With the inclusion of a monthly subscription fee, The Elder Scrolls Online could become a potentially costly title on consoles, but fortunately the PS4 version will not require PlayStation Plus….Xbox One owners aren’t so lucky.

While MMOs are some of the most popular multiplayer titles in existence, it’s understood among players that not only are they a time-investment, but a financial one; on top of an initial price to purchase the title, MMOs occasionally have a monthly subscription fee that often hovers within the $10-$15 range. The Elder Scrolls Online is no exception, as the title will include a $15 monthly subscription fee on all platforms (PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One). The announcement of the subscription fee raised some questions from fans regarding the console versions: With the PS4 and Xbox One migrating essential multiplayer features into their paid services (i.e. group chat), are gamers required to have PS+/Gold for The Elder Scrolls Online?

According to Zenimax Online Studios Game Director Matt Firor, the PS4 version of ESO will not require a PS+ subscription in order to play- just the standard subscription fee that all platforms must pay. Along with the subscription update, Firor answered other questions submitted through Twitter, regarding the control scheme, server assignment, Beta-access and more:

• NA and EU regions will have their own “megaservers”

• The PS4 and PC/Mac versions will have separate megaservers, which is apparently “good news for PS4 players as they won’t have to worry about contending with higher-level PC players”

• Zenimax is still “tweaking” with the Dualshock 4 controller and the touchpad to find a solid implementation of an “Action Bar” (found at the bottom of the screen, where players can assign abilities to different keys/buttons)

• The install size of ESO was not given, but Firor ensures fans that the PS4 hard-drive has plenty of “memory available for the game and for years of continuous post-launch content”

• The control scheme will be similar, but not identical to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

• Like most MMOs, ESO can be played single-player, but various areas are designed for a multiplayer experience

• A date has not been announced, but a PS4 Beta is planned for later this year

According to an article on Joystiq, Bethesda has confirmed that the Xbox One version of ESO will in fact require a Gold subscription, which makes for a very costly MMO. The Elder Scrolls Online will release on 4/4 for PC and Mac, with the PS4 and Xbox One versions following in June.

Sources: PlayStation Blog, Polygon, Joystiq
Image courtesy of Zenimax Online Studios, Bethesda