I wonder if anyone has available or knows of an article or video interview where the developers say that ESO is "a pvp game" or that the complete end game is a pvp centric end game.

From what I've found "it is not" and pvp is but one of several "end game" activities. One of "four pillars" as one article indicates. However, I thought I had read or had viewed someone saying that pvp was an optional activity.

There is more to do than PvP at end game, but PvP is a large part due to buffs from PvP effecting PvE, thus PvE'ers will want to PvP to keep the buffs.

PvP will be an optional activity. Same with raiding, there is no pvp stats ergo PvP is not required to get the best gear. It is apparently possible to get the best gear from any and all of the types main activities including crafting.

ESO will be a 'Jack of all trades' game, just like WoW or whatever AAA-title you want to compare it with.

thing is, there are some things only to be achieved by participating in Cyrodiil (which is faction PvP-Ground)

e.g. there might be some 'raid' encounter you'll need the CC-breaker for, yet this CC-breaker is part of the alliance skill tree.

yes, of course...

But does anyone know of an article or interivew (which I believe there is one) where the developers actually come out and say that pvp is not the focus of the game?

There is a gentleman who came out and told another poster (on antoher site) that pvp was not optional but was a necessity. I did post what I felt was evidence enough but I really have no "smoking gun" at my fingertips to say for sure that it is "not" a necessity.

I was just hoping that someone could recall a specific artile/interview where this was said.

Thank you for your responses.

I'm not sure how to answer you.
On one hand the game is oriented around the alliance wars for control of Cyrodiil as explicitly stated here: http://elderscrollsonline.com/en/game-guide/the-alliance-war
The troubles were started by Molag Bal so there is a PvE angle in fighting the forces of Molag Bal as well.

That being said there is a bit more info on the alliance wars and how players will influence the tide of events here: http://elderscrollsonline.com/en/news/post/2013/03/28/conflict-in-cyrodiil-part-1

It seems there will be ways for all players to influence the conflict whether it be through direct pvp with the other alliances or completing certain things in PvE (Campaigns...driving Imperial forces out of towns/regions?).

We don't have alot of detail at this point.

Not if they are faction wide buffs.

Thank you all for your replies.