‘Elder Scrolls Online’: 5 Things On Crown Store And Buy-To-Play

Zenimax Online launched Tamriel Unlimited for The Elder Scrolls Online on Tuesday. This essentially breaks down to the removal of the subscription requirement for the PC MMORPG, but there are some details that you should know about to get started. This guide will help PC players and future Xbox One and PlayStation 4 player get going with the new subscription options and Crown Store.

No Subscription

A subscription is no longer required to play The Elder Scrolls Online. You have full access to all previously released updates and content additions released prior to March 17 once you pay for the game. This includes the the recent 1.6 update that added the Justice System Future expansion DLC will cost additional money though.

Subscription

Zenimax is still offering a subscription option called ESO Plus that is sold in 30-, 90-, and 180-day increments. All expansion DLC is included along with free Crowns (see below) at the start of each membership period.

Additionally, ESO Plus members will receive a 10 percent bonus to experience, crafting research, crafting inspiration, and gold acquisition.

If you already have a subscription to The Elder Scrolls Online, it will automatically be converted to an ESO Plus subscription.

Crown Store

The Elder Scrolls Online now includes a Crown Store accessible by pressing the “,” key. This is where character customization and convenience items can be purchased along with pets and mounts.

Costumes and Costume packs can be purchased for 400 to 1000 Crowns. You’ll be able to dress your characters in everything from a Wedding Dress to an assassin’s outfit. These costumes will be available to every character on your account as well.

Consumable items like health potion, magicka potions, and repair pack are also available in the Crown Store. However, these items are no better than what can be found in-game. There are no experience booster packs for sale.

Mounts include various types of horses that players can ride in the game to get around faster. The Nightmare Courser is the most expensive at 2,500 Crowns but there are others that start at 900 Crowns. The Tesselated Guar is 1,300 Crowns.

Pets start at 400 Crowns and include a housecat, various types of Guars, and dogs. There’s also a Striped Senche-Panther for 700 Crowns.

The Adventure Pack and Digital Imperial Edition Upgrade bundles are also available for 1,900 and 2,100 Crowns respectively.

None of the items in the Crown Store are required to play the game. All of the items are cosmetic only

Crown Currency

Existing Elder Scrolls Online subscribers will receive 100 Crowns for every month they were previously subscribed plus 1,500 Crowns for every month left on their subscription. You get an additional 500 Crowns simply for owning the game.

Note this currency will be distributed to all existing subscribers over the course of the week so your full balance may not be available immediately. Those that keep their Elder Scrolls Online subscription active will continue to receive 1,500 Crowns at the start of every month.

The exchange rate is approximately 100 Crowns for every dollar you spend in the game’s store. However, Crowns are sold in bundles that offer discounts based on the amount of money you are willing to spend:

• 750 Crowns for $7.99
• 1500 Crowns for $14.99
• 3000 Crowns for $24.99
• 5500 Crowns for $39.99

Future DLC

Zenimax does have several DLC updates in the works, such as Clockwork City. However, the first won’t hit until sometime this summer.

Bonus: Where to buy The Elder Scrolls Online Cheap

It’s tough to find the game at a discount since the announcement that it is moving to buy-to-play. The usual sources of Amazon, Best Buy, and other major retailers are selling for $59.99 in both digital and physical versions. Even digital resellers like Green Man Gaming have the MMORPG at its full retail price while G2A and Get Games Go are pretty close at $53.99.

Update: Green Man Gaming is offering ESO for $48 if you use the code “JBTBG5-7GVTE8-W2YXRV” at checkout.

If you are looking for a discount, you’ll probably have to wait for someone to put The Elder Scrolls Online on sale or offer a coupon.

[Images via TheElder Scrolls Online]