No more Chapters for ESO confirmed: RIP 💀

[𝒞𝒶𝓉𝓎𝒶♡]

So, new ESO Studio Director Dev letter tells that no more yearly Chapters, but small updates anymore. So here we are. Hate to be the "i told you so", but yeah..

Link to official Studio Director Letter from ZOS:

https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/67321

What are your thoughts? Feelings?

This is how games literally enter the maintenance mode. So where are the "Game is biggest MMO on market" dudes now? I am giddy with anticipation while waiting for your explanations this time. :)

[UnderNewManagement]

Publicado originalmente por pepoma6inata:

just a reminder here, they do work in advance - content for year, year and a half is already set in motion and is ready for most part - either that decision has been made in the summer or they will just water down what is done until 2026...

or it was planned and they have season content planned for release around april when theyll announce more because they, in your own words, work on things ahead of time so it would be fair to assume this was planned and not a spur of the moment decision. its hilarious that the maintenance mode people can only make negative assumptions.

edit, in fact.... we are already getting some of the season like content with golden pursuits. so its already started lmfao

[Swans]

Publicado originalmente por Sofia♡:

Publicado originalmente por Swans:

They don't know the schedules yet, because they have just made a vision statement.

With the previous content cycle they were always working and planning schedule like 1-1.5 years in advance.

If a company takes away steady big content players are used to have always at certain time.. you know when they announce that they should have INSTANTLY been able to tell when exactly they get same amount of content as replacement. You know this. Or people will know it means they do not have such content coming. Because no company takes away stuff people are used to buying/playing if they GOT such content coming in to replace it.

For marketing reasons (to make money and for customer retention) they would 100% tell it to appease the crowd, because anyone competent knows if do NOT tell exact plans, people assume it is maintenance mode and game over.

Everyone knows that. So it means they do not have a content replacing it, just few tiny things here and there that they are not even giving schedule for. They probably are having layoffs soon, means they cannot even give schedule because of that.

If you are in business world, you'd know all this. And that letter is just business buzzwords illusion letter to buy time so people would not have even more huge exodus.

But give it a few days or a week, and people even on official forums will open their eyes and realize what is happening. When there is not even a guaranteed trial anymore that Chapter used to give. Crown crate seasons + battlepass to grind old content as "content". Let that sink in. For many it will take a few days or weeks, some will see next spring only.

I think people are perhaps reading too much into the use of the term 'seasons', which does have negative connotations. I personally more read it as ZOS' delivery method, e.g., 'initiatives', being a group of epics delivering a common goal. But that could be my own confirmation bias.

Ultimately, none of us know, I'm simply presenting an alternative view, which could be wrong in itself.

One concern I do have, is how they'll monetise it. e.g., even if ZOS are successful in delivering their vision statement, it is usually the case that an enterprise will take the opportunity to raise revenue. So, where we may have got a 1-year Chapter at £40 (or whatever it was), it would not surprise me if four seasons each of £15 were delivered. And also, what does that do for ESO+?

In Microsoft it's all about ensuring subscription uptake and renewal (MAU), and it's clear the current model is spikey in that regard (play new Chapter for 3 months, then uninstall ESO until next year), so how will the new mechanism generate more ESO+ subscribers who play more consistently, but at the same time how can it fund itself the way Chapters did by being outside the sub? One option is an ESO sub of some sort is offered as part of Game Pass Ultimate, as new orders and retention is important for GPU, thus somewhat diluting ESO+ as its own entity, but this being offset by seasons being directly billable units only.

[𝒞𝒶𝓉𝓎𝒶♡]

Publicado originalmente por pepoma6inata:

just a reminder here, they do work in advance - content for year, year and a half is already set in motion and is ready for most part - either that decision has been made in the summer or they will just water down what is done until 2026...

This is something i feel people have forgotten, they work in advance due to schedule. So this means huge budget cut that will affect their whole planned content for 2025 and 2026.

