The Elder Scrolls Online: Skyrim MMO or World of Warcraft clone?

Bethesda's just dropped a bombshell. There have been rumours flitting about the web for a while now that the makers of Skyrim and Fallout 3 are working on a massively multiplayer online version of the Elder Scrolls universe, and now it's official. Thing is, with the details we have, is it the life-sapping game you've been longing for, or just another fantasy MMO? Read on to make your own judgement.

The Elder Scrolls Online is set for launch at some point in 2013, and will offer you an online multiplayer version of the worlds and eras found in Skyrim, Oblivion and Mirrowind. There'll be randomly generated quests, a raft of different races and factions to choose from, player-versus-player action and battles with hundreds of players all at the same time.

Sounds amazing, but the released details also smack of compromise. You just can't build a game as in-depth as Skyrim and invite millions of people into it. For example, certain areas will be blocked off until you've leveled up enough to access them. You won't be able to buy houses, you'll be locked into a third-person view and the battle system isn't real-time – it involves hotbars and cooldown times.

So… It's basically World of Warcraft? Bethesda has admitted that it's making these tweaks to allow newcomers to feel at home, rather than building up a barrier that only die-hard Elder Scrolls users can penetrate. But is that wise?

It's not all bad. Bethesda is implementing some cool features alongside the compromise – like the ability to conquer the Imperial City and make someone emperor, and the fact that some dungeons will be open and publicly available to plunder. Still, MMO Skyrim, this is not.