Why Bethesda Isn’t Using Unreal Engine 5 for Elder Scrolls 6 Revealed

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The secretive reveal of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered left many in awe, but its striking graphical quality truly took everyone by surprise. To be honest, Bethesda and Virtuos Studios hit a home run with this game’s updated visuals, and the impressive results wouldn’t have been attainable without the advanced capabilities of Unreal Engine 5.

The highly-acclaimed Unreal Engine 5 is known for its ability to create incredibly realistic and ambitious games. Given the impressive work Bethesda demonstrated in the remastered version of Oblivion, some are left pondering why they haven’t applied the same upgrade to Elder Scrolls 6. Yet, there’s a valid explanation as to why Bethesda hasn’t yet fully explored this possibility.

This is why Elder Scrolls 6 won’t use Unreal Engine 5





Recently, VideoGamer had a conversation with Bruce Nesmith, a former developer at Bethesda, about their ongoing use of the Creation Engine. For those who might not know, Nesmith was one of the initial designers for games like Oblivion, Skyrim, and other renowned titles from Bethesda.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve noticed a trend among significant game developers switching to Unreal Engine 5 and leaving their in-house tools behind. Looking at the success of Oblivion Remastered, one could argue that Bethesda should adopt Unreal Engine 5 for all future projects. Yet, for Bethesda, making such a transition isn’t straightforward.

It’s important to note that just because we can point out a lot of poor quality games using the Unreal engine, it doesn’t mean that the Unreal engine itself is at fault. Instead, it’s often the developers who create these subpar games.

Nesmith emphasizes that it’s not just about the game engine; what truly matters is the game’s quality. The focus should be more on crafting a high-quality title rather than solely on the engine itself. It’s important to note that even top-tier engines like Unreal can produce low-quality games, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the fault lies with the engine.

Nesmith is of the opinion that transitioning to Unreal Engine 5 would be a significant undertaking for Bethesda, especially for a game like Elder Scrolls 6. This process would entail numerous years of technical labor, substantial financial investments, and an increase in workforce. Migrating to Unreal might address some technical glitches within the developer’s games, but such concerns are overshadowed by the priority of delivering high-quality gameplay.

Unreal Engine 5 should be Bethesda’s top priority

Despite Nesmith’s argument regarding game quality, it remains undeniable that Bethesda’s titles often seem outdated compared to modern standards. Since the launch of Skyrim in 2011, Todd Howard and his team have primarily relied on the Creation Engine, which appears to be a remnant of an earlier era in gaming.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve found myself diving into the immersive world of Starfield, only to realize that despite the developer upgrading their in-house engine, the same old bugs and issues that have plagued Bethesda games for the past decade persist.

The Creation Engine, the initial version itself, inherited problems that stemmed from its roots in the Gamebryo engine. This engine was instrumental in creating games like Fallout 3 and the original Oblivion.

Several former Bethesda staff members think it’s advantageous for Bethesda to abandon their current engine, the Creation Engine, and opt for the Unreal Engine 5 in future projects. As discussed with Kiwi Talkz, ex-Bethesda employee Nate Purkeypile suggested this shift to improve development efficiency.

As a dedicated fan, I’ve pondered over the evolution of Starfield and shared insights about how an excessive amount of time was invested in enhancing its animation and rendering systems because of the shift to Creation Engine 2. Although this could prove advantageous for upcoming games like The Elder Scrolls 6, it’s crucial to acknowledge and address lingering engine issues that still need attention.

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2025-05-19 21:33