The suddenly cancelled 10 year anniversary Live Event would indicate that the situation came even to them surprisingly fast. So they had to scrap plans for 2025 and come up with some tiny back up plan to do small things with clearly tiny resources.

Either layoffs are happening OR people are being moved to another team/studio for another game.

There is no other explanation. Because if not, they would have made post about moving from Chapter-model way earlier and not like just before next chapter announcement only. And they would have announced full schedule for new content model. That would mean they would HAVE a new content model. That they clearly do not. Not even a schedule what is actually coming in 2025 and when. Nothing. They will maybe strip what they had already done for next chapter as as a "new feature" without chapter content. "bite size content". Everyone knows what that means in Developer language. It means they do not have anymore resources or ambition for anything more than that.

[𝒞𝒶𝓉𝓎𝒶♡]

Publicado originalmente por Swans:

Publicado originalmente por Sofia♡:

With the previous content cycle they were always working and planning schedule like 1-1.5 years in advance.

If a company takes away steady big content players are used to have always at certain time.. you know when they announce that they should have INSTANTLY been able to tell when exactly they get same amount of content as replacement. You know this. Or people will know it means they do not have such content coming. Because no company takes away stuff people are used to buying/playing if they GOT such content coming in to replace it.

For marketing reasons (to make money and for customer retention) they would 100% tell it to appease the crowd, because anyone competent knows if do NOT tell exact plans, people assume it is maintenance mode and game over.

Everyone knows that. So it means they do not have a content replacing it, just few tiny things here and there that they are not even giving schedule for. They probably are having layoffs soon, means they cannot even give schedule because of that.

If you are in business world, you'd know all this. And that letter is just business buzzwords illusion letter to buy time so people would not have even more huge exodus.

But give it a few days or a week, and people even on official forums will open their eyes and realize what is happening. When there is not even a guaranteed trial anymore that Chapter used to give. Crown crate seasons + battlepass to grind old content as "content". Let that sink in. For many it will take a few days or weeks, some will see next spring only.

I think people are perhaps reading too much into the use of the term 'seasons', which does have negative connotations. I personally more read it as ZOS' delivery method, e.g., 'initiatives', being a group of epics delivering a common goal. But that could be my own confirmation bias.

Ultimately, none of us know, I'm simply presenting an alternative view, which could be wrong in itself.

One concern I do have, is how they'll monetise it. e.g., even if ZOS are successful in delivering their vision statement, it is usually the case that an enterprise will take the opportunity to raise revenue. So, where we may have got a 1-year Chapter at £40 (or whatever it was), it would not surprise me if four seasons each of £15 were delivered. And also, what does that to for ESO+?

In Microsoft it's all about ensuring subscription uptake and renewal (MAU), and it's clear the current model is spikey in that regard (play new Chapter for 3 months, then uninstall ESO until next year), so how will the new mechanism generate more ESO+ subscribers who play more consistently, but at the same time how can it fund itself the way Chapters did by being outside the sub? One option is the ESO sub is offered as part of Game Pass Ultimate, as new orders and retention is important for GPU, thus somewhat diluting ESO+ as its own entity, but this being offset by seasons being directly billable units only.

Honestly, you seem smart and have good way with words. I'd for sure would think you would see my point, even just from how fast this happened, not long until was gonna be the next Chapter reveal teaser as was custom. This was all too close to that. Something went unplanned and you can feel it too.

Or they would have for customer retention instantly (and proudly) told and announced new dates for new content that replaces chapter content. They would tell that NEW TRIAL comes at autumn and is bigger and better than ever. You know they would have. Means they have nothing certain to give even schedule. Or they would have, for marketing reasons. Anyone competent would have.

[edg]

^ More bum stew from Lelu lol

[Swans]

Publicado originalmente por Sofia♡:

Publicado originalmente por Swans:

I think people are perhaps reading too much into the use of the term 'seasons', which does have negative connotations. I personally more read it as ZOS' delivery method, e.g., 'initiatives', being a group of epics delivering a common goal. But that could be my own confirmation bias.

