The Elder Scrolls Online Battlegrounds Queue Fix Is In The Works

Summary

The Elder Scrolls OnlineUpdate 44 has completely overhauled the PvP mode Battlegrounds. Gone are the 4v4v4 matches, replaced now by 8v8 and 4v4 modes instead. But there’s a problem, as many players and streamers are running into long queues and being kicked out of lobbies that struggle to fill.

Update 44 also introducesthe game’s first non-binary companion.

ZeniMax Is Aware Of The Problem

We spoke to lead combat and PvP designer Brian Wheeler about the changes, and brought up these teething problems. He assures that the team is not only aware, but has a solution in the works.

“It’s the growing pains of making massive changes to a system that’s [been] established for a while, but we do have a handle on that, and we are working on getting a fix deployed for that queue issue soon,” Wheeler tells TheGamer.

It’s one of those things where you’re making a lot of changes to a lot of front facing systems, and sometimes this stuff doesn’t appear until things come under load.

“When that came up, we were like, ‘Okay, well, we gotta fix that as soon as we possibly can.’ We know that’s a big one. I’ve had a match or two where it’s just sat there, and people are pretty cordial right now. They’re like, ‘Okay, well, I’ll see you in five minutes!’ It’s obviously not ideal.”

The new Battlegrounds update is the biggest shift for the mode since it was first introduced in the Morrowind chapter, not only because of the overhauled team format, but because of the seven new maps. These are the first to be implemented since 2017.

Power-ups have also been reintroduced and expanded upon, with bonuses like speed boosts and quad damage. Team Deathmatch even features a new lives mechanic now, in which each death reduces your team’s number of lives until you finally run out and the round ends.

It’s a huge shake-up, offering a more casual, less intensive Battlegrounds experience in 8v8, and leaning even further into the adrenaline-pounding intensity of 4v4v4 in the reduced 4v4 mode. Hopefully, it’ll be a bit easier to try it out soon.