Is ESO Cross-Platform? | Does ESO Crossplay Exist in 2022?
Elder Scrolls Online first emerged in 2014, and by 2022, it had established itself as one of the leading MMORPGs in the business. With millions of players across PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Google Stadia platforms, ESO serves as the multiplayer experience for fans of the age-old Elder Scrolls franchise. It’s a vibrant, thriving ecosystem that is constantly growing with fresh expansions, and it’s expected to live on for several years. Today, we’re taking a close look at the platform, answering the question, ‘is ESO cross-platform’?
For several years, Elder Scrolls Online has been exploring a lengthy development roadmap. With each new expansion, brand-new areas are added to the game, along with a host of new weapons, dungeons, events, and questlines. It’s a remarkably diverse title, and the millions of players that explore the game do so safely in the knowledge that it’s a stable, well-supported experience. This is the first true multiplayer experience in the history of the franchise, but the important question is, is Elder Scrolls Online crossplay?
Let’s dig into the platform and find out.
Is Elder Scrolls Online Worth It?
Image Credit: Zenimax
Before we learn if ESO crossplay features exist, let’s determine whether or not the game is even worth it for the players. On the other side of the Bethesda table sits the Fallout franchise, and Fallout 76’s, the multiplayer release for that series, bombed relatively hard at launch and has been struggling to recover ever since. We can confirm that Fallout 76 cross-progression or crossplay features don’t exist, but that’s not what we’re talking about here.
Elder Scrolls Online has been well received since it was first released, enjoying positive reviews from the start. As the years have pushed on, ESO has seen more meaningful and valuable updates than Fallout 76, bringing players much more content to explore.
However, the key difference here is that Fallout 76’s updates tend to be free, while ESO expansions are paid-for updates, operating in a similar fashion to World of Warcraft or The Sims expansions.
In fact, ESO is similar to the traditional MMORPG experiences in more ways than just the expansion mechanics. For instance, the WoW ranking system is similar to ESO, as is the guild system, the raids, and the open-world events. Ultimately, Elder Scrolls Online is a popular, enjoyable game with plenty to see and do.
But, is ESO cross-platform, do ESO cross-progression features exist, and if so, how do you access them?
Is ESO Cross-Platform?
Unfortunately, ESO crossplay features do not exist, but cross-generation functionality is present in the game. There’s no way to connect with and play with other gamers across formats, but you can cross over the generational gap to connect with other explorers.
For instance, if you were on PlayStation 4, you could play with gamers on PlayStation 5. However, if you were playing ESO on Xbox Series X, you couldn’t connect with gamers on PC.
While Elder Scrolls Online cross-platform features do not exist, it’s still a fantastic game in its own right. Typically, the best crossplay games will be short-form, rapid-release experiences and not persistent, open-world adventures like Elder Scrolls Online. There’s nothing lost in the fact that ESO crossplay features aren’t a thing, and the game still offers players a brilliant adventure across all the regions of Tamriel.
This is a similar story to many of the open-world, sandbox titles out there. For instance, Red Dead Online crossplay features don’t exist, and Elden Ring crossplay isn’t a thing – it’s another cross-generational title, though. Ultimately, there are no expectations that Elder Scrolls Online will ever be crossplay, and there isn’t likely to be an Elder Scrolls Online 2 anytime soon.
This is a persistent, constant, live-service game, and as such, there’s no ‘room’ for a sequel.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Is There Cross-Play?
By
Jon Bitner
Updated
Here’s what you need to know about cross-play in The Elder Scrolls Online.
Quick Links
- ESO Does Not Support Cross-Platform Play But Has Cross-Generation Servers
- Will The Next-Gen Update Impact ESO Cross-Play?
- Is Cross-Play In Development For The Elder Scrolls Online?
The Elder Scrolls Online is one of the most popular MMOs on the market. Available on PC, Xbox One, PS4, and now an enhanced version on PS5 and Xbox Series X, there are plenty of ways to access the largest Elder Scrolls game ever made.
That begs the question – is ESO cross-platform? Here’s what you need to know about ESO cross-play before diving into Tamriel.
