This is something I was thinking about recently. I used to groan at the idea, whenever I saw it suggested in forums. The massive open world experience of Elder Scrolls just never seemed to lend itself well to multiplayer in my mind. However, in a world where Borderlands exists, and is quite awesome as a multiplayer game, I am willing to reconsider my opinion on this subject. I`m not saying it would have to be a numbered entry in the main series, I just think it could be interesting to have some sort of multiplayer game in the Elder Scrolls series. Does anyone else want to see this? What gameplay mechanics would they have to change to make it work?

No, there are enough new online games, stop taking all the great series and trying to turn them into MMO junk. (Not saying you FreakAche) just those in general who want every and all games turned into online options. 

If they're going to do it, it should be a numbered game, and it should be a drop-in/drop-out co-op component similar to Fable (only good).

I'm not interested in playing ES with my bros, but it's an interesting concept.

/slap 
Stop saying such ridiculous nonsense and come to your senses, man!

It wouldn't bother me as long as it didn't affect the single player.

Nope.  Maybe a crafting system that incorporates an online marketplace similar to what Forza does with paintjobs, but I don't want to play Elder Scrolls with other people.  There are plenty of other games for that.

FIRMLY OPPOSED. 

You know, if they could make it work, then an Elder Scrolls style MMO could probably be amazing.

Though maybe MMO wouldn't be the way to go. The game worlds, as large as they are, wouldn't be enough to hold hundreds of people without getting crowded. So maybe servers for 20-50 players? I don't know; like I said it's all if they could get it to work.

Keep your multiplayer the fuck out of my Elder scrolls, if you did add it in any way at all MAYBE like an arena or something (like oblivion's just pvp). That's it though.

Borderlands works as a multiplayer game because its fundamentally Diablo: The FPS. The way that ES is set up doesn't lend itself well to co-op, there are rarely groups of enemies that would require a group to take on, or properly built gameplay environments. If its an MMO that would tickle one's fancy, what attachment does the ES series offer? Its not like the lore is super fabulous, you could go to one of the other generic fantasy MMOs available. I'm not against the idea of a ES experience, but why would anyone want it?

I say the same thing about fallout. It wouldn't effect the single player, like all the wussies claim. Drop in drop out at least 2 player would be fine.  
It'll happen with the next one I bet. Be it Fallout or ES they will take the plunge finally. Regardless if the loner single player people cry and pull out their hair, a hell of a lot more people like to play games with people.

As Badhands said, an arena would be pretty cool.  You could spectate fights and bet. No dragon shouts though. 
You could arrange fights for a certain time, or just join someone wanting to fight. To prevent boosting the fights should be random and you can not communicate with the other fighter until after the fight, no mics or chat rooms.

I dont enjoy playing games with other people, they bother me.

I'm happy with the Elder Scrolls series staying single player. Multiplayer doesn't need to be in everything.

Open world jank AND multiplayer jank?

You know, it wouldn't even need to have co-op multiplayer. The quests don't exactly lend themselves to group assignments. I'm just thinking about randomly running into a guy in the woods or a dungeon doing his own thing. Kind of like Journey, I guess. Only with 80% more griefing.

It would also be nice to show off the badass character you made without needing to post a screenshot on Tesnexus.

No. That'd probably be pretty cool.

 It would be great to play with friends in an Elder Scrolls game. Pillaging towns, going on adventures and shit. I'm all for it. 

This is something I was thinking about recently. I used to groan at the idea, whenever I saw it suggested in forums. The massive open world experience of Elder Scrolls just never seemed to lend itself well to multiplayer in my mind. However, in a world where Borderlands exists, and is quite awesome as a multiplayer game, I am willing to reconsider my opinion on this subject. I`m not saying it would have to be a numbered entry in the main series, I just think it could be interesting to have some sort of multiplayer game in the Elder Scrolls series. Does anyone else want to see this? What gameplay mechanics would they have to change to make it work?

