The Elder Scrolls Online is set to release sometime this year and while many can't wait for its release, many others fear for its survival. This opinion piece discusses why ESO can succeed as an MMO and not just be another World of Warcraft clone that goes the way of SWTOR.
Season Zero: Dawn and Dusk is now live for all platforms (including PC/Mac, Xbox, and PlayStation), kicking off a new era for The Elder Scrolls Online. This inaugural Season is live from April 2 until July 8 and lays the foundation for all future Seasons by introducing new reward systems, the first wave of player-focused improvements, class and combat redesigns, new zones and challenges, and more.
Check out some of the rewards you can unlock and acquire in ESO’s first ever Tamriel Tome, arriving April 2, 2026.
Get an in-depth view of the future of ESO with the 2026 Seasons Direct, followed by two developer and community member roundtables. Join the team at ZeniMax Online Studios as they share the many ways ESO is evolving with new adventures, stories, challenges, and systems, plus get your first look at each Season arriving in 2026. A new age for The Elder Scrolls Online is about to begin!
Pricing will be a huge issue. More importantly is how they approach pricing from the start, IMO. Having to switch payment models down the line could kill it.
I personally prefer the GW2 model of paying up-front and for subsequent expansions plus a trading post. Its simple and straight forward. I'm willing to pay more than average retail price (60$) just to have access to everything and not have to refer to a complicated checklist to find out what I can and cannot do. Just my opinion.
But the fact remains that if it goes with a subscription based model its going to fight an uphill battle.
I disagree that the series has potential as an "MMO". On the PC you have the ability to craft your own experience with mods. In an MMO you take what you are given. I really think losing the classic solo TES experience could have a big impact.
Business model aside, sure, it has potential but there are many things that can kill an MMO that aren't even related to the game itself.