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Updated on December 1, 2021 by Quinton O’Connor: As ESO continues to rise in MMO popularity rankings, it’s important that we maintain up-to-date accuracy with regard to the game’s cross-play status. To that end, we’ve revisited our article and conducted a bit of housekeeping wherever necessary. While ZeniMax Online Studios hasn’t shifted its cross-platform policies in recent days, we’ll continue to offer timely clarity on the nuances of the matter so that friends both near and far can learn how to traipse across scenic Tamriel together.
ESO Does Not Support Cross-Platform Play But Has Cross-Generation Servers
So, is ESO cross-platform? Well, yes and no. But mostly no.
The Elder Scrolls Online does not support cross-platform play in the traditional sense. PC players won’t be able to engage with PS4 or Xbox players, and Xbox players won’t ever see PC players.
However, when the new generation of consoles was released in 2020, things became a bit more complex. Here’s how it all works:
- PC players have their own servers and won’t encounter players on any console.
- Xbox players have a server shared between Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
- PlayStation players have a server shared between PS4 and PS5.
- Stadia players share a server with the PC community.
In summary, this means that while Elder Scrolls Online cross-platform gaming isn’t really a thing, but you can play across different generations of the same console. Since so many console enthusiasts have yet to make the jump to the newest generation, we suspect many games like ESO will maintain cross-generation features for the foreseeable future.
Will The Next-Gen Update Impact ESO Cross-Play?
Originally, The Elder Scrolls Online ran on both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S through backward compatibility.
Your game may have run a bit faster – thanks to the new hardware – but it was essentially the same game as it was years ago.
That all changed on June 8, with the massive graphical overhaul that came to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. This has made the world of Tamriel look more vivid than ever before, although you are still able to play with your friends on last-generation consoles.
Keep in mind that ESO’s cross-platform play only works within the same family of consoles, meaning all Xbox consoles share one server and all PlayStation consoles share another. It’s not true Elder Scrolls Online cross-play support, but at least each individual console isn’t relegated to its own private server.
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Elder Scrolls Online_ Flames Of Ambition
As of now, Zenimax Online Studios has no intention of bringing cross-platform play to ESO.
None of the servers are suffering from low player counts – it’s quite the opposite, actually – and merging servers isn’t a topic discussed much by the studio. Instead, ZOS is focused on getting the Deadlands expansion ready for its PC and console debuts.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Deadlands is set to release on November 1, 2021 for PC and Mac. Console users will have to wait until November 16 to step through the gates of Oblivion and experience Mehrunes Dagon’s realm. As with any new zone, this expansion will provide new environments to explore, new bosses to overcome, and bigger and tougher feats that will prove insurmountable alone. The Deadlands expansion will reveal a world we have only yet gleaned small glimpses of through previous ESO content while making a point to pay homage to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
With the developers’ attention focused on major projects like the Deadlands expansion, it’s apparent that cross-platform play for Elder Scrolls Online falls low on the list of priorities (if it is even on Zenimax’s agenda at all).
For now, we’ll all have to settle for in-family cross-play support. Stadia and PC users will continue to share a server, while Xbox consoles populate another, and PlayStation consoles a third.
NEXT: The Elder Scrolls Online: How To Become A Vampire, And Is It Worth It?
The Elder Scrolls Online Crossplay Explained
The Elder Scrolls Online is one of the most popular MMOs on the market. Available on PC, Xbox One, PS4, and now enhanced on PS5 and Xbox Series X, there are plenty of ways to access the biggest Elder Scrolls game ever made.
The question arises — ESO cross-platform ? Here’s what you need to know about ESO Crossplay before diving into Tamriel.
Updated: As the popularity rating of MMOs continues to rise, it’s important that we maintain up-to-date accuracy regarding the status of cross-platform play. To this end, we have revised our article and carried out a small cleaning where necessary.
Although ZeniMax Online Studios has not changed its cross-platform policy in recent days, we will continue to clarify the nuances of this issue in a timely manner so that friends near and far can learn how to travel through the beautiful Tamriel together. nine0012
1 ESO does not support cross-play, but has cross-gen servers
2 Will the next-gen update affect cross-play in ESO?
3 Is crossplay in development for The Elder Scrolls Online?
ESO does not support cross-play, but has cross-generation servers
So, is ESO cross-platform? Well, yes and no. But mostly no.
The Elder Scrolls Online does not support cross-platform play. nine0004 in the traditional sense.
