Elder Scrolls Online Early Access is in a few days!
The official release date for The Elder Scrolls Online is April 4, 2014 for PC and Mac (the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will be released sometime later in June). With that said, gamers who pre-ordered ESO will be granted Early Access to the game either this Sunday, March 30th or the following Tuesday, April 1st.
The two Elder Scrolls Online Early Access dates are dependent upon which version of ESO was pre-ordered:
- 3-Day Early Access is granted to gamers who pre-ordered the retail, Standard Edition. Early Access begins Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 7:00 AM EDT.
- 5-Day Early Access is granted to gamers who pre-ordered either the digital Standard Edition, digital Imperial Edition, or the retail Imperial Edition. Early Access begins Sunday, March 30, 2014 at 7:00 AM EDT.
Preparing For Early Access
Here’s what you need to know if you plan on playing in The Elder Scrolls Online Early Access:
- Beta Testers: If you were a participant in the ESO beta tests, and have the beta client already installed on your PC or Mac, there’s no need to delete the beta client or reinstall ESO. With that said, you’ll need to patch the client up to the latest game build. Players can begin patching the beta client tomorrow on Thursday, March 27.
- Non-Beta Testers: If you’ve never participated in a beta, or don’t have the beta client installed, you’ll need to download and install the game client on your PC or Mac. The game client is available for download tomorrow on Thursday, March 27. Click here to log in to your account and download the game client.
- Download Early! Whether you need to patch or download the game client, players are encouraged to start the process early. As any beta gamer will attest, the ESO files are huge and the download process takes time — even if you have your maximum download speed set to unlimited.
- You’re Starting From Scratch. Beta testers will not be able to carry over their characters, equipment, etc. into the Elder Scrolls Online Early Access. The only thing that will transfer is your account information and UserID.
- Exclusive Content Not Available Until 4/4/14. All exclusive content, including the Explorer’s Pack, Imperial perks, and beta test monkey won’t be available for players until the game’s official launch date on 4/4/14.
- 30 Days of Game Time Begins 4/4/14. As we all know, The Elder Scrolls Online requires a monthly subscription fee (if you want to read more about this hotly controversial topic click here). After purchasing the game, players are given 30-days of game time upfront. The clock doesn’t start ticking for Elder Scrolls Online Early Access players until 4/4/14, however. Once the game officially launches, players will need to select a subscription plan and setup a payment method. Discounted rates are being offered for 90-day and 180-day payment cycles.
