ZeniMax Online's Elder Scrolls Online remains a popular destination for fans of the Elder Scrolls series, but despite the game's enduring popularity, there is a very common issue that still annoys much of the fanbase: its inventory management. Unfortunately, it is a problem that is impossible for any player to ignore because it lies in one of the game's key functions. Players must navigate to the inventory on a regular basis, and it can lead to a frustrating experience.
The inventory, summoned through a hotkey, will appear on the right side of the screen and list the player's current collection of items. In a departure from the series norm, items do not have weight, and instead take up a single slot, with the exception of things such as Elder Scrolls Online's crafting materials, which can be stacked. In essence, this means that a dagger will become as cumbersome as a steel breastplate and vice versa. In place of the encumbrance mechanic, players will instead be unable to pick up new items if their inventory is full, making exploration less fun than it should be.
The hard inventory limit actually leads to the first problem with the new inventory system. Players begin with 60 inventory slots and 60 storage slots in the game's bank, and those who like to explore a lot will likely fill those slots rather quickly. To make matters worse, if a quest in Elder Scrolls Online's story would reward an item, players with full inventories would be unable to complete them until they get rid of something to make room for the reward. Inventory space can be increased, but players must buy increasingly expensive bags to do so. There is also the option to buy a horse or join a guild, but that still involves an investment that may irk players who are lacking in gold.
Elder Scrolls Online's Inventory Is Made Worse By Glitches
Matters are not helped by several glitches that have appeared regarding the inventory system over the course of the game's history. Among them are items not disappearing from the inventory after being sold, the inventory becoming impossible to scroll through, and the wrong items accidentally being sold at the shop. The glitch that prevents players from scrolling can also affect the crafting bag, and considering that the crafting bag is obtained through paying for Elder Scrolls Online's ESO Plus subscription, that can be especially disappointing.
The inventory system isn't irredeemable, and there are a few good points that could be built off of. The stacking of crafting materials is good, as well as the aforementioned crafting bag with its massive amount of storage space. In addition, many items that are required for undertaking quests do not take up an inventory slot, lightly easing the burden. ZeniMax Online should embrace these sorts of quality of life improvements and expand on them to make the game's inventory easier to manage. For one, they could expand the crafting materials' item stacking ability to all items. Making separate pockets for different types of items, such as Elder Scrolls weapons and armor, could also go a long way towards easing the use of the system.
Elder Scrolls Online remains a good game that provides a lot of entertainment, but the inventory system continues to frustrate its players. However, if ZeniMax takes more steps forward in streamlining the system and making it more accessible with future updates, then these problems should be rendered insignificant. Once they reach that point, adventurers can feel comfortable spending more time exploring Tamriel as opposed to just struggling with their backpacks.