Is Elder Scrolls Online Cross Platform? Unveiling Crossplay Capabilities


With the massive world of Tamriel and the allure of shared adventures, many players are eager to join friends in The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), an MMORPG that has captured the imaginations of gamers worldwide. A key aspect that enriches the multiplayer experience is cross-platform play, allowing players across various devices to interact. Gamers often inquire if their journey through ESO’s vast lands can be shared with friends on different gaming systems.

The current cross-platform status of ESO, as of 2024, allows players to explore dungeons, complete quests, and battle foes together, but with certain restrictions. While there isn’t a comprehensive cross-play system in place, cross-generation support exists, meaning players of different console generations, like PS4 and PS5, can team up. However, there’s a separation between PC and console servers, and cross-platform play between these environments isn’t supported.

Today, we will talk about all aspects of is Elder Scrolls Online cross platform compatibility possible.

Key Takeaways

  • ESO offers limited cross-play, mainly within the same console families
  • Players from PC and consoles cannot join each other’s games
  • Cross-generation support enables friends with different versions of consoles to play together

Understanding Cross-Platform Play

When diving into the world of massive multiplayer online games (MMOs) like The Elder Scrolls Online, it’s essential to grasp how cross-platform play can shape the gaming experience. This feature determines whether friends can connect and play together regardless of the devices they own.

What is Cross-Platform Play?

Cross platform play, also known as crossplay, allows players using different gaming systems to join and play with each other in the same game environment. To put it simply, cross-play breaks down the barriers between different consoles and PCs so that everyone can join in on the fun. If a game supports cross-platform play, a player on a PlayStation, for example, could team up with or take on someone playing the same game on an Xbox or a PC.

Benefits of Cross-Play in MMOs

The major benefits of cross-play in MMOs can be summed up in a couple of key points:

  • Broader Player Base: Crossplay effectively amalgamates the separate pools of players on different platforms into one large community. This means shorter wait times for joining games and a richer multiplayer experience
  • Playing with Friends: One of the top advantages is that it lets friends play together, even if they don’t own the same type of console or PC. It’s all about connectivity and enjoying the adventure with others, building friendships and alliances across the virtual world

By understanding what cross play is and its immense benefits, players can better appreciate what it brings to their multiplayer experience. It’s not just a feature; it’s an invitation to a world where what you play on doesn’t keep you from playing with friends. It’s a doorway to a more inclusive and interconnected gaming community.

Current State of Cross-Platform Play in ESO

In the intricate world of Tamriel, players on various consoles and PCs continue to explore separately. The Elder Scrolls Online has not yet embraced cross-platform play, presenting both challenges and limitations for its community. Is Elder Scrolls Online cross platform compatibility possible?

The Elder Scrolls Online on Different Platforms

The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) graces a multitude of platforms, including PC, Mac, the PlayStation 4 (PS4) and PlayStation 5 (PS5), as well as the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Each platform operates on its own servers, which means that characters created in one are confined to that specific platform’s ecosystem. There is one exception to this separation: cross-generation play is available, allowing PS4 and PS5 users, as well as Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S users, to play with each other within their respective console families.

  • PC/Mac: Uses dedicated servers.
  • PlayStation: PS4 and PS5 can share game servers for ESO.
  • Xbox: Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S offer cross-generation play.

Cross Play Challenges and Limitations

The absence of cross play in ESO stems from various challenges, including technical limitations and differing update schedules between platforms. Such hurdles complicate syncing experiences across diverse systems. Each platform’s unique architecture requires separate servers, hence, a character on PC cannot join adventures with those on PlayStation or Xbox.

  • Cross Platform Play: Not supported between PC/Mac and consoles or between PlayStation and Xbox platforms
  • Cross Progression: Nonexistent—players cannot carry over progress from one platform to another
  • Social Dynamics: The separate servers for each platform restrict players to engaging only with others on the same hardware

As they stand, players hoping to venture together across platforms will need to wait and see if future updates might bridge the worlds of ESO across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.

Exploring The Elder Scrolls Online Gameplay

The Elder Scrolls Online allows players to embark on a vast array of quests within the vibrant world of Tamriel, fostering engaging interactions among its multiplayer community.

