Zenimax Lay Offs Can't Bode Well for Elder Scrolls Online, and They Shouldn't Pretend Otherwise

8CN: Okay, so look, I recognize that that headline seems like a no-brainer, but apparently Zenimax doesn't think so. For those unaware, ZeniMax Media, the company that owns Bethesda Softworks, developers of the Elder Scrolls series, recently laid off an unspecified number of employees attached to The Elder Scrolls Online. However, they claim that they remain committed to the project, and don't seem to think this is an issue.

[ArchangelMike]

Have they announced the new released date for consoles yet? This is looking more and more like it's going F2P by the time it hits consoles, i.e. you need devs to make new content.

I think ESO well loose out to Dragon Age:Inquisition and The Witcher 3, unless it can really pull something amazing out of the bag.

[IrishSt0ner]

ESO adequately portrays my aspirations for 'next-gen', and what actually happened.

[Anthotis]

Anyone who knows anything could've seen this dumbed down, doo poo, money grab failing miserably.

[thekhurg]

The moment they announced the subscription plan it was over.

[IrishSt0ner]

Yea I think you guys missed what I meant enitrely.

In short, Elder Scrolls MMO on console, i.e. a big franchise being able to go MMO due to the improved power of the new consoles, with the hope of GTA type MMOs and much more. What we got was more of the same, or nothing like that.

[wynams]

nailed it ... too many good RPG experiences incoming to mess with ESO

[GhostTurtle]

ESO more than likely will be getting canned for consoles.

[joab777]

It's very odd that FF14 can release on consoles at $15/month and ppl flock to it. I love it. Many are clamoring for an xbone release. And it's known for its single player, though it had FF11 and it's recent sp was mediocre.

But ESO has received nothing but flak since it released, especially the sub aspect on imminent console release. It's odd to say the least.

I think they should have simply released the best mmo that they could have, w/ out worrying about those who loved Skyrim. Leave that for ES6 and Bethesda.

[xActionBasturdx]

ESO loses to FFXIV: ARR, which i gladly pay my sub fee each month...as long as ESO p2p without any convincing content it will fail

[DanielGearSolid]

It's just annoying PR statements.

Of course itll affect the game

[xPhearR3dx]

Does this author know anything about MMOs? Layoffs after an MMO launch is NORMAL. It's just like any other huge production, tv shows and movies included. If Zenimax hired 300 employees for a 6 month contract to insure ESO got the support, bug fixes, etc smashed ASAP while the game is still fresh, then there's no need to have them continue to be employed.

Most of the main issues with ESO have been resolved and now their focusing on pushing out content. They don't need all those people like they did for the first months of the games life. You don't see articles about how Game of Thrones actors are laid off after the season ends but other employee's stay. It's obviously because they are no longer needed.

I'm not saying ESO is the great MMO everyone wanted it to be, and I'm sure Zenimax isn't pulling the number of subs they thought they would, but the community is still very strong and very active. It's not going F2P any time soon.

[Gran Touring]

"If Zenimax hired 300 employees for a 6 month contract to insure ESO got the support, bug fixes, etc smashed ASAP while the game is still fresh, then there's no need to have them continue to be employed. "

Theres a fundamental difference between a contract term expiring, and being laid off from a job.

[Drithe]

Wouldnt it have been cool to have 4 player coop in a huge single player game with Elder Scrolls? Or at least have a peer to peer type missions along with the single player game. Kind of like borderlands 2 or phantasy star online 2.

[-Foxtrot]

Not really, it's not a co-op franchise

Why ruin the main series with stuff like that which would take ages to add, they'd have to rewrite the engine for it, then add the features, not to mention create all the missions and story around co-op. Then they'd have to add co-op puzzles and stuff in dungeons.

It's not worth it.

We need a few single player only games kicking around and Elder Scrolls and Fallout are them.

If you want a co-op adventure wait for Fable Legends or better yet Dragon Age 3 will have co-op features.

[Gohadouken]

Yeah i dont see it . You can kinda sense it with ESO . they didnt bother just translating the Elder Scrolls into a mp game for a good reason , they felt it wouldnt work out the same . Even if the end result of ESO isnt good in everyone's opinion .

Borderland and any co-op based rpg you want to mention dont have such a dry and "generic , for lack of a better word fighting system . ES's melee fight especially were never its strong suit ...you basically go a few step forward , give a sword stab , then step back a bit , rinse and repeat , and strafe a lot if there are too many foes .

That alone disqualify it as an interesting MP system imo . You'd need the game to be wholly different

[MrSwankSinatra]

Elder Scrolls is not a Co-op franchise, therefore it makes no sense to add a feature like that. The problem with games today is that they stray away from the core mechanics to add in features that werent developed in mind when creating the franchise. The reason why borderlands is a sucessful co-op game was because it was developed with the core of it being a co-op game. Shoehorning co-op into The Elder Scrolls is not going to automatically make it a better franchise.

[WeAreLegion]

Yes. I don't know why anyone would be against that. ES would be amazing with friends.

Just Cause is not a "co-op franchise" and yet look at Just Cause 2 multi-player. It's insanely fun!

[Gohadouken]

Because it will change many things in the way quests , gameplay , companions , auto generated quests , story and many details unfold in the game . Unlike Just Cause 2 wich is just about wrecking chaos .

Have people tried the mp mods for games like skyrim ? It's a nice initiative and effort , but it isnt exactly interesting , even if its limited because it wasnt developed within the game

[pompombrum]

Well what did they expect..from conception they had it in their heads that an MMO meant a theme park quest grind..they then took that flawed idea and had the audacity to try and sell it as an Elder Scrolls game.. a series based on the exact OPPOSITE of that idea. What they were left with was a game that was a gigantic linear quest grind which tried and failed to convince players it was anything but that.

How in God's name do you make a linear Elder Scrolls game? Pro tip, you don't! GG Zenimax.