Ultimately, none of us know, I'm simply presenting an alternative view, which could be wrong in itself.

One concern I do have, is how they'll monetise it. e.g., even if ZOS are successful in delivering their vision statement, it is usually the case that an enterprise will take the opportunity to raise revenue. So, where we may have got a 1-year Chapter at £40 (or whatever it was), it would not surprise me if four seasons each of £15 were delivered. And also, what does that to for ESO+?

In Microsoft it's all about ensuring subscription uptake and renewal (MAU), and it's clear the current model is spikey in that regard (play new Chapter for 3 months, then uninstall ESO until next year), so how will the new mechanism generate more ESO+ subscribers who play more consistently, but at the same time how can it fund itself the way Chapters did by being outside the sub? One option is the ESO sub is offered as part of Game Pass Ultimate, as new orders and retention is important for GPU, thus somewhat diluting ESO+ as its own entity, but this being offset by seasons being directly billable units only.

Honestly, you seem smart and have good way with words. I'd for sure would think you would see my point, even just from how fast this happened, not long until was gonna be the next Chapter reveal teaser as was custom. This was all too close to that. Something went unplanned and you can feel it too.

Haha, well, it all comes down to personality types ;-) Whenever I complete one of those 'personality type' psychometric sessions, I am always the 'analytical personality type', i.e., I will not make a decision until I have all the facts. Unsurprisingly, I hold a senior decision making role for this reason!

And at this point, there simply are no facts for me to analyse, just a statement from ZOS.

You could be entirely correct in what you say. But equally, ZOS may have now been sufficiently absorbed into Microsoft that the corporate 'growth mindset' philosophy has engulfed them and they are re-aligning around that.

As befits an analytical type, I won't decide until I see some facts and, as any stockbroker will tell you, "past performance is no indicator of future performance" ;-)

[𝒞𝒶𝓉𝓎𝒶♡]

Publicado originalmente por Swans:

Publicado originalmente por Sofia♡:

Honestly, you seem smart and have good way with words. I'd for sure would think you would see my point, even just from how fast this happened, not long until was gonna be the next Chapter reveal teaser as was custom. This was all too close to that. Something went unplanned and you can feel it too.

Or they would have for customer retention instantly (and proudly) told and announced new dates for new content that replaces chapter content. They would tell that NEW TRIAL comes at autumn and is bigger and better than ever. You know they would have. Means they have nothing certain to give even schedule. Or they would have, for marketing reasons. Anyone competent would have.

Haha, well, it all comes down to personality types ;-) Whenever I complete one of those 'personality type' psychometric sessions, I am always the 'analytical personality type', i.e., I will not make a decision until I have all the facts. Unsurprisingly, I hold a senior decision making role for this reason!

And at this point, there simply are no facts for me to analyse, just a statement from ZOS.

You could be entirely correct in what you say. But equally, ZOS may have now been sufficiently absorbed into Microsoft that the corporate 'growth mindset' philosophy has engulfed them and they are re-aligning around that.

As befits an analytical type, I won't decide until I see some facts and, as any stockbroker will tell you, "past performance is no indicator of future performance" ;-)

To be honest, i like that. :) Your style i mean.

But, with ZOS and their track record. Personally all i have is cynical realism, with ZOS every change is like talking about memes.

Do you expect them to change their method of doing things? I WISH they had variables like stock markets interesting ones, ways to go to the moon when least expects it. But a decade of seeing them in action and how they navigate through trends.. Unless there comes a new Covid that locks in people at home and same time they would suddenly make best Chapter ever since Summerset, that would bring back people. Oh but wait, no more chapters..

So anything "bite sized" they bring, you know will be hard to market for mmo gamers that are very demanding (almost entitled bunch, even me :P). MMO gamers always wants a big beefy update that has hyped content with things in it that many demographics want to play and pay for.

