The fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online is set to launch on June 9 on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Currently, a multi-day beta is underway. What are the fans’ reactions?
The beta weekends before the launch of The Elder Scrolls Online in 2014 on PC were not exactly feel-good events. The game’s controls were clunky, the combat system raised doubts for many, the quests were buggy, and the phasing was a disaster. Moreover, many had probably downloaded the already massive client just to express how terrible they thought the game was and that Bethesda, damn it, should focus on working on Elder Scrolls VI.
Controllers, interface, voice chat, matchmaking – fans are full of praise
That was a year ago. And for the current console beta, only invited players are allowed. But what can be read in forums and social networks about the console beta is almost unanimously positive. Especially the “clean” interface is praised, which now resembles Skyrim even more.
The “typical” problems of a console MMORPG, such as cumbersome menu navigation or text chat, have also been well addressed. The controller with “rumble” effect fits well with the gameplay. This is at least the opinion of fans, for example on Reddit. The official feedback forum of ESO is open to beta participants.
Some fans are even demanding that the console interface be brought to the PC. Also, the way matchmaking works, such as with the group finder, is well-received: It is designed to be significantly simpler than in the PC version.
Even the “chat” substitute, speaking with fellow players via the voice function, receives a lot of praise.
The developers of The Elder Scrolls Online give a glimpse into the PlayStation 4 beta
We have a segment from the current ESO Live from Friday, where Zenimax itself presents the beta on PS4:
http://youtu.be/LAvXaFVhT70?t=51m23s
One has to really make an effort to find criticism of the console beta. Apparently, it is technically quite mature and meets what fans imagined. Not everyone is pleased that text chat is missing. Zenimax states that it was left out because the game is “designed for the couch”; tests have shown that implementing text chat here is not feasible. Instead, they rely on voice chat or a series of clear emotes to convey the “essentials” that need to be said.
Of course, these are still initial impressions from a relatively small player base, but given the critical fans, these are already very positive reactions that one might not have necessarily expected. For example, it is still questionable whether TESO can withstand the onslaught at release this time. The last time, at the PC release, there were some technical issues. A beta test with such restricted access cannot provide information on that.
So could it be Tamriel Reborn?
If you look around the console market, there is hardly any direct competition in the MMORPG segment that TESO occupies, except perhaps Neverwinter on Xbox One. But even Final Fantasy XIV on PlayStation is hardly comparable to TESO.
It could indeed be that The Elder Scrolls Online can take a lucrative pioneering role on consoles here. Especially if it offers a “well-rounded” experience. Currently, there are many indications that it can succeed in what observers have long considered Zenimax’s plan: a successful reboot on the console.