Quests and Adventures in Tamriel

In Tamriel, adventurers find themselves surrounded by a rich tapestry of stories and missions. Each quest feels like a piece of a larger narrative, with players uncovering ancient secrets, thwarting grand conspiracies, and battling formidable foes. One moment they might be investigating a quiet village’s eerie silence, the next defending it from a sudden undead onslaught. Armed with a diverse arsenal of weapons and magical abilities, each character is uniquely crafted to tackle these challenges. It’s a world where choice matters, and the paths one takes can drastically alter the unfolding of their personal saga.

Multiplayer Dynamics and Player Interaction

The Elder Scrolls Online thrives on its multiplayer games aspect, where one can ally with others in PvP battles or unite to conquer daunting dungeons. Player interaction is integral, and many quests are tailored to groups, encouraging teamwork and strategy. In the robust player community, friendships and alliances form not only within the heat of battle but also in quieter moments, such as when trading items or sharing knowledge about the realm. Within this vibrant ecosystem, every player’s actions ripple through the game, influencing not only their own adventure but also the larger narrative of Tamriel.

Game Progression and Cross-Platform Considerations

When players immerse themselves in the world of The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), their journey through the lands of Tamriel is marked by quests completed, levels gained, and items collected. As adventurers consider playing across different platforms, understanding how game progression is managed becomes key.

Understanding Cross-Progression

Cross progression is a feature gamers often look for, which allows them to maintain their video game progression across multiple platforms. Unfortunately for ESO enthusiasts, as of 2024, cross-progression is not universally supported across all platforms. This means a player’s ESO account is tied to the platform on which it was created. Consequently, if they play on PlayStation, they won’t be able to pick up where they left off on Xbox or PC.

Saved Games and Cross-Platform Progress

With the absence of cross-save functionality, saved games remain exclusive to the platform on which they were created. This is significant because items, experience, and progress earned on one system will not transfer to another. For instance, if a player has amassed a wealth of gear and achievements on their PC version of ESO, they can’t simply log into their console and expect to have access to that same progress.

They need to consider whether the desire to switch platforms outweighs the need to maintain the progress they’ve made so far. It’s essential for players to regularly check for updates regarding cross-platform features, as game developers may add functionality in the future, broadening how an ESO account can be accessed and enjoyed across different platforms.

Expansions and Future of The Elder Scrolls Online

With new content continually enriching its fantasy universe, The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) persists in captivating players. From fresh expansions like the announced “Gold Road” to the persistent buzz within the community about future cross-platform capabilities, the landscape of ESO is always brimming with anticipation and growth.

Recent and Upcoming ESO Content

In June 2024, players are set to embark on new adventures with the “Gold Road” expansion. Zenimax Online Studios pays homage to familiar territories with this release, since it revisits lands from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. This expansion is introducing an innovative system called Scribing, adding a customizable skillset that could significantly shift players’ build strategies.

The continued development of new content signals that, rather than working on a sequel, the focus remains on expanding the current ESO universe. Previous expansions, such as the Deadlands expansion, have continually added to the lore and playable regions, and it appears that the same level of detailed attention is being devoted to “Gold Road”.

The Community and Future Cross-Platform Hopes

The Elder Scrolls Online community eagerly awaits the possibility of cross platform play. As of now, despite the fact that there is cross-generation play available between consoles of the same family, the broader cross-platform interaction among PC, PlayStation, and Xbox users remains off the table. However, the yearning for such a feature is strong within the community, as it would unify the player base across all available systems.

Bethesda and Zenimax Online Studios are undoubtedly attuned to their audience’s desires, which sparks continuous speculation about possible future updates that could introduce cross-play. We have to mention the presence of microtransactions through the Crown Store. This is where players can purchase anything from cosmetic items to mounts—suggests a thriving economy that could support the expansion of cross-platform features.

The exact trajectory of The Elder Scrolls Online regarding cross-platform play remains uncharted. Yet, the gaming industry’s trends and the resilient demand from players suggest that it might be a part of the game’s evolution. In the meantime, both veteran fans and newcomers can feast on the plentiful new content that keeps the vibrant world of ESO inviting and perpetually fresh.


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