difficulty options Archives

AppWizard

March 31, 2026

The first Elder Scrolls Online season is upon us, but I’m already more excited for the second

The Elder Scrolls Online is launching a new seasonal model starting with Season Zero on April 2, 2026. This model consists of approximately 90-day cycles, including Season Zero, Season One, and Season Two, with all seasonal content available for free to players who own the game. Season Zero will feature the Night Market, a limited-time event zone in the Daedric realm of Fargrave, available for seven weeks, where players can align with one of three NPC factions. The season will also introduce challenge difficulty options for overland experiences and improvements to combat, including a new test for the large-scale PvP mode, Vengeance. Season One will see the return of the Thieves Guild with new gameplay elements and dynamic world events. Additionally, a new base-game trial, the Crimson Veldt, will be introduced later in the year.

AppWizard

January 27, 2026

Instead of difficulty, Obsidian designer Josh Sawyer thinks in terms of 3 RPG player archetypes: ‘What are they trying to get out of this game?’

Josh Sawyer, design director at Obsidian, discussed the concept of difficulty in game design on his YouTube channel, emphasizing the need to understand player expectations rather than viewing difficulty as a fixed set of challenges. He highlighted the benefits of offering detailed difficulty settings, as some players desire granular modifications to enhance their gaming experience. Sawyer categorized RPG players into three types: adventurers, survivalists, and explorers, noting that each type has different motivations and preferences. He suggested starting with complex mechanics that can be simplified based on player preferences, using bullet drop mechanics as an example. Sawyer concluded that providing granular difficulty options is advantageous for both players and developers and committed to prioritizing this approach in future projects.