The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) operates under a Buy-to-Play model, granting players access to the base game upon purchase, with optional ongoing costs. A central component of this model is the Crown Store, an in-game digital marketplace. While the user's search query specifically requested "all free stuff in crown store," the provided source material does not contain any information regarding free samples, promotional offers, no-cost product trials, brand freebies, or mail-in sample programmes. The sources focus exclusively on the structure, currency, and content available for purchase within the Crown Store. Consequently, this article will provide a detailed overview of the Crown Store's mechanics, available content types, and purchasing options as derived from the official and third-party documentation provided.
The Crown Store: An Overview
The Crown Store is an integral feature accessible within the Elder Scrolls Online game client. It was introduced with the launch of ESO: Tamriel Unlimited, which transitioned the game to a Buy-to-Play model on 17th March 2015 for PC and Mac. Under this model, players purchase the game once and can play indefinitely without mandatory monthly subscription fees. However, access to the full breadth of the game's content and items is not guaranteed without additional expenditure.
The store is designed to offer optional items and content that enhance the gameplay experience but are not required for competitiveness. Developers have explicitly stated that the Crown Store will not sell "Pay-to-Win" items, meaning no items provide a significant advantage that makes players stronger than others. Despite this, the documentation acknowledges that playing without the content available in the Crown Store may be more difficult. For instance, some of the most interesting and rewarding dungeons may be locked behind DLC purchases.
All content and items purchased from the Crown Store are bound to the specific account and cannot be sold or traded to other players. This restriction applies to all digital goods acquired through the store.
Crown Store Currency: Crowns
To make any purchase in the Crown Store, players require a special currency called Crowns. Crowns are distinct from the standard in-game gold currency, which players can find, loot, and trade. Key characteristics of Crowns include:
- Acquisition: Crowns cannot be found or looted within the game world. They are obtained through real-world monetary transactions or as a benefit of the ESO Plus subscription.
- ESO Plus Subscription: ESO Plus is an optional monthly subscription service. Subscribers receive 1,500 Crowns for each 30-day period of their membership. A crucial detail is that any Crowns earned through an ESO Plus subscription remain with the player's account even if the subscription is cancelled. All other items, rewards, and achievements earned during the subscription period are also retained.
- Non-Transferable: Crowns cannot be transferred to other players or traded in-game. They are a personal currency tied to the account.
Types of Content Available in the Crown Store
The Crown Store is categorised into several sections, offering a wide array of digital items. Based on the provided sources, the available content can be grouped as follows:
Downloadable Content (DLC)
DLCs are game packs that add optional adventuring content to the base game. This includes new zones, quests, dungeons, and storylines. The documentation confirms that all purchased DLCs remain permanently with the player's account. The Crown Store organises DLCs into thematic "Years" or "Seasons," such as: * Year One * Year Two * Year Three * Season of the Dragon * Dark Heart of Skyrim * Gates of Oblivion * Legacy of the Bretons * Shadow Over Morrowind * Seasons of the Worm Cult
Customisation and Convenience Items
These are items designed to alter or improve the player's experience without affecting competitive balance. They include: * Pets and Mounts: Cosmetic companions and transport. * Assistants: Non-combat NPCs that provide services like banking or merchant access. * Character Slots: Additional slots to create more characters on the account. * Armory Slots: Slots for saving character builds. * Class Upgrades: The term "Class" appears in the list of upgrades, though the specific nature is not detailed in the source text.
Crown Crates
Crown Crates are a lottery-style system where players purchase a crate for a set number of Crowns to receive a random selection of items. The sources list a vast number of Crown Crates, organised into tiers of rarity, including: * Radiant Apex Rewards * Apex Rewards * Legendary Rewards * Epic Rewards * Superior Rewards * Fine Rewards * Common Rewards Specific crate types mentioned include Moons Over Orsinium Crates and Psijic Vault Crates.
Companions
A separate category for companion-related items, which are likely cosmetic or functional additions related to the companion system introduced in later updates.
Quest Starters
These items likely trigger specific in-game quests or events, providing access to unique story content.
Special Offers and ESO Plus Deals
The Crown Store features sections for limited-time offers, special promotions, and deals specifically for ESO Plus subscribers. These sections are dynamic and change over time.
Accessing and Using the Crown Store
Players can open the Crown Store directly from within the game client. The store is automatically updated and should reflect the items available on the official Elder Scrolls Online website. Third-party resources, such as ESO Hub, provide a library of all available Crown Store items and Crown Crates, often indicating an item's current availability status through tags.
It is important to note that all content purchased in the Crown Store is for use by the purchasing account's characters only. The inability to trade these items reinforces the store's design as a personal enhancement system rather than an in-game economy driver.
Evaluating the Crown Store's Role
The Crown Store operates as a supplementary revenue stream within the Buy-to-Play model. It allows players to access additional content and cosmetic items beyond the base game purchase. The system is structured to avoid a "Pay-to-Win" environment, focusing on optional enhancements. However, the documentation indicates a practical reality: while competitive play is possible without Crown Store purchases, accessing the full suite of high-end, rewarding content, such as certain dungeons, typically requires purchasing the relevant DLCs.
The ESO Plus subscription offers a bundled approach, providing access to all current DLCs for the duration of the subscription, alongside the monthly Crown stipend and other benefits like an infinite crafting bag. This makes it a popular choice for players who regularly engage with new content.
Conclusion
The Elder Scrolls Online Crown Store is a dedicated in-game marketplace for purchasing digital content and items using the premium currency, Crowns. It is a core component of the game's Buy-to-Play economic model, offering a wide range of DLCs, customisation items, convenience features, and randomised Crown Crates. All purchases are account-bound and cannot be traded. While the store offers no free samples or promotional trials as per the initial search query, it provides a structured system for players to enhance their game experience through optional, permanent purchases. The availability of Crowns via the ESO Plus subscription offers a method for players to accumulate currency for these purchases over time.