PvP plays a role in the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), but the community is having a debate about how significant that role actually is. Because new updates usually revolve around additional content for PvE. Not everyone is pleased with this.
The last PvP update for the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online disabled armor sets in the PvP area Cyrodiil for a few weeks to test the impact on the game’s performance. Performance has been an issue in ESO’s PvP for a while now. But what about new content?
What is the problem with PvP? ESO receives a major expansion each year and has recently had three DLCs. These tell a cohesive story that spans the entire year. In 2021, it was the “Gates of Oblivion” with the Blackwood expansion. The story takes center stage in these updates.
New game areas are added, more quests, and also features that affect PvE. This year, these include NPC Companions, which allow players to tackle difficult dungeons without relying on the help of other players. The NPCs do not play a role in PvP.
However, it cannot be said that nothing is happening with PvP. The new Champion System 2.0, introduced in mid-March with the DLC Flames of Ambition, also has effects on player-versus-player battles. However, exclusive PvP features and content that expand this aspect of the MMORPG ESO are missing.
PvP or PvE? The ESO community argues
Here’s why the community is arguing: The PvP situation is certainly noticeable to the game’s community. There has been an ongoing discussion for years about how important PvP in ESO actually is. The PvP mode of the MMORPG is completely optional. You cannot be attacked without consent, and you also do not need to participate in the battles around the Imperial City if you do not want to.
Those who enjoy PvP can fight duels, engage in battlegrounds, or participate in the Alliance War to compete for the Imperial Crown.
Honestly, it must be said that it is completely irrelevant for the PvE part who sits on the throne. The Emperor and his buffs only affect PvP.
PvP in ESO is essentially detached from the rest of the MMORPG. It feels almost like a different game. While that’s nice, it’s a bit strange when PvE players don’t even realize what’s happening in the central land of the continent Tamriel and who is allowed to be Emperor.
The fact that there are hardly any innovations to the system raises understanding for the frustration of PvP players who feel that this mode is somewhat neglected by the developers.
What the community says: Since not everyone enjoys PvP and ESO places great value on story and quests, discussions on this topic flare up again and again. Here, we summarize some voices from the community.
Those in favor of PvP make the following arguments:
- Ozazz says (via official ESO forum): ‘It’s really time for something to happen here. If ESO could somehow introduce a PvP campaign that goes through the past or could revert skills and balance to the old state […]. Seriously, the game is just not getting better for PvP fans, and it needs something to breathe new life into that aspect.’
- Micah_Bayer agrees (via official ESO forum): ‘Has PvP been completely abandoned? It makes me angry that there might be a new siege weapon in PvP, while new dungeons, trials, and so on are coming for PvE.’
- cheesypiiza says (via reddit): ‘ESO desperately needs more options. It’s not like every year new PvP content comes out like it does for PvE. Two teams of 10 or 20 players, arena tournaments, battle royale… While that’s not necessarily needed, it would help combat PvP burnout.’
PvP opponents counter with statements like:
- jhharvest finds PvP actually good (via reddit): ‘PvP in ESO is a complicated thing. A big issue is the lags. But basically, PvP is fun when it works.’
- Jimmy_The_Fixer speaks against more PvP content (via official ESO forum): ‘Let’s not split the player base further. That would be dangerous. Especially open-world PvP needs a large player population.’
- Tandor wonders (via official ESO forum): ‘The pure PvP population is a tiny percentage of the overall population, and people have been complaining about PvP since launch, but they are still mostly here. PvP players are still playing ESO because, despite the issues they think it has, there just isn’t a better alternative.’
There seems to be little consensus here. PvE fans want more PvE content in ESO, while PvP players want something new to enjoy. Whether major innovations and changes for player-versus-player battles are to be expected at this time is uncertain. Perhaps the developer studio Zenimax Online will one day address PvP on a larger scale. Currently, however, PvE seems to enjoy priority.
What do you think of PvP in ESO? Do you have enough to do, or are you wishing for larger changes?
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