And now? There is not even a guaranteed schedule for anything for almost half a year. So you know things are not okay. And people have other games to go to that HAVE very reliable schedules and content amounts. It's a "risk" to stay now, you know what i mean. There is now biggest risk than ever for a feeling for people that "i am playing a dying game", even that saying is often a meme, even i admit that. But now with this situation? You know how people will start to feel about spending money to the game, when it has not even guaranteed content anymore in near future.

So it has become a risky money/time investment for many for sure. You can see this even on official forums, those messages get removed a lot though and moderated. People are worried. And even more after few days when they realize what that letter actually means and says. And that there is no promised content in schedule currently, at all. Zero. That is not a good feeling for a game that has played for years to suddenly be in. It happened too close to next years announcements/teaser/trailers to be "planned". People can sense it even without "full data to analyze". You know, again, with ZOS' track record.

They do not do this fast moves normally, not if things would be fine. Because for sure 2025 chapter should be closed to finished already and about at the stage of Voice Actors recording stuff etc. Unless.. they had this planned from last year already, and if did, they should be able to instantly give schedule for new replacement content, what and when and how much it costs (or about the "seasonal" stuff). You cannot go into a new year at this late without telling about new content if whole content cadence changes. But.. nothing. No schedules. If that does not make some people realize something went wrong suddenly, then i don't know what to say.

[pepoma6inata]

it is not new for zeni to drop the bomb and wait to see where wind blows to soften later the impact, just to the point where people purchase again. radio silence is also not new "because people will hope for bight future" (how many years of performance improvements has sold next chapter...).

how many announcements have passed through: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.

and here comes new life festival with grind and house, dungeon for q1, hype for new seasons "which is brilliant and the best work we have done so far" etc...

[AmaiAmai]

Publicado originalmente por pepoma6inata:

it is not new for zeni to drop the bomb and wait to see where wind blows to soften later the impact, just to the point where people purchase again. radio silence is also not new "because people will hope for bight future" (how many years of performance improvements has sold next chapter...).

how many announcements have passed through: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.

and here comes new life festival with grind and house, dungeon for q1, hype for new seasons "which is brilliant and the best work we have done so far" etc...

Many players don't learn

[𝒞𝒶𝓉𝓎𝒶♡]

🚨 News Alert! 🚨

So far 60% of voters in official forums are not happy about the letter and what they expect based of it:

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/670765/studio-director-s-letter-2025/p1

So anyone who says "only couple people are negative about the future.." when vote is 60% are worried so majority of people who have read it and are forum users, means the average andy probably will just not even be worried but literally will just silently uninstall game if feels steady content on known schedule will be gone. No one will repeat same content forever. It will go path of New World before Aeternum, you know, soon to be 2k players.

What is currently on schedule for next year by the way?

Nothing. Let that sink in. There is NO content announced on any date for next year after they cancelled next Chapter. They gave nothing to replace it. No announced dates for next Trials, no announced dates for new dungeons. No announced dates for pvp/Cyrodiil content. Nothing.

What kind of marketing cancels previous content model but gives no new dates/content in exchange so people would have easy time to start new year in same game with safe feeling. The one that does not have such content at all. Only words in a letter and they ask you to wait almost half a year more even for next announcement. You did get announcement to wait for new announcement until april. But no new content. Dead game.

[UnderNewManagement]

Publicado originalmente por Sofia♡:

🚨 News Alert! 🚨

So far 60% of voters in official forums are not happy about the letter and what they expect based of it:

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/670765/studio-director-s-letter-2025/p1

So anyone who says "only couple people are negative about the future.." when vote is 60% are worried so majority of people who have read it and are forum users, means the average andy probably will just not even be worried but literally will just silently uninstall game if feels steady content on known schedule will be gone. No one will repeat same content forever. It will go path of New World before Aeternum, you know, soon to be 2k players.

What is currently on schedule for next year by the way?

