We can't say we're huge Elder Scrolls Online players here at Pure Xbox (in fact, this writer hasn't dropped into Bethesda's huge MMO since way back at launch), however, users who are more engrained in the ESO community don't seem too pleased about the game's latest update.
Update 35, which is currently in its PTS preview build, makes a number of core changes to how ESO works. The developer appears to have basically nerfed damage values across the board in combat for various class roles. We're not entirely sure why these changes are coming into effect, but mind you, the core community doesn't seem to know why either.
This isn't an isolated fan response either. Numerous reddit threads are popping up as the hours pass while Update 35 is live on the PTS. Also, the official Elder Scrolls Online twitter page posted about the update going live yesterday, and well, you could say the responses haven't been overly positive...
Look, we know, fan outcry is hardly a new phenomenon in gaming and a lot of us are used to seeing the complaints roll in these days. However, this update seems to have caused widespread backlash to the point where we're struggling to find many positive responses at all. In fact, the creative director at ESO's team, Zenimax Online Studios, responded to the planned updates last week, questioning players' "knee-jerk reactions" to the changes.
As we said right at the top, we're admittedly not deep enough into Elder Scrolls Online to fully understand what all these changes mean, but it's clear the majority of the community disagrees with them. It'll be interesting to see if things are reverted before the update leaves the PTS preview and heads to the public servers in the near future.
Are you into ESO? Will these changes affect your experience? Let us know below!
Comments 14
I can see if from both sides. Humans, and particularly gamers it seems, don't like change and it usually takes a few days, weeks or even months to get used to something new.
I made a rule recently after being low-key annoyed by a UI change to let changes sit for at least a week and avoid having a knee-jerk response. You know what? More often than not that is enough. Developers do usually know what they are doing.
At the same time it doesn't seem like Bethesda have done a good job of letting the community know WHY these changes are happening.UPDATE: The actual patch notes DO go into detail about their reasoning for it, trying to deliberately nerf "weaving" which is a form of animation cancelling that gives some players unexpectedly high DPS. This actually makes a LOT of sense, it's fixing an unintended mechanic, though I accept it's not going to be popular as it is a nerf.
That age old adage, "It's Nerf or Nothing!"
@themightyant that bug has been an accepted mechanic for years that the devs have previously promoted as a way to increase damage so yeah it's understandable why folks are being a little cranky.
The bigger issue is the devs are saying one thing and doing another. One of the tenants of the high Isle expansion was promoting content accessibility to average players.
This patch is supposed to be promoting that.
However I don't see how making the players deal less damage and heal less in some cases (as heals can be based on a percentage of damage dealt) is supposed to help that .
Non of the veteran dungeon content is being balanced to reflect that players will deal less damage or heal less.
How is that going to help an average player complete that content?
@BBB All fair points though I would guess they would argue that removing the animation cancelling lowers the skill ceiling thus making the gap between average and skilled players closer for both PvP and easier for the devs to balance for PvE. Though as you said they haven't done that yet which is odd.
FWIW I like animation cancelling in most games, and a high skill ceiling, it keeps content more interesting than just button mashing.
@themightyant they are not removing animation cancelling though just making it do approximately 10% less damage.
Folks who did LA weaving before will continue to do so for a bit less damage but it will obviously still be more than those that don't use it.
The only thing that changed for non LA users is they won't have to apply dots as often but will end up button mashing their "class spamable" for a longer before having to reapply said dots.
Imo it doesn't help anyone really nor helps the stated accessibility goal and may end up making the combat rotation boring which is what I find a little frustrating.
Like all the other changes I am sure I will adapt to them eventually, some folks won't notice, some folks will grumble and other may step away.
It will all change again in 3 months anyway because that is how ESO rolls so yeah .... shrugs
Well for what it's worth... that's why it's on the PTS (public test server).
I love to dig into ESO occasionally. The lack of sub makes it perfect for hopping in and binging for a week or two then setting it down for a bit. I'm by no means a hardcore though, my build is average at best.
Normally I would say that these changes are only going to be noticed by the hardcore and completely irrelevant to 90% of the players, but at this point in the games lifespan, I'm pretty sure most of the ESO players are hardcore.
But as the above post said, they'll change it again in 3 months anyway. Just follow hacktheminotaur or someone on youtube and they'll tell you how to reconfig your build to get around the nerfs anyway.
Gamers get up in arms about things like this all the time. In a few months, the update will have rolled out publicly and nobody will care; they'll be too busy moaning about the next thing.
@BBB Thanks for the added insight, much appreciated.
I do still wish players/people in general would let things settle for a few weeks before having instinctive knee-jerk responses to any change. Usually it's mountains out of molehills.
@Markatron 100% It often feels lose-lose.
If you don't change anything people complain, if you do people complain. Can't win either way.
@themightyant They can't. When you change the way no lifers are unable to glitch and exploit a game they become mad.
But having to cheat at a video game not only says a lot about their character but the fact they still live in a basement.
Yes I feel VERY STRONGLY about gamers that glitch and exploit. Why should mine and others' gaming experience be ruined cause they are social failures and have to cheat in video game to feel good about themselves and their meaninglessness life.
That's not how to talk to your customer, the reason the game still running is because people still support it. Is it that hard for game devs to ask politely why people don't like it rather than berating their paying customer?
@dsar9012 You can do a better job yourself can you? Judging by your unconstructive comment I'd say no. You're just trolling for likes.
I play ESO regularly the animation canceling change is fine reducing the damage over time when that's what my class is built on stinks. I'm going to roll with the changes and see how it goes that's all you can really do but ya mmo players hate changes
@dsar9012 Your emotional response says a lot about your lack of maturity. Time to grow up kid. Labelling a developer as trash just because they do something you don't agree with is the most kneejerk reaction you can make and says a lot about you.
As for "real gamers want good games", all gamers want good games. Who doesn't want good games exactly? Did you actually think about that sentence before you typing it out or did you go into autopilot?
You know nothing about me, so don't end with "not that you would know about that". I never said I agree with what the devs have done, read what I actually posted.
Your comments add absolutely nothing to this conversation. I've played ESO for a long time if you must know, not that that has anything to do with you.
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