PlayStation Plus Is Not Needed for Elder Scrolls Online

Despite all the controversy regarding The Elder Scrolls Online subscription requirement, there’s some good news for PlayStation 4 gamers. On Tuesday, Matt Firor, Game Director for ZeniMax Online Studios, confirmed that PlayStation Plus is not needed for Elder Scrolls Online. Firor gave a written statement on the PlayStation blog, further clarifying that PS4 gamers only have to pay the monthly ESO subscription fee and nothing more.

PlayStation Plus Is Not Needed for Elder Scrolls Online

This is welcome news for PS4 gamers who feared that a PlayStation Plus membership was needed in addition to the ESO subscription fee of $14.99 a month. PlayStation Plus costs $49.99, and membership is typically required for PS4 players to game online. Not so with the latest Elder Scrolls game:

A PlayStation Plus membership is not required to play The Elder Scrolls Online. PS4 players will only be required to pay the same monthly subscription associated with The Elder Scrolls Online that PC and Mac users will pay–nothing more. – Matt Firor

The Elder Scrolls Online on PS4

In his PlayStation Blog article, Firor also answered a few other questions regarding The Elder Scrolls Online for PS4. Here’s a quick synopsis:

PS4 gamers will play ESO on two separate megaservers — one located in Europe, and one located in North America.
PC and Mac players will not be on the same megaservers as PS4 players.
Developers are still testing different DualShock 4 button mapping configurations, including touchpad use. Specifics will be shared later in the year, but a fun “on the couch” game experience with the controller is planned.
The PS4 HDD will have plenty of space for The Elder Scrolls Online and post-launch game content.
Gameplay in ESO isn’t identical to Skyrim, but there will be a lot of controller configuration similarities.
ESO was designed to be played with others or alone. Some areas are made to be played with friends though.
No exact date given for a PS4 beta, but there will be an exclusive beta later in the year.

What About Xbox One Players?

We now know that PlayStation Plus is not needed for Elder Scrolls Online, but there is still no official word as to whether or not Xbox One players will be required to pay Xbox Live fees. Bethesda is apparently still working with Microsoft to avoid an XBL requirement. It goes without saying that gamers are hoping that an agreement will be reached soon. Stay tuned!

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Jared Weis

10 years ago

It is still a joke, I already have PS because of my other games so it doesn’t even mater. I plan on getting ESO but I don’t know how long im going to keep my subscription because I really don’t like the idea of having to pay an extra $15 per month for a game that I will only get to spend 5-10 hours a week on. I understand the all star cast and all but I would have rather payed $100 up front and then $5 per month.
Regards,
Jared

Shane Scarbrough

Reply to Jared Weis

Hi Jared, thanks for your comment! A lot of gamers are disenchanted with the subscription fee, and you bring up an excellent point — how long will players keep up their subscriptions? If a lot of players stay away from ESO because of the fees, or drop the subscription because they don’t have a lot of time to play, will ZeniMax/Bethesda change their business model? Reduce the fees or move to a free-to-play system? It’ll be real interesting to see how things play out over the next few months.

Abdullah

Reply to Shane Scarbrough

Will gamers on the ps4 be able to use the psn prepaid cards? The $50 and $20 instead of credit and debit cards?

Reply to Abdullah

Thanks for your comment! I’m not sure if I completely understand your question, but in regards to playing The Elder Scrolls Online on PS4, you won’t need to have or maintain a PSN account. There’s no need to use prepaid cards, credit cards, etc.

What I meant is, istead of paying the subscription using your credit card, can you use the psn cards?

Sorry about that. My reading comprehension skills aren’t always the best 🙂 That said, I haven’t seen anything official saying one way or the other and can’t give a definitive answer. Based on how the sub fees are setup for PC/Mac, you either have to signup for a recurring subscription with a credit card, or enter a prepaid game time code.

If Final Fantasy XIV is any indication as to how things will work, PSN cards won’t be able to be redeemed for ESO and players without CC or debit cards will have to purchase a time card instead. Maybe I’m wrong about redeeming PSN cards, and I hope that I am if it means things will be easier for PS4 players to get in the game. Seeing as how Sony and ZeniMax now have a history of working closely together, anything is possible.

Rhonda

2 years ago

I think PlayStation plus and PlayStation now should be put into one package and only cost like $9.99 to $12.00 a month instead of having to purchase both separately at $9.99 each that’s expensive or if you have PlayStation now you shouldn’t have to pay for PlayStation plus and vice versa

Last edited 2 years ago by Rhonda

Thank you!

Noah stasiak

9 years ago

If we don’t need a ps plus membership to play the game then why does it require me to have one?

Reply to Noah stasiak

At the time the article was written, ESO players had to pay a $15 monthly subscription fee to Zenimax Online. Once the business model changed to buy-to-play, the monthly sub was dropped.

If I get the elder scrolls online and elder scrolls oblivion off of PlayStation now I should be able to play it on PlayStation now without having PlayStation plus or any paid membership except for PlayStation now