has potential to be. I am not pretending to be allmighty, but i do know good game decisions from bad ones, and you know when you play some game, you get that constant "omg this is so fun and well done" compared to some games feeling like they are pretty much low effort anymore or nearly abandoned but milked, or all ideas done by corpa exec decisions and players do not like for most part (like Diablo 4 for example, they have everything, great IP and all the resources in the world to use on it, yet the product is soulless and boring after campaign done once).

Then there are gaming Devs who clearly love gaming and their own product and it shows. I just feel, and am not only one, that ESO Devs have just lost interest in the game and are spending most effort to their new game now for some years already and just milk ESO until it is done, then it will be put to full maintenance mode. Sad thought.

[skp]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Lelu💜:

But it's my own unique style.. i am known for this, like in discord too. :D

It's never too late to change bad habits. And I see from your last comment that you are capable of doing so ;-)

[𝒞𝒶𝓉𝓎𝒶♡]

Oprindeligt skrevet af skp:

Oprindeligt skrevet af Lelu💜:

But it's my own unique style.. i am known for this, like in discord too. :D

It's never too late to change bad habits. And I see from your last comment that you are capable of doing so ;-)

We all have our own burdens to carry. This is mine.

And believe it or not, while i might seem like annoying here in certain situations when on the "opposing camp" in some debate or a matter of opinions or personal preferences.. then i am quite awesome when on the "same side". ^^

I have been told exactly that, that i'm brilliant to have on the same side, so they just "Unleash Lelu and laugh at the entertainment that follows" (or drama in some rare cases, once there was a guild leader, his wife and a full love triangle that was like one of them daily soap opera shows, but that is a story for another time..) :P

But for what it's worth, i have enjoyed our little chat, so thank you for that.

Gotta go to the gym, yesterday i slept too late and had no time to go, my local gym where i go is not 24/7, but only open until 21:00, so gonna go early today. Sleep schedule been messed up for few days.

"Until next time my friend.." *tries to do a Khajiit impression who sits on a Crown Crate*

[skp]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Lelu💜:

But for what it's worth, i have enjoyed our little chat, so thank you for that. :UDG_Heart:

o/

[Somnus]

I started playing recently and I'm seeing people all over the place, wherever I go when I'm questing and when I queue for dungeons and stuff I find people almost instantaneously
If I ask a question in /zone chat or guild there are tons of people replying
Doesn't seem dead at all

[GinsengSamurai]

Same ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ thread as the other one she created that was locked. https://steamcommunity.com/app/306130/discussions/0/4040355933304190026/

Should report this thread as spam and trolling.

[MISO4EVER]

Oprindeligt skrevet af GinsengSamurai:

Same ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ thread as the other one she created that was locked. https://steamcommunity.com/app/306130/discussions/0/4040355933304190026/

Should report this thread as spam and trolling.

i already did. doubtful the mods will be swift it took them at least a month or 2 to lock the prior thread.