The Elder Scrolls Online will get a little cheaper this year, with Bethesda removing the subscription fee in preparation for the console release on PS4 and Xbox One this June.
This move has been expected for a long time now, as the online Elder Scrolls game failed to make much of a splash when it was released for PCs last year. Very few MMORPGs have been able to sustain momentum with monthly fees, outside of Blizzard's monumental World of Warcraft and the recently-re-released Final Fantasy XIV. And over the past few weeks, various rumors and signs have pointed to a move like this.
Now, it's official: Bethesda is re-releasing the game as "Tamriel Unlimited," a version without subscription fees that will go live on March 17 for PC/Mac and on June 9 for PS4/Xbox One.
Says Bethesda:
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!
Of course, there will also be a premium option and microtransactions, as detailed on the PlayStation Blog today:
Tamriel Unlimited also debuts ESO's new optional membership package, ESO Plus. With this premium membership service, players will be granted free access to all of the game's DLC game packs; bonuses to XP, gold, and crafting; and a monthly allotment of Crowns to purchase items from the Crown Store. What's the Crown Store, you ask? This is an all-new merchant store to ESO full of optional cosmetic and convenience items you can purchase for Crowns, a new currency allowing you to buy content directly from PlayStation Store. You'll be able to fully enjoy ESO without being a member, but we think you'll really enjoy the benefits if you have fun playing the game.
Those that don't enroll in ESO Plus can still expect free patches that implement fixes and other improvements along with optional DLC offerings you can purchase to add more adventures to the already-enormous game.
You can reach the author of this post at jason@kotaku.com or on Twitter at @jasonschreier.