Is ‘Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’ an MMO?

Rory Young from Game Rant writes: "It’s time to face the facts: single player role-playing experiences without online functionality are a dying breed. Bethesda Softworks, the deliverers of the “Horse Armor” that started a DLC revolution, knows this better than most. After all, they’re one of the few companies still producing successful standalone single-player RPG titles, i.e. Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas. Over the past year though, evidence has leaked showing that Bethesda is preparing for a shift in paradigm… an MMO is in development.

Last night saw the surprise announcement of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim at the Spike TV Video Game Awards. Perhaps the greatest surprise went unrealized by most: Skyrim’s release date is set for late 2011, the same time-frame Bethesda’s MMO was originally scheduled for."

[Kain81]

I hope not....
A multiplayer co-op yes but not a MMO please not

[VenomProject]

Same here.

Keep the notion of "OMG MULTIPLAYERZ MUST BE IN THIS GAEM TO SELL MOAR!!1"

The Elder Scrolls games don't NEED multiplayer. They're awesome without it.

[MAJ0R]

WTF?

NOOOO worst news I've seen all day

multiplayer is NOT needed in an RPG

but it could be the Fallout MMO

[-Alpha]

Co-op sounds fun, but I like the idea of it just being SP.

Maybe a Demon's Souls MP, I liked how Demon's Souls did it.

[Sarcasm]

I hope this time they make better attack physics in which swords actually make you feel like your hitting the target. Otherwise I'm stoked

[lastdual]

Agreed, moreover...

"It’s time to face the facts: single player role-playing experiences without online functionality are a dying breed."

Yeah, because MMOs that aren't WOW just rake in all the money these days....

Most MMOs are NOT huge cash cows. Most of them FAIL. Most NEVER COME CLOSE to the money that games like Oblivion and Fallout 3/New Vegas raked in.

Just because *one* of them is phenomenon doesn't mean that the MMO genre is easy money. In most cases, it's the exact opposite. This whole idea about "MMOs is where the money is" is simply not grounded in reality.

[dillydadally]

Please, someone tell me why an MMO in the style of Oblivion wouldn't be awesome. I remember playing Oblivion and thinking, this would be so awesome as an MMO. I hate normal MMO's, but only because they're NOT like Elder Scrolls. I'm just surprised that seemingly everyone has the opposite opinion, so I'm asking why you think it wouldn't be good anymore? Is it just the monthly payment thing? Or that you think the quality would drop?

[darthawesome90]

I agree with you, co-op but not a MMO. Maybe a MMO if it's 100% free (highly doubt it).

[Philoctetes]

Agreed. If this is an MMO, then I'll just spend more time with Uncharted or Mass Effect. Otherwise this is Day One.

[RyuStrife]

I agree. Something along the lines of Demon Souls will work. No mmo on this elder scrolls please.

[visualb]

no way an MMO, but like i've said before (and had the rage of all elder scroll purists rain on me) it could use drop in/drop out co-op ala Demon's Souls

it could work if done well =)

as I said, it'd be an OPTION, yet playing alone could also be done 100%

[JsonHenry]

I'll take co-op. But I am not interested in an MMO.

[Nightshadow]

It won't be, no need to worry. If it was an MMO I'm sure they would include the whole world of TES and not just Skyrim.

[-X-]

I mean that will just screw things up. It would just be stupid to name the game The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim to find out its an MMO.

But I do hope it had some online compatibilities, like leader-boards, Co-op or something.

This game is easily my most anticipated game of 2011.

[Spitfire_Riggz]

I guess im the only one but I really enjoy playing with friends.. Maybe they could make an optional online with the style of Borderlands?

[callahan09]

If it's an MMO then it will immediately go from my most anticipated game of 2011 and the most exciting new game announcement of 2010 to the biggest disappointment etc. etc. No interest in it being an MMO. If it had some multiplayer co-op features, like Dragon Quest IX or Fable III, or even Demon's Souls (though I doubt it'd have online features at all similar to that), then it would be pretty cool.

[aviator189]

I'm sure it isn't. Well...I hope it isn't.

[Matthew94]

If its an mmo then i wont buy it, ill just replay TES III.

[Vesemir]

I don't think it's a dying breed. In 2007 an unknown single play rpg called The Witcher sold more than 1 million copies.

Where is death in that ?? It's up to the companies. Make a decent single play rpg and it will sell, no matter the day and age.

[-Gespenst-]

Yeah, mulitplayer is such a cop out. Jump on the bandwagon so your game can blend in and not seem so shit. Tired of it.

Just make a good single player for christ sakes. Vanquish was like 8 hours long and only single player but its supposed to be incredible. I only played the demo but I was super impressed.

That said you could make a really good multiplayer game too, but standards these days have sank and I don't really have much faith in any forthcoming online multiplayer stuff.

[MajestieBeast]

Actually snowboard and guns is a awesome combo lots of gore. Maybe activision should make Tony Hawks pro skater:Black ops maybe it will actually make for a decent tony hawk game.

[Akagi]

No. Don't be silly now.

[Stealth20k]

if they wanted no sales sure make it an mmorpg

[Vesemir]

Look at Final Fantasy 14.

[The_Nameless_One]

It seems the general consensus is a big NO for ES5 being an MMO. don't think Bethesda will make it into an mmo. If elder scrolls will ever be an MMo then it would a title outside the main series.

[Vesemir]

Knowing the opinions of Bethesda's boss about video games, I'm sure it won't be a mmo rpg.

That guy have a strong personality, he doesn't give a damn to what other companies are doing, they make games they do like and that's it.

