Summary

  • While games like RuneScape and WoW have classic versions, ESO is unlikely to get its own.
  • ESO was infamous at launch and it took some doing to win back players and build up the reputation it has today.
  • Zenimax has toyed with the idea before, but ultimately decided against it.

The Elder Scrolls Online is celebrating its tenth anniversary over the next year, and the game has changed a lot in that decade. One Tamriel opened up every zone to every level, making it so that you could travel the world at your leisure without ever feeling underpowered, and countless expansions have launched that introduced entirely new modes and mechanics, shifting up the meta, combat, and ways in which you can conquer the endgame.

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In other MMORPGs like World of Warcraft and RuneScape, developers have capitalised on the nostalgic fever with separate Classic versions of the games that strip back the past decade or two of development. But when I asked creative director Rich Lambert about ESO doing something similar, he had a "snarky" answer for me.

Why There Won't Be An Elder Scrolls Online Classic

"Nobody liked ESO when it launched, so I don't think going back to that is ideal, but I understand the sentiment, being able to start over and being fresh and new," Lambert tells me as we sit in the entrance of the sugar factory in Amsterdam where Zenimax is hosting the first of its celebrations. "It's something we've definitely toyed with and talked about, but we've spent so much time and effort turning ESO into what it is today that I don't think it's the right thing to do."

We've spent so much time and effort turning ESO into what it is today that I don't think it's the right thing to do.

As Lambert says, ESO was infamous when it launched. Elder Scrolls fans expecting 'Skyrim with friends' were disappointed, and genre veterans found it lacking when compared to the juggernauts that had long dominated the space. But Zenimax persevered and the game not only survived that rocky launch, it thrived.

As of writing, ESO boasts over 24 million players and is about to launch an expansion called Gold Road which is introducing an entirely new Daedric Prince and a spell crafting-like system.

It took some doing to get here, but as rocky as its beginnings were, I'm sure there are plenty of others who still found a lot to love about the good ol' days.

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The Elder Scrolls Online

MMORPG Systems 9.5/10 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 71/100 Critics Rec: 38% Released April 4, 2014 ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence Developer(s) ZeniMax Online Studios Publisher(s) Bethesda Engine proprietary engine, heroengine
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The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMORPG enjoyed by millions of players, set in the continent of Tamriel. Initially launched in 2014, multiple expansions take you to Skyrim, Morrowind, and other iconic locations from the series. You can choose from one of ten races and five classes before taking on a multitude of quests, dungeons, and trials.

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