Bethesda Softworks announced today that the Elder Scrolls Online is removing its subscription fee model in favor of a "buy-to-play" system. This coincides with the announcement that the game will finally see its Xbox One and Playstation 4 console release on June 9th of 2015. This move was expected, but still noteworthy as Bethesda was quoted multiple times in the past few months saying that ESO would retain its subscription fee to keep "a premium gaming experience" coming for all players as long as possible.
Bethesda will be re-releasing the game as "Tamriel Unlimited", which will go live on March 17th for PC's and June 9th for Xbox One/PS4.
Beginning June 9th, you can join your friends on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 to play The Elder Scrolls Online – Tamriel Unlimited… with no game subscription fees!
Tamriel Unlimited is arriving on PC/Mac, too – beginning on Tuesday, March 17th. To celebrate the announcement, we've released The Confrontation, the final chapter in our thrilling series of cinematic trailers. Watch the stunning conclusion and get ready for Tamriel Unlimited!
A "premium option" and microtrasactions will make their appearance in ESO as is customary with former sub based MMO's that go free-to-play. Details of the move--in terms of the Playstation 4 at least--were detailed on the Playstation Blog today as well.
Tamriel Unlimited also debuts ESO's new optional membership package, ESO Plus. Players will be granted free access to all of the game's DLC packs; bonuses to XP, gold, and crafting; and a monthly allotment of Crowns to purchase items from the Crown Store.
Also released today is the final cinematic trailer for its latest content patch. The trailer is dubbed "The Final Confrontation" and seems poised to set up the last adventures of the subscription model in the game.
We will have more information on everything coming out of the ESO camp as soon as we get it! Will this change make you pick up ESO when it goes free to play?