I admire that guy. I'm sure ES5 will be a traditional rpg.
Unless something really wrong happens at Bethesda.

[mobijoker]

Right!Bethesda should stick with its normal style.Look!I don't know of any bethesda franchise that was dismal.That's bcoz they give immersive experience to the customers.I wonder in which game they will use the idtech5(I mean when bethesda softworks will use not id soft).

[Makelevi]

I certainly hope it's not, and I don't think it is, but if they wanted to make one separately I wouldn't be unhappy - as long as they're brilliantly told, well-developed single player iterations keep the series going!

[Fallouts]

NNOOOO!

what is it with this gen? hardly any split screen 2 player games and now everything is online..

i like online games but man i miss split screen! i have no clue why games like need for speed hot pursuit etc dont have this feature. and now this rumor, wtf!

[gamerdude132]

Is Fallout 3 an MMO?

[Fallouts]

no

[gamerdude132]

Then you see my point.

[Miacosa]

No, its not an MMO. Why is it that whenever an open world game is due to launch everyone jumps on the MMO bandwagon. There are too many fantasy MMOs on the market as-is. Its not fiscally viable for Bethesda to do so. They are better off making a traditional game and releasing DLC quest packs. Not to say it cannot have multiplayer or Co-Op but not an MMO.

[Raendom]

No. It would end with "The Elder Scrolls : Online".

An Elder Scrolls MMO would work, and I'd probably subscribe for a month or three, but realistically TES is so awesome BECAUSE it's a single player game.

[The Lazy One]

I dunno. Half of the stuff that makes TES good translates very well to MMOs.

And in the next two years would be a great time to drop a new MMO. WoW is really starting to look dated, and people will be looking for the next big thing to hop into.

[Foxgod]

Multiplayer sucks.

[josh14399]

if its an mmo or a co-op rpg im not even going to bother buying it.

[fredfenster]

This is bullshit. Fuck mp anyway.

[NYC_Gamer]

i'm sick of this every game needs mp bull shit

[Lucreto]

Not happening

The game is on the PC, PS3 and 360. Why would they create an MMO for the 3 platforms even though we all know MS won't allow such a thing to happen. Think of the work on creating 3 different versions of the game for an MMO.

From the trailer it looks like the character is predetermined for you which won't work on an MMO.

[-Gespenst-]

NOBODY wants this game to be an MMORPG. Why would Bethesda make a game that none of its fans want? That'd just be unacceptable. No one would buy it.

Co-op would definately be cool but it shouldn't be necessary to game progression at all. It should just be for the fun if they implement it. The Elder Scrolls is all about the single player. It'd lose its epicness without it imo.

[femshep]

course not Bethesda knows that elder scrolls became popular because of the story and SINGLE player experience

[Angainor7]

hell no!!!

[Nac]

"It’s time to face the facts: single player role-playing experiences without online functionality are a dying breed."

Oh, stfu with this whole talk. Single-Player games will never go away.

[StarScream4Ever]

Hell NO! Elder Scroll does not need multiplayer to succeed. Such a stupid idea and if implemented im just going to ignore it.

[SephireX]

Hope its not an mmo. I would like co-op play if it was implemented right (not like Fable 2!). This is not an mmo anyway because they would have announced that in the trailer.

[MolotovMan1263]

if this is an MMO i'm gonna Red Ring MYSELF

[thesithfreak]

this would crush me. i've been so overly excited over this game since yesterday. I love World of Warcraft, the old republic will be great, elder scrolls has no room in this genre. it needs to continue to be king of its own genre.

if it was an mmo, i'd assume thats why its named skyrim, then the following expansion will be Elder Scrolls V: Hammerfell, then Elder Scrolls V: Summerset Isle etc..., and eventually you can buy the ultimate pack The Elder Scrolls V: Tamriel Edition

[Ninjamonkey82]

tell you where you can take idea op.

[braane]

I am pretty sure they have said it won't be an mmo. So I tend to believe them.

[ufo8mycat]

If this is MMO, then a definite NO BUY from me.

[lucifon]

Coop would be cool but I'd be very surprised if they jumped into the MMO space and still had it titled as the fifth in the series, as opposed to something like 'The Elder Scrolls Online'. Sure it's been done with titles like FF11/14 but it's not very common.

[AceofStaves]

If it is, I won't be playing it. I'd play "WoW" if I wanted to play a fantasy MMO. Co-op would be fine, but I prefer strong single-player games.

[femshep]

if they do have coop it needs to be drop in drop out open world

[Pledius]

Make a TES with Demon Souls battle mechanic. GOTY

it will have story, story-telling, the lore to keep people interest, and demon souls best battle mechanic I have ever seen.

Now I can't get the idea of TES + Demon's Souls out of my head

arrgh

[Mikeyy]

Any company that makes an MMO right now, its setting themselves up for failure. WoW is just a juggernaut. No entry level MMO is going to have a chance competing for the same monthly price, and offering 1/40th the content and polish.

[jaosobno]

@gamerant: of course it's not a mmo, trailer clearly says "There is ONE they fear". It didn't say "there are millions they fear".

[Simco876]

God I hope not, but it would be fun to Co-Op with your buddy. Just not an MMO, people are still crazy about WoW. Wait until that dies down, and then you can try the MMO market

[turgore]

it better not be an MMO or else ...

[Rom828]

Everybody CHILL! We have 11 more months to go... Calm the "F" down and let Bethesda work their magika.

[baljot187]

I gotta ask - how are single player games a "dying breed"? Mass Effect 2 was one of the biggest games of 2010 and will probably end up being GOTY, easy.