Matt Firor, the former director of The Elder Scrolls Online and ZeniMax Online Studios founder, recently revealed that comparing ESO to World of Warcraft remains a major frustration, warning that players who approach the game expecting a “WoW clone” will inevitably fail to enjoy the experience.
Why the “WoW Clone” Label Persists
In a candid interview with MinnMax host Ben Hanson, Firor admitted that the persistent labeling of ESO as a “WoW clone” still “gets under his skin.” The veteran developer, who departed ZeniMax after the cancellation of Project Blackbird in 2025, notes that early feedback for the game was often centered on the idea that it wasn’t enough like Blizzard’s flagship title. Firor rejects this characterization, arguing that while both are fantasy multiplayer games, the shared genre does not imply a direct copycat relationship.
“Is WoW a Dark Age of Camelot clone? No,” Firor argues, pointing to his long history in the industry, which includes producing Dark Age of Camelot in 2001 and working on titles like Silent Death Online and Aliens Online. He emphasizes that every MMO draws inspiration from its predecessors, but ESO was specifically built to deliver an Elder Scrolls experience in a multiplayer format, resulting in mechanical systems that function very differently from those found in Azeroth.
The Fundamental Difference in Gameplay
The core of Firor’s argument is that the design philosophy behind ESO is distinct from the power-progression loop that defines World of Warcraft. While he acknowledges that WoW is a “fantastic game”—noting it is his second-most played game of all time—he insists that the two titles serve different purposes. Community sentiment often aligns with this, with many players suggesting that ESO is best enjoyed for its narrative depth, while WoW caters to those seeking traditional power progression.
The Key to Enjoying Tamriel
Firor’s advice to new and returning players is straightforward: stop looking for a WoW experience. “If you sit down and play it like it’s a WoW clone, you’re not going to have fun at all,” he warns. “If you sit down and play it like an Elder Scrolls game, like Elder Scrolls Online, it’s a fantastic game.”
Despite his departure from the studio, Firor remains an active member of the community. He revealed that he still plays the MMO regularly, participating in guilds where his identity as the former director remains unknown to his fellow players.
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