Nothing. Let that sink in. There is NO content announced on any date for next year after they cancelled next Chapter. They gave nothing to replace it. No announced dates for next Trials, no announced dates for new dungeons. No announced dates for pvp/Cyrodiil content. Nothing.

What kind of marketing cancels previous content model but gives no new dates/content in exchange so people would have easy time to start new year in same game with safe feeling. The one that does not have such content at all. Only words in a letter and they ask you to wait almost half a year more even for next announcement. You did get announcement to wait for new announcement until april. But no new content. Dead game. :sad_seagull:

yeah forum outcry. drop in the bucket. and prolly largely pvp people who think they failed to deliver on pvp promises so cant on this. theyre usually the most outspoken like this in any mmo ive played. make numbered list about why things in the future will be a certain way. seen it before and the games keep going on.
edit, even your use of the word andy tells me a lot lol. a lot act like the time theyve spent or money spent is like shares in a company, and theyve invested a lot so should be able to run things. reeks of entitlement

[𝒞𝒶𝓉𝓎𝒶♡]

Publicado originalmente por UnderNewManagement:

Publicado originalmente por Sofia♡:

🚨 News Alert! 🚨

So far 60% of voters in official forums are not happy about the letter and what they expect based of it:

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/670765/studio-director-s-letter-2025/p1

So anyone who says "only couple people are negative about the future.." when vote is 60% are worried so majority of people who have read it and are forum users, means the average andy probably will just not even be worried but literally will just silently uninstall game if feels steady content on known schedule will be gone. No one will repeat same content forever. It will go path of New World before Aeternum, you know, soon to be 2k players.

What is currently on schedule for next year by the way?

Nothing. Let that sink in. There is NO content announced on any date for next year after they cancelled next Chapter. They gave nothing to replace it. No announced dates for next Trials, no announced dates for new dungeons. No announced dates for pvp/Cyrodiil content. Nothing.

What kind of marketing cancels previous content model but gives no new dates/content in exchange so people would have easy time to start new year in same game with safe feeling. The one that does not have such content at all. Only words in a letter and they ask you to wait almost half a year more even for next announcement. You did get announcement to wait for new announcement until april. But no new content. Dead game.

yeah forum outcry. drop in the bucket. and prolly largely pvp people who think they failed to deliver on pvp promises so cant on this. theyre usually the most outspoken like this in any mmo ive played. make numbered list about why things in the future will be a certain way. seen it before and the games keep going on.

Forum is a micro environment presentation of their player base. The actual player base is the same just in scale obviously. But people are the same and think the same. And when people feel their game is dying, they stop playing it.

And right now, fact is: There literally is no content on scheduled dates for the year 2025, no new trials, no new dungeons, nothing. You can explain all you want. But facts are facts, sorry.

It's on ZOS, some few random players should not be here even having to defend them. If only they had published actual FACTS and real dates and details (costs) about new content, there would be no questions. But have they? Nope. You know why. Because they do not have it. Only explanation. Because any competent Developer would know that at this kind of situation they need to give all details instantly with facts and what people can expect and with what cost of money. But they gave no details. So there is nothing yet except they have few small quests done (probably was planned as next Chapter prologue and they will use it lol) and "plans". And could not even give any schedule or guaranteed details.

It's like some game on Alpha or early Beta, where there are big plans and no details and no guarantees what comes to game in reality. It all sounds like they are in financial trouble or under restructuring in the team. You know it does.

[UnderNewManagement]

Publicado originalmente por Sofia♡:

Publicado originalmente por UnderNewManagement:

yeah forum outcry. drop in the bucket. and prolly largely pvp people who think they failed to deliver on pvp promises so cant on this. theyre usually the most outspoken like this in any mmo ive played. make numbered list about why things in the future will be a certain way. seen it before and the games keep going on.

Forum is a micro environment presentation of their player base. The actual player base is the same just in scale obviously. But people are the same and think the same. And when people feel their game is dying, they stop playing it.

And right now, fact is: There literally is no content on scheduled dates for the year 2025, no new trials, no new dungeons, nothing. You can explain all you want. But facts are facts, sorry.

