Elder Scrolls Online is a popular MMORPG today. However, the developers faced a significant challenge at the beginning – which led to the unusual direction of the game.
What were the beginnings of the game? Bethesda wanted its own MMORPG set in the Elder Scrolls universe. Why not: After all, the brand offers a vast world with different countries, races, and a lot of lore in the background.
While previous iterations were aimed only at solo players, Elder Scrolls Online was meant to compete with other major MMORPGs like WoW.
But Blizzard’s game that has been running for 20 years now created problems for the developers at ZeniMax Online. This is no wonder, as every new MMORPG has to get past the dominant World of Warcraft.
“Breaking out of the WoW mold”
What was the problem? The former Creative Director of ESO, Paul Sage, recalls the beginnings of the MMORPG to Gamesradar. He and his team wanted to create a game with its own identity that stands out from World of Warcraft.
And that was not easy: WoW had a significant influence on the genre. According to Sage, players expect certain gameplay mechanics that originated from WoW and have long since become standard in the genre.
Since Sage and his team did not want to repeat the same thing exactly, they faced some limitations. Here, they had to find their own solutions to distinguish ESO from the competition. Sage calls it “breaking out of the WoW mold” to create something unique.
Bethesda gave the team a lot of freedom. Therefore, according to Sage, it was even easier to break out of the tried and tested Elder Scrolls formula and develop an MMORPG than to stand out from WoW and others.
In the end, Elder Scrolls Online became an MMORPG that also targets single players and sometimes feels like a genuine single-player title. Players can choose to ignore other players and freely explore the world just like in Skyrim or Oblivion. Many are now also playing WoW this way.
Today, Elder Scrolls Online is one of the largest MMORPGs on the market. In 2024 alone, 1 million new players joined.
Paul Sage is no longer working at ZeniMax Online. However, the developer appreciates that Bethesda gave his team the artistic freedom to create a game with its own identity. Do you think the plan worked? Feel free to share it in the comments. You might also be interested in: Players criticize the new companion in the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls – Developers respond