When they can ship a single player game without a truck-load of bugs -- then they can add a multiplayer aspect.  They can't though, because of the scope of the games they make.  So if they were to add MP it would either break the game further or they would have to reduce scope.  Both of those options are way worse than the payoff.

@nintendoeats said:

Open world jank AND multiplayer jank?

Sounds like a great time to me.

I've always wanted a very simple drop-in multiplayer sort of like how it's handled in Saint's Row. Basically both players are playing their own story but within the same game. I don't think it would ruin the game in any capacity really.

When they can ship a single player game without a truck-load of bugs -- then they can add a multiplayer aspect.  They can't though, because of the scope of the games they make.  So if they were to add MP it would either break the game further or they would have to reduce scope.  Both of those options are way worse than the payoff.

Isn't there a multiplayer Oblivion mod?

The only sort of multiplayer I would be okay with is co op and even that is pushing it...

FIRMLY OPPOSED. 

Those games I enjoy the feeling of solitude, especially in Skyrim where I'll need to hike giant mountains to reach distant dungeons. That's something I want to do alone in a dark room. It would be cool if they had optional survival stuff ala Fallout New Vegas.

I'm still quite opposed, yes. Co-op inherently changes the game, makes massive design changes. You mention Borderlands but think about that game... little story, bland missions, more about loot than exploration. That is not what I want from TES.

No, with one exception: I would like to be able to interact with people in cities, like.. put an auction house in there or something, but let the gameplay part still be singleplayer. I can see it being fun to travel to cities full of people who share stories and fight in arenas.. that would be great.

Edit: I love the way it is realised in Demon's Souls, that would also be fantastic.. without invasions though.

Sounds great if it was just put in to let you fuck around and break the game. 

Leave singleplayer games alone!!

id like to see a multiplayer in skyrim for 2 reasons. 
 
first, ANYTHING that upsets or annoys the so call hardcore that thinks gaming belongs to them is great imo.  
 
and second i think playing it coop with my buddy would be great. 

I wan't none of that multiplayer filth in my Elder Scroll.

No, I do not want multiplayer in my Elder Scrolls. 
 
I don't know why there's such an obsession with adding multiplayer to everything nowadays. Some games are meant to be single player.

There is no need for multiplayer in Skyrim, I hate when games like this get multiplayer when they clearly don't need it.

I like the feeling of solitude in these games but whatever, I'd be up for trying co-op. It'd be especially nice if it was the type of co-op where you could go off and do whatever you want and only come together when you need to. 
 
No one's played Skyrim, so I don't know anyone who can definitively say it would ruin anything. 

Borderlands works as a multiplayer game because its fundamentally Diablo: The FPS. The way that ES is set up doesn't lend itself well to co-op, there are rarely groups of enemies that would require a group to take on, or properly built gameplay environments. If its an MMO that would tickle one's fancy, what attachment does the ES series offer? Its not like the lore is super fabulous, you could go to one of the other generic fantasy MMOs available. I'm not against the idea of a ES experience, but why would anyone want it?

Once they make a single player game out of all the provinces in the game, there's still like 4 of them left.   Then i wouldn't be opposed to some sort of MMO because by then it'll be like 2020.

No, I hate playing games with other people. Fighting games excepted, of course.

How about Demon's Souls-style "indirect" multiplayer?

Leaving messages or maybe have some kind of marketplace where you can buy and sell stuff to other people.

Maybe even have some sidequests which change depending on other peoples games, in some way.

@MaFoLu: Oh wow, you almost copied what I wrote. ;)

@emem: Hah, great minds think alike?

I think their sole purpose is total immersion for the player, and turning the game into and MMO would kill it.

PvP arena.

No, as much as I want a New MMO that is good, No, leave my Elder Scrolls alone, games like this are supposed to be played in the dark ALONE while you suddenly realize you've been in this dark room with no food or bathroom breaks for weeks.