It's on ZOS, some few random players should not be here even having to defend them. If only they had published actual FACTS and real dates and details (costs) about new content, there would be no questions. But have they? Nope. You know why. Because they do not have it. Only explanation. Because any competent Developer would know that at this kind of situation they need to give all details instantly with facts and what people can expect and with what cost of money. But they gave no details. So there is nothing yet except they have few small quests done (probably was planned as next Chapter prologue and they will use it lol) and "plans". And could not even give any schedule or guaranteed details.

It's like some game on Alpha or early Beta, where there are big plans and no details and no guarantees what comes to game in reality. It all sounds like they are in financial trouble or under restructuring in the team. You know it does.

it isnt representative actually. thats like saying reddit is just a microcosm of reality. only people motivated to post to the forum do so. its like reviews and how they largely are 5 or 1 stars. because the people that really love it or hate it are motivated to engage in that way. while the people who have a 2-4 star experience arent. and there isnt anything to defend because like the other person said, we dont really know much. the only thing people are defending against are wild speculations from the playerbase like youre doing. zenimaxes statement itself doesnt say much and we all will have to wait to see how it plays out. even the speculators will have to wait, because they can spin the wildest story about how this is bad, but until we get more info. no one knows. so its just fan fic. but yeahhhhh nooooo online forums arent representative. thats just a hard no lmao

you seem hung up on not having dates too. when they said we will tell you more in april. and summer would have been the normal chapter release right? so we will have info prior to that anyway. and season stuff seems to have started already and theyre testing it out with golden pursuits. so seems to me like they have a plan in motion already.

[𝒞𝒶𝓉𝓎𝒶♡]

Publicado originalmente por UnderNewManagement:

you seem hung up on not having dates too. when they said we will tell you more in april.

Because content and dates about it is ALL that matters. This was just announcement and in april comes next announcement. No content. Next announcement. Again, let that sink in. That is literal maintenance mode.

Compare to previous years, Q1 Dungeon DLC 1, Q2 Chapter, Q3 Dungeon DLC2, Q4 Mini zone end of chapter story.

2024 Half of that.

2025 No dates for anything. And at April will come Announcement (no content, an announcement after announcement of no chapters). If this does not have someone worried, not sure what to say.

As said, you can explain all you want, but facts are facts. They did not publish any dates for content for next year, because they literally don't have it. If they had, you know they would have given dates to calm people who said about maintenance mode and dying game. All they talk is seasons and tiny updates. And no dates. Literal maintenance mode. As in yes, dead game. Compared to other active mmo games with steady schedule of yearly content with actual dates and what comes on what quarter.

[UnderNewManagement]

Publicado originalmente por Sofia♡:

Publicado originalmente por UnderNewManagement:

you seem hung up on not having dates too. when they said we will tell you more in april.

Because content and dates about is is ALL that matters. This was just announcement and in april comes next announcement. No content. Next announcement. Again, let that sink in. That is literal maintenance mode.

Compare to previous years, Q1 Dungeon DLC 1, Q2 Chapter, Q3 Dungeon DLC2, Q4 Mini zone end of chapter story.

2024 Half of that.

2025 No dates for anything. And at April will come Announcement (no content, an announcement after announcement of no chapters). If this does not have someone worried, not sure what to say.

As said, you can explain all you want, but facts are facts. They did not publish any dates for content for next year, because they literally don't have it. If they had, you know they would have given dates to calm people who said about maintenance mode and dying game. All they talk is seasons and tiny updates. And no dates. Literal maintenance mode. As in yes, dead game. Compared to other active mmo games with steady schedule of yearly content with actual dates and what comes on what quarter.

they literally are updating old graphics for free for the base game. that isnt maint mode. cry more. im not gonna track player count numbers like i have ocd. ill let zenimax worry about their bottom line and ill continue to play the wonderful game theyve produced and ive thoroughly enjoyed.