Because of the initial launch troubles the Elder Scrolls Online had experienced, developer Zenimax is offering five days of free game time in order to compensate early adopters for these issues.

In an announcement earlier today on the official ESO blog, Game Director Matt Firor stated that anyone with an account before the beginning of May will be able to get these five free days as a sign of goodwill towards players. “We recognise that some of the launch issues affected the early gameplay experience of a number of players,” he wrote. “Fixing these problems required us to take the megaservers offline, costing players time in the game. In recognition of this experience and to show our gratitude to everyone who supported the launch, we are giving an additional five days of included game time. This is a small gesture to show our thanks for being part of the ESO community while we work to make this extraordinary game and service even better.”

He also talked about certain additions to the game, including new dungeons, more quests and a justice system allowing for people to steal from NPC’s in the game.

Those who are eligible for the five free days can get them by the evening of May 1st.

My Opinion:

I was a lover of Skyrim, but couldn’t get into ESO because of the cost. $60 for the initial title and $15 each month? It sounds utterly ridiculous to me. This game should be free to play or not have the initial cost. However, for those who have taken this game into their hearts, this is a good sign from the developer, saying that he recognizes that the game is buggy and needs work, and is willing to compensate for time that players believe were taken from them. Good job, Zenimax. Now give us unlimited free play time, and I’ll invest.

Shawn Richards studies games to understand how they work. Follow him on Twitter or Facebook.