When The Elder Scrolls Online first released on PC, there was an uproar regarding the massively multiplayer online game's pre-order strategy. Players who ordered their copy before release would receive the 'Explorer's Pack', which would allow them to freely choose their character's race, regardless of what faction they allied themselves with - and it's going to be the same deal for PlayStation 4 users.
The role-playing game features three different warring factions: the Aldmeri Dominion, the Daggerfall Covenant, and the Ebonheart Pact. Each of these alliances has its own set of three different races, and in order to create a character of your favoured race, you'll be forced to be a part of one particular faction. The important things to remember here are that your selected alliance determines where you start out on the map, and it also restricts which other players you can group up with. So, if your friends aren't bound to the same faction as you, you won't be able to adventure with them.
The aforementioned Explorer's Pack allows you to bypass some of these limitations, however, as it allows you to pick any race and join any faction. In other words, you won't be forced into playing as one of three races depending on your chosen faction.
It's a bit of a cheap shot, truth be told, but what do you make of it? Does it seem like a dishonest way to rake in pre-orders, or do you think that it's a worthy bonus? Shake your head in the comments section below.
[source gamespot.com]
Comments 23
surprised you haven't mentioned until dawns preorder bonus from game
Was on the fence with this release. When it decided not to charge a monthly sub I decided I'd give it a go but not until after release. With this shafting of potential late comers I think I might just let it slide on by me. I already pay a WoW sub I don't need another Online RPG dictating when I part with my money also. One's enough Thanks. I'll pass.
F**k preorders. F**k this sick and vile industry.
As I'm still happily ploughing through the Witcher, this news may just have convinced me not to bother with ESO after all.
This is nonsense.. back to witcher :]
I played the ESO beta and while it was better than what I was expecting it still wasn't as good as I'd hoped an online Elder Scrolls game would be. I refuse to shop at Game anyway so even if I decided to pick up ESO I wouldn't be giving my money to Game.
I think I'll stick with The Witcher for my rpg fix and only pick Batman Arkum Knight up in June.
This is rediculous. I wasn't going to pre-order this, but reading this makes me want to pre-order even less. A pre-order bounus should never be something like this. I hope this gets fixed one day. The friends thing is also rediculous. If they're on your friends list, then you should be able to play with them. Some people have a hard enough finding friends to play with without the game restricting it too.
I'm OK with it, preordered before I even knew about Warty, extra treasure maps and the 'this just isn't cricket' allowing races to join any faction extras. I am against preorder exclusive content in general though, and in this particular case I can see it leading from "I wanna play with my friend in the same faction" to "I wanna play with my friend who is level 160" later on to me getting hacked just because I have a Warty.
Still, at least I know the risks going in, so I'll be ok with it. Incidentally it was watching the TESO broadcasts during the PS4 beta that swung it for me, I was a bit undecided how TES would translate to MMO for a while beforehand.
@Jaz007 it's an mmo, just like any other mmo you have faction and can't play with someone in a warring faction. That would make the factions a moot point.
Oh crap. I forgot to buy my 20$ copy. Oh well, between destiny, the Witcher, and a nasty backlog Il just grab an imperial edition for the statue down the road.
Can see why they've done it, most fantasy fans will be playing The Witcher at the moment with no real incentive to go out and buy ESO just yet.
I do however think that they've added a pre-order bonus that impacts on those who don't pre-order it too much. I'm happy for them to add a little extra content but to add something that affects you entire experience...NO!
This is not how pre order bonuses should work in my eyes! I think pre order bonuses shouldn't give an "advantage" to players, where the guys who don't pre order are limited and can't change it! I think pre orders should work along the lines of giving cool but superficial stuff like extra skins or even a decent weapon early in the game which other players still can get but not as early! This just seems wrong as the normal players will never be granted these extra options
@milero91 exactly my point too, they need something to entice them to get it, but this isn't the right idea!
meh, The Witcher has filled that Skyrim like void in my gaming heart. Come out with a non online game and I'll be interested.
oO well I have nothing to worry about lol I pre ordered this for PS4 ages ago lol, but I'm with you this "pre order" locking stuff shouldn't be happening!
Wow, really? You'll lock out gamers from playing their favorite races with their friends? Officially cancelling pre-order.
@milero91 I will only get The Witcher 3, if they release some HD port of the first two, since I never played those; thought its anecdotal, I know quite a few people who feel similarly and may be primed for another epic adventure.
That being said, WoW with a Skyrim skin, does not interest me in the slightest, so I doubt I would play this game anyway.
Yeah, never really interested in this PS4 port. I bought into the hype and got the Collector's edition when it released on PC. Sadly, it's just not a game I'm interested in playing anymore. I'm so jaded when it comes to MMO's, especially after years of playing WoW. I've reached the point in my gaming life that I appreciate a good single player experience more now than ever. I don't mind a good multiplayer romp now and again, but I'm DONE with MMO's.
I don't get why everyone is so worked up about this. This was announced back when the game first launched on pc and i'm pretty sure there is another article just like this one about it. Not to mention you can buy this bonus as well as the other bonuses for pre-ordering in the in-game crown store for like 5 dollars.
This still doesn't let you play with your friends on other factions! All it does is let you choose a different starter race. Think of it as having a different color skin or tail or something for pre-ordering.
It's the same as the PC version, stupid bonus, but it's the developers choice to make, and ours as the consumers to buy.
@thedevilsjester I personally wouldn't want you to miss out on The Witcher 3 as you haven't played the others, they have said they won't be doing a remake of the first two.
I've read the books and watched the "Witcher Films" (cutscenes etc from first 2 games) and I feel like I've got quite a solid understanding of the lore and characters.
@alphadrago5 Looks like I've misunderstood this then, I thought it aloud you let you pick any race and join any faction, therefore allowing you to play with friends of other races.
I still don't think the game is for me if you can't play with those not in the same faction. I'll probably wait to hear on reviews etc.
@milero91 You can already pick whatever faction you want, (which is permanent) but all this does is let you play as a different race in the faction. If they let you play with friends on other factions it would break immersion and moot the whole warring factions aspect. You can however make more characters that can be in the other factions. Thus allowing you to play with friends.
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