I can safely state that 2013 wasn’t the greatest year in terms of new MMORPG’s coming out. Neverwinter wasn’t a great success, and Marvel Heroes fell short of expectations. Other than that, we’ve had some new f2p MMO’s coming out, and bigger projects from the past have gone free to play (such as Tera). Still, in terms of major releases, the MMO hype seems to be fading away since the release of major games such as Guild Wars 2 or The Old Republic. But, there’s hope on the horizon. Both hardcore MMORPG fans and fans of Skyrim have something to look forward to with The Elder Scrolls online, and we’ve taken the time to go through the latest updates from 2014’s most anticipated MMO launch.
First, ZeniMax and Bethesda have posted a teaser, hinting that over the next couple of weeks, they will be releasing various updates about the game, including new concept artwork, an in-depth gameplay video, detailed Q&A sessions with the community and more. So yes, we have things to look out for.
Then, they gave us some new artwork, showing off some of the heavy armors available in the game. And might I say, I’m pleasantly surprised with the overall look and feel. The armors fit well with the setting, enhance immersion, and look damn good!
A very detailed interactive map of Tamriel (the world of the Elder Scrolls saga) has also been released. You can navigate through the map virtually, and use it to find out more about the regions that will be available in the game, as well as the lore of the game and the political setting of the timeline. The game will be centered around the central province of Cyrodiil, the same province that we previously explored in The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, back in 2006. However, it will be expanded to include several other ares, including the memorable Rift of Skyrim. One thing is certain, the possibilities that the world of Tamriel offer are endless, and we can expect future expansions for TESO to include other explorable areas as well.
Lastly, the developers have been giving out increasing numbers of Closed Beta Invites. These are usually limited to weekend access, but could potentially be extended in the future. From what we’ve heard and seen, players are providing very positive feedback. Here are a few rumors to give you an idea of what to expect:
Combat feels extremely fluid and polished; it’s definitely a more engaging combat system than what we’ve previously encountered. It’s dynamic and skill-based. As a player, you’ll have to dodge, use attacks from the rear or the back, knock-down opponents and will have to keep a close eye on your surroundings. From the footage that we’ve seen, it’s similar to the combat of Skyrim, but obviously, it has been refined for online play.
Difficulty is high! I am not sure if this will be tuned down or not until launch (I personally hope not, the hardcore MMO player inside of me is screaming for a brutally challenging game), but beta testers report extremely hard PvE content. Failing to block a power attack will quickly result in your death for instance. The leveling pace is also quite slow, which could be a turn-off for some casual gamers, but which also means more content and a longer-lasting appeal of the game.
Graphics look great. Several months have passed from the first in-game footage (leaked or otherwise), and the devs seem to be hard at work. Players are reporting breathtaking scenery and artwork, and everything seems polished. Expect better graphics than Skyrim had, and that’s not bad at all, considering that ESO is, after all, and MMO.
The release date for The Elder Scrolls Online is not yet known, but Bethesda is aiming at a spring 2014 release. We know for a fact that the game will be available for PC, Mac, PS 4 and Xbox One, so those of you that are getting your hands on one of the new consoles have something to really look forward to. The game will almost certainly be subscription-based, so plan accordingly.
We’ll keep you updated on any developments as soon as we hear about them! Until then, here are some screenshots, you know, to feed that Elder Scrolls hunger! For more media, visit the official ESO website here
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