Elder Scrolls Online Hits 8.5 Million Users

It turns out there are a LOT of people who enjoy playing The Elder Scrolls Online. According to a report by MMORPG.com, the game currently has 8.5 million players, based on sales figures. That’s actually up by 1.5 million from last June.

It doesn’t seem that any one platform has a distinct advantage when it comes to the number of users, as the report states the user population of Elder Scrolls Online is split evenly between PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC users. While that 8.5 million sounds impressive, and is, it’s worth noting that World of Warcraft has at times had more than 10 million active users, although it has fluctuated between that number and 5 million recently.

One thing fueling excitement for the multiplayer RPG is the recent announcement that users will be able to expand their games and head to the beloved Morrowind region this June, complete with a new story, new playable class, and new PVP modes. That upgrade will cost current users $40, while new users can get everything for $60. There’s also a collector’s edition that retails for $100, which includes a map, journal, and a statue of a Colossus, among other in-game goodies.

For those unfamiliar with the game, most of The Elder Scrolls Online takes place in the land of Tamriel, in the same world games like Oblivion and Skyrim also inhibit. Unlike those games, however, ESO is more of a multiplayer-focused title, encouraging users to partner with others as they complete quests and take on dungeons, monsters, and the like. Also unlike Oblivion and Skyrim, the combat involves a lot less button-mashing or weapon-flailing, and falls more in line with a traditional MMORPG, complete with power “cooldowns” that force you to wait before reusing certain abilities.

If you’re interested in giving Elder Scrolls Online a try, Bethesda holds free trial weekends periodically, but the standard edition of the game costs less than $10 at some places, and there is no online subscription required (outside of PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live).

If you’re undecided, give our review a look.