Interesting...and also really, really weird why they would do this AFTER their announcement of payment model (or perhaps they were already doing this and are now just revealing it)...

http://www.gamespot.com/news/bethesda-pushing-microsoft-to-drop-xbl-gold-fee-for-elder-scrolls-online-6413721

Transcript:

Thought: Why not reduce the price for the console subscription to $9.99/mo and keep PC/Mac at $14.99 - then everyone's paying the same, essentially.

Also: What about PSN fee? Or is that not a factor?

Its a good move but how many players will this effect really? Meaning for players that will play ESO on a console for how many will that be their only Online game that they play on the console? Because if you plan on playing ESO plus other console online games then you'll still have to pay for XBL or PS+.

So Sony is going to go to a pay format for the PS4 connection to their gaming portal?

If that's the case then I might change my mind and play on the PC.

1. As someone that will probably play this on console, I don't see that big of a deal because it's likely that 99.99% of the people that play the game on console are also paying for the online service for other games. I see their point, but a flat out $5 off a month imo isn't right. Personally, I think that if the server is made and maintained by ZOS, then you shouldn't need to be a Live Gold or PS+ member (though you're probably one already), and if the server is maintained by the console manufacturer then you should.

2. If Beth is pushing Microsoft, then it might be a safe assumption that Sony is ready to make a deal and Beth wants both to be equal OR Sony is hardballing even more that it would require Microsoft to ease up for Sony to even take it into consideration. Though given the reputation and history of both companies, it's more likely the former instead of the latter.

Yes and no. Depends on the game, depends on the developer. If the dev wants you to pay Sony, you will have to pay Sony. If they want it to be free, you won't need to.

You have to pay 5 bucks to connect to the internet so you feel you don't have to pay as much as a PC guy.

I'm fine with that logic. I have to pay 39.99 to connect to the internet, so my ESO should be free.

"Thought: Why not reduce the price for the console subscription to $9.99/mo and keep PC/Mac at $14.99 - then everyone's paying the same, essentially."

Except ZoS isn't getting the same money that way. As a PC gamer, I'd find it unfair. We all should be "contributing" the same amount to future content development regardless of platform.

Besides, I don't hear PC gamers whining about the cost of games. Our hardware is considerably more expensive that consoles, even factoring in the $5 bucks a month.

Ya know, My electric bill is 400 a month. I am thinking ZoS should pay me to play ESO. I am thinking $40 dollars a month would offest my "costs" fairly. Sound good?

I'm an idiot about consoles, so excuse my question: Don't you have to pay your ISP as well as MS for Xbox Live to play online with an Xbox?

Yes you still have to pay an ISP to access the internet via a console so Quazar is confused about what pays for what.

No, my point is, everyone pays a different price to connect to ESO. My bill is 39.99. Someone else might have to pay 50 bucks. That is not ZOS's problem.

I think I'll be playing on the PS4 and will only be playing one game online if I get it, TESO. So it would be nice if I could still connect TESO to the internet, without paying for the PSN subscription. However, if I do have to pay for the PSN subscription, then I get access to iPlayer and to the selection of monthly free games that PSN has on offer, so I'm not going to be bothered either way as I'll get a good deal.

Yes you still have to have some type of Internet connection to use xbox live. I was little miffed when my son said that he couldn't use netflix on his xbox 360 without xbox live gold. That was one thing that Nintendo did right with the wii no extra fees to hook it to the Internet.

Your logic is flawed because your facts are just wrong.

You pay 5 bucks to connect to their online service, not the internet. You don't need to pay 5 bucks to connect to the internet or use many of the console features.

You pay 39.99 for internet? I pay 49.99. Therefore ESO should be paying me.

Don't forget Sony.

That's the one thing that PS+ still trumps Live Gold. Just the free service can do more then regular Live, and PS+ offers more than Gold.

It looks like Bethesda is trying to play the PS4 off the Xbox One by making Microsoft look bad hoping that Sony drops the $50 per year subscription fee requirement for PS+ to play MMOs like TESO.

From what I read on another forum, Sony has stated that devs who have f2p or subscription based MMOs can choose to have them over the PS4 without the PS+ paywall. If that's true, it's already, for the most part, been settled regarding the PS4.

Why should they get it cheaper? That's not fair to those of us who play on PCs.

And does this mean they get to play any game online, or is it waived if they ONLY have ESO?

"PS4 owners will need PlayStation Plus subscription for online multiplayer"
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/06/ps4-owners-will-need-playstation-plus-subscription-for-online-multiplayer/

It's hard to believe that Sony would give up a lucrative recurring fee like that. In a price war, Microsoft with its $80 billion in cash reserves will be able to absorb the revenues losses much more comfortably than Sony. The race to the bottom serves neither either company in the long run.

It does look like Bethesda wants an exemption as a p2p. Sony has excluded f2p MMOs from the PS+ requirement.

Ultimately it is a struggle between the game publishers and the console manufacturers, pointing fingers with each side trying to maximize their own profits. Gamers are caught in the middle as the ones who have to hand over the money. It is just a matter of to whom and how much.

I'm aware of that.

What Sony is referring to are online games like CoD and whatnot. Apparently, any company that uses their own server, such as ZSO to host MMOs will be able to bypass the PS Plus paywall. Again, it apparently only applies to those devs with their own servers and MMOs type of games.

Edit: Perhaps I am wrong about this. I'm seeing conflicting reports. Apparently PS4 will allow F2P games without PS Plus but maybe sub based MMOs will still require it.

That is assuming that the person playing TESO only plays the games that are also free to play online. If not, it's a moot point which it's safe to assume that 99% of those people that are getting TESO on console (either one of them) are also going to be playing other online multiplayer games that would require PS+ or Gold, so it really doesn't matter.

This but the basis is still the same with the servers, but we don't know for sure yet.

The other factor to consider with the MMOs is the actual PSN and Live. If either one goes down, for any reason, nobody is on the megaserver(s). If however you can bypass the PSN and Live altogether, you would only need an active internet connection and therefore not even need to be on PSN or Live.

They keep saying they want to deliver the same quality to both markets and I think that's a bit of a shame. I wish they would have capitalized on the strengths of each instead. As we can clearly see from the opinions surrounding a subscription fee, people are looking for a couple of different ways, or levels, to access ESO. Launching on multiple platforms but keeping them separate would have enabled Zenimax to appeal to separate markets that can be generalized by the different platforms.

I think that would work better than having only one level/mode of access across all the different platforms.

What percentage of console gamers don't pay for PS+ or Live Gold?

Regardless, it sounds like Bethesda is going to have to cut a check of some sort to Sony and Microsoft for an TESO exemption.

I don't have any kind of Live account with my Xbox, and never have.

Maybe because then Bethesda/Zenimax would be losing money over it? That's the thing you guys seem to have trouble with....everyone is paying the same amount for TESO.

We are not all paying the same amount for our Internet service, the same rates for electricity etc. So why should a fee charged by your hardware of choice have anything to do with the game? Bethesda is only doing this because if they are successful it will make them more money.

Much thanks, DsF!