If you plan on playing The Elder Scrolls Online on Xbox One, prepare to pay two separately monthly subscriptions: one for the game (as established by Bethesda) and one for Xbox LIVE Gold. The news was confirmed to us by a Bethesda spokesperson who responded, "An Xbox LIVE Gold memberhsip will be required to play [The Elder Scrolls Online] on Xbox One." It also comes in response to the reveal that TESO won't require PS Plus on PS4.
Odds are if you plan on playing TESO on Xbox One, it's quite likely you play other games on the system online — meaning you probably already have Xbox LIVE Gold. So really, this shouldn't be that big of a deal.
What I find fascinating, however, are the drastically different approaches Sony and Microsoft have towards online gaming. Although Sony introduced mandatory PS Plus subscriptions for online play with the PS4, they have opted to allow TESO to slip past the requirement. ZeniMax Online Studios' upcoming MMO, along with DC Universe Online, Blacklight Retribution, and Warframe are just a few online games that don't require PS Plus — the latter three are free-to-play entirely.
As I said, for me, having to pay for Gold and a MMO subscription wouldn't be a big deal, but I could be in the minority. Will the Xbox One's Gold requirement for The Elder Scrolls Online sway your platform of choice?
