In a shocking revelation, a former boss of Elder Scrolls Online has come forward with a startling claim that he was told in 2001 that there's already enough MMOs out there, and no one is ever gonna play a new one.

The claim was made by Paul Sage, who was the game director of Elder Scrolls Online from 2013 to 2017. In an interview with Kotaku, Sage revealed that he was told this by a veteran game developer who had been working in the industry for over a decade.

"I was told by a guy who had been working in the industry for over 10 years that there's already enough MMOs out there, and no one is ever gonna play a new one," Sage said. "And I remember thinking, 'That's a pretty bleak assessment.' But at the time, I didn't think much of it."

Fast forward to 2014, when Bethesda Softworks announced that it was working on a new Elder Scrolls MMO. The game was set to be released in 2015, but it was delayed several times and eventually released as an MMORPG in 2014.

The game received mixed reviews from critics and players, with some praising its rich storyline and engaging gameplay, while others criticized its lack of endgame content and poor optimization.

Despite the challenges, the game's development team continued to work on new content and updates, including the addition of a new PvP mode and a revamp of the game's character creation system.

"We took a lot of the feedback from the community and used it to make significant changes to the game," Sage said. "I'm really proud of what we accomplished."

However, the game's struggles continued, and in 2017, Bethesda announced that it would be shifting its focus to console gaming.

"The PC market is a very different beast compared to console," Sage said. "It's a lot harder to get people to play on PC, and it's a lot more expensive to develop for."

Today, Elder Scrolls Online is still active, although it's not as popular as it once was. The game's developers continue to work on new content and updates, including the addition of a new DLC pack.

As for Sage, he's moved on to other projects, including a new MMO called "Echoes of Eternity." The game is currently in development and promises to offer a unique blend of exploration, combat, and role-playing.

"I'm really excited about the project," Sage said. "It's a much smaller team, but we're all very passionate about it."

The claim made by Sage raises questions about the viability of MMOs in today's gaming market. With the rise of live service games and battle royals, it's possible that the MMO market is becoming increasingly saturated.

However, many game developers and players continue to believe in the genre, and new MMOs are still being released regularly.

As Sage said, "There's still a place for MMOs in the market. It's just a matter of finding the right formula."

The Elder Scrolls Online is a great example of an MMO that has managed to adapt and thrive in a changing market. While it may not be as popular as it once was, it still has a dedicated community and continues to receive updates and new content.

As for Sage's claim that no one is ever gonna play a new MMO, only time will tell if it's true. However, it's clear that the genre is still beloved by many, and new MMOs are still being released regularly.

In the end, it's up to game developers and publishers to find the right formula and make the next great MMO.