PC players will not be able to interact with PS4 or Xbox players, and Xbox players will never see PC players. However, when a new generation of consoles was released in 2020, things got a little more complicated. Here’s how it all works:
- PC players have their own servers and will not meet players on any console.
- Xbox players have a shared server for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
- Stadia players share a server with the PC community.
nine0035 Game console players have a shared server between PS4 and PS5.
So this means that although cross-platform games in Elder Scrolls Online are not really something special, but you can play on different generations of the same console. Since many console enthusiasts have yet to move to the newest generation, we suspect that many games, such as ESO, will support cross-generation features for the foreseeable future.
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Will the next-gen update affect cross-play in ESO?
The Elder Scrolls Online originally ran on both PS5 and Xbox Series X | S to Backward compatible . Your game might have run a little faster — thanks to the new hardware — but it was essentially the same game as years ago.
Everything changed on June 8th when PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S there was a large-scale processing of graphics. This has made the world of Tamriel more vibrant than ever before, although you can still play with your friends on the latest generation of consoles. nine0007
Please note that ESO Cross-Play only works on one family of consoles. This means that all Xbox consoles use one server and all PlayStation consoles use another. It’s not true Elder Scrolls Online crossplay support, but at least each individual console isn’t relegated to its own private server.
Is crossplay in development for The Elder Scrolls Online?
Currently Zenimax Online Studios has no intention to implement crossplay in ESO .
Neither server suffers from low player counts — quite the opposite, in fact — and server aggregation is not a topic that the studio is particularly discussing. Instead, ZOS is focused on getting The Deadlands expansion is ready to debut on PC and consoles.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Deadlands is scheduled to release on November 1, 2021 for PC and Mac. Console users will have to wait until November 16th to get through the Oblivion Gate and experience the world of Mehrunes Dagon. As with any new zone, this expansion will provide new environments to explore, new bosses to overcome, and larger and more difficult feats that will prove insurmountable on your own. The Deadlands expansion will open up the world we’ve just explored in previous ESO content while paying homage to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. nine0007
With the development focus on big projects like the Deadlands expansion, it’s clear that Elder Scrolls Online cross-platform play isn’t on the priority list (if it’s on Zenimax’s agenda at all).
In the meantime, we’ll all have to make do with family support for crossplay. Stadia and PC users will continue to use one server, Xbox consoles another, and PlayStation consoles a third.
is there a cross-play? — Guides and game reviews
Here’s what you need to know about crossplay in The Elder Scrolls Online.
The Elder Scrolls Online is one of the most popular MMOs on the market. Available on PC, Xbox One, PS4 and coming soon to PS5 and Xbox Series X, there are plenty of ways to access the biggest Elder Scrolls game ever made.
The question is, does ESO have cross-platform play ? Here’s what you need to know about ESO Crossplay, before diving into Tamriel.
Contents
- ESO does not support crossplay
- Will the next generation update affect crossplay?
- Is crossplay in development for The Elder Scrolls Online?
ESO does not support crossplay
The Elder Scrolls Online does not support traditional crossplay.
PC players will not be able to interact with PS4 or Xbox players, and Xbox players will never see PC players. However, when a new generation of consoles came out in 2020, things got a little more complicated. Here’s how it all works:
- PC players have their own servers and will not meet players on any console.
- Xbox players share a server for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
- PlayStation players share a server between PS4 and PS5.
- Stadia players share a server with the PC community.
Will the next generation update affect cross-platform play?
The Elder Scrolls Online works on both PS5 and Xbox Series X | S thanks to backward compatibility . Your game might run a little faster — thanks to the new hardware — but it’s essentially the same game as it was a few years ago.
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Everything must change on June 8, when the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S will undergo a massive graphics overhaul. This will make the world of Tamriel more vibrant than ever before, although you will still be able to play with your friends on the latest generation of consoles. Keep in mind that cross-platform play only works on one family of consoles, meaning all Xbox consoles use one server and all PlayStation consoles use another. nine0007
This is not true crossplay support, but at least each individual console is not assigned to its own private server.
Is crossplay in development for The Elder Scrolls Online?
As of now, Zenimax Online Studios has no plans to offer cross-platform play in ESO. None of the servers suffer from low player counts — quite the opposite, in fact — and server merging is not a topic that the studio is particularly discussing.
