Bethesda’s Peter Hines has been talking to OXM about the Elder Scrolls Online, which was recently confirmed to have a monthly subscription fee instead of adopting a free to play model like most MMOs nowadays.
Elder Scrolls Online will cost £8.99 a month, and on Xbox One you’ll need LIVE to access all online mutliplayer. I’m not too sure what’ts going on with the PS4, but I think the use of Plus is down to the publisher. However, Bethesda are looking to be able to avoid the LIVE paywall, and are talking to Microsoft about it.
“We have been in talks with Microsoft about that very thing, and seeing whether or not there’s any room to change their minds about that, for folks who are only paying The Elder Scrolls Online and don’t want to pay for an Xbox Live Gold subscription, just to pay the Elder Scrolls Online.
The answer right now is that’s the way it works, but it’s something that we’re aware of and we keep pushing on, to see if there’s something that can be done. We’ll let you know if there’s movement there.”
It’ll definitely be a big move if Bethesda manage to convince Microsoft to drop the LIVE paywall for subscription based content. If successful it could mean that apps like Netflix and LoveFilm will also be available without the Gold service. Those media apps will be available on the PS4 without Plus.
Source: OXM
3shirts
Interesting. I’d not really thought about how you already pay for online gaming with Xbox (and next gen Playstation). I’d certainly be reluctant to pay for plus if it was just for ESO which I then had to pay for anyway!
hazelam
considering this, i can’t see them wanting the PS4 version of TESO behind the plus paywall if they can help it.
it is rather ridiculous that ms charge people to access other companies services, services that those other companies have their own charge for.
i don’t know if Bethesda getting TESO out from behind the paywall will mean other services like Netflix or Lovefilm will, but it might make the providers of those services demand their content not require gold.
but if they don’t i don’t see ms wanting to change things.
yiddo
Nothing is behind the paywall on PS+ apart from online multiplayer in your traditional games such as COD, Assassins Creed, FIFA etc. MMO’s and F2P games are not behind the PS Plus paywall.
I also doubt Bethesda will win this. MS are too greedy, and have proven many times in the past that they are too stubborn too budge.
damoxuk
Only if MS take a percentage cut of sub sales would they consider this.
Scythegpd
Hmm … this could be a big thing.
Do Bethesda skip the Xbox if MS refuse to back down. Or does MS change their policy of everything behind a paywall and open all their paywall locked services to question.
Will be interesting to see how this pans out.
beeje13
I can only imagine it affecting a small minority of people at best. Who’s going to buy a next gen console just for this. And anyway, if you’re willing to pay £108 a year for something then you’ll probably have no qualms on paying £40 a year.
tonycawley
But people may have an xbone and want to buy this, but be put off the fact they also have to pay for live which they may not want. It’s not just for people who were only buying a one just for this game!
Scythegpd
It’s not just his though, is it?
PS4 is making a drive for F2P gaming.
They also have apps such as Netflix available.
If Bethdesa decides to not release on XB1 and still sells well what message does that give to other developers?
And if MS breaks on this, what does that do to their paywall approach?
Confining this to “just one game” is ignoring the greater ramifications of the situation. It could expand to a myriad of F2P games and/or undermine the Live service depending on how it pans out.
And considering how well Skyrim did, if they decided to skip the XB1 because of the paywall do you honestly believe that’s no big deal. I don’t even like the game and even I can see it’d be a decision driver for many.
Starman
BBC had a similar situation with the BBC player, wanting it to be free to access on xbox live.
beeje13
But the BBC is not legally allowed to put it behind a paywall, whereas Bethesda have no such bindings.
Starman
Oh yeah forgot about that part. And as you said to Scythe, you’d probably not buy one just for that game. Be better off getting a pc if you were.
Scythegpd
Which is a worry seeing as the current big game on the X1, Titanfall, is available on PC as well.
So your exact comment can be applied there.
Anyway, as I noted, looking at this in context of “just one game” is narrow minded and completely missing the point.
Starman
Titanfal isn’t a subscription game so the point is irrelevant. (the issue was paying for xblive and the monthly sub)
samiro05
This is the worst thing about the XBOX. I can’t believe I need to subscribe to XBOX Live just to use the SKY Player/SKY GO. Ridiculous.
Starman
#dealwithit
colmshan1990
Maybe Bethesda could pay Microsoft a percentage of the subscriptions on Xbox One?
Really though- who’s going to buy a next-gen console and not buy Live or PS+?
And you can’t answer those without a broadband connection this time- those people wouldn’t buy MMOs anyway.
Starman
Exactly, why would someone spend £500+ on the new console & game, then £100 a year on MMO subs but not want to pay £40 for the benefits of live as well.