Next gen titles have been receiving a lot of attention, like Watch Dogs, Assassin’s Creed IV, and Titanfall; so it’s no surprise that Microsoft and Sony pushed to see Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls Online come to consoles. This seemed like the perfect time to present an Elder Scrolls MMO for consoles, after seeing the success that Diablo 3 had coming to consoles. It only added more fire power to the next gen titles by showcasing a classic game in a new spectrum.
Coming off Skyrim, I was excited to hear that The Elder Scrolls franchise decided to create a MMO, but like anything, it was too good to be true. It was later announced that there would be a $15 monthly charge to play after the first month of the purchase. Successful massive MMOs, like World of Warcraft, have seen a decrease in subscribed members, and Star Wars: The Old Republic dropped their mandatory subscription fee, and only offers it as a premium pass for players now.
Guild Wars 2 is a MMO that does not require a subscription fee, and has benefited from this decision by selling over 3 million copies after 6 months of its release. It took the approach of selling DLC as a way to expand the skills and experience of your character without charging a monthly fee for these perks. Seeing as to how Guild Wars 2 and Star Wars: The Old Republic were able to modify the transition away from monthly fees, Bethesda should be influenced to create a different means of bringing in profit without having to only restrict their game to subscribers.
Bethesda will encounter obstacles as they attempt to establish a subscription-based game in a time during a transition away from monthly fees, which is disappointing when you consider the massive following Skyrim received. It’s no question Bethesda has the skills to deliver stunning games, and if they alter their plans to resemble Star Wars: The Old Republic or Guild Wars 2 model, The Elder Scrolls Online will be a wonderful adventure that gives the opportunity to advance your level of play without a monthly commitment. If you think that The Elder Scrolls Online will succeed regardless of the fee, make your voice heard in the comment section or let me know your thoughts by tweeting them @ruppz1!
