The recently launched The Elder Scrolls Online developed by ZeniMax Online Studios has hit a few bumps on the road with various complaints over its subscription-based MMO model. One of these complaints is customers complaining about having to pay the subscription fees even if they have already purchased the game which comes with 30 days worth of free play time.
Many players and fans have already voiced their concerns on the official forums of The Elder Scrolls Online. Since then, ZeniMax has made measures to help their players in the game using different methods such as getting various game cards to top-up your account temporarily, or contacting their support team.
In an interview with Zam, The Elder Scrolls Online's Game Director, Matt Firor has confirmed that the in-game cash shop isn't just offering character or account services - it will also be selling various items in the game. He said, "At launch, we're going to have two items: the ability to upgrade to the Imperial Edition, and an entry-level horse." Firor added that while the horse is functionally the same, the Imperial Edition is the only way to ever get the White horse. Meanwhile, the Palomino horse allows players to purchase a basic mount without getting the entire Imperial Edition.
Players have also voiced their concerns about this saying that they are already paying for the game up front while also shouldering the subscription fees, and should not be charged with any other additional content since they are already paying for the whole game.
This comes as a shocking reveal for the players and fans of the game since there were previous interviews citing that ZeniMax would only be selling cosmetic items and character/account related services. Not to mention there have been rumors that the game cost an estimated $200 million to make, but developer ZeniMax and Publisher Bethesda have vehemently denied these claims.
Could these recent revelations imply that The Elder Scrolls Online is heading the Free-To-Play Route? Even fans of the game won't be too happy with Forbes predicting that the game could be "the biggest game disaster of 2014."
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