Subscription model confirmed
Here it is — the moment you’ve all been waiting for — confirmation of what payment model The Elder Scrolls Online will use. And, you guessed it, it’s subscription based. Yep, that’s right, within an interview with Gamestar Zenimax Studios confirmed the existence of a monthly fee. So why go this route? According to Zenimax Studos president and MMO legend Matt Firor, it’s to avoid “sacrifices and changes we weren’t willing to make.”
As I said in my preview, although it needs a bit of work, I think The Elder Scrolls Online is going to be a solid MMO — especially with first-person support. But will it be solid enough to warrant a subscription in this climate? Many MMOs have started out charging subscriptions in the wake of World of Warcraft, but have eventually gone free-to-play, including LOTRO, Rift, Tera, Star Trek Online, and SWTOR to name a few.
With Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn and WildStar both employing a traditional subscription model as well, one thing’s for sure — 2014 is going to be an interesting year for MMOs. I’m especially anxious to see how the subscription model will pan out on consoles, as Elder Scrolls Online is set for the PS4 and Xbox One.
Elder Scrolls Online [GameStar]
