Starfield’s Skyrim-Length Life Means Bethesda Must Nail Formula for TES 6

Starfield's Skyrim-Length Life Means Bethesda Must Nail Formula for TES 6

As a long-time fan of Bethesda’s games, I find myself both thrilled and cautiously optimistic about the studio’s commitment to supporting Starfield. On one hand, the continued updates and expansions are a testament to their dedication to their fans and the potential that Starfield holds. On the other hand, I can’t help but worry that this focus on Starfield might inadvertently delay or compromise the development of The Elder Scrolls 6.


As an ardent fan, I’ve been thrilled to see Bethesda Game Studios’ unwavering commitment to my favorite space RPG, Starfield, despite its varied reception at launch. Just recently, the team added a long-awaited feature that fans have been clamoring for years. At Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, Bethesda showcased the REV-8, a new land vehicle, finally enabling us to traverse planets without lengthy walks. On top of this rover, they’re also set to release the Shattered Space expansion for Starfield later this month, enriching the game with a fresh planet, various enemy factions, points of interest, weapons, and exotic alien creatures.

As a fervent gamer, I’m thrilled to share that my excitement for Bethesda’s upcoming masterpiece, Starfield, doesn’t seem to be waning anytime soon. In an exclusive chat with TheGamer, the lead creative producer of Starfield, Tim Lamb, hinted at Bethesda’s intention to keep nurturing this game for a prolonged period. Comparing it to their extended support for Skyrim and other titles, he suggested there are more significant chapters in Starfield yet to be written.

Bethesda’s Long-Term Starfield Support Should Aid, Not Hinder The Elder Scrolls 6’s Development

The Elder Scrolls 6 is Still Years Away, Meaning It Will Likely Have to Appeal to New Gamers

The brief teaser trailer for The Elder Scrolls 6 has garnered a certain level of notoriety within the TES community due to the prolonged gap since its initial announcement at E3 2018. While Bethesda hasn’t offered any gameplay glimpses as of 2024, given that the long-awaited sequel to Skyrim only recently entered full production late last year, fans may need to exercise patience for more details about The Elder Scrolls 6 from both Bethesda and Xbox.

It’s been quite some time since Bethesda releases new games, suggesting that “The Elder Scrolls 6” might not hit shelves until the late 2020s. If we’re lucky and it arrives as early as 2026 or 2027, it would be over a decade after “Skyrim” was released in 2011. Given this significant gap, it seems that “The Elder Scrolls 6” will need to attract not just devoted fans but also a new generation of gamers. To do this effectively, Bethesda should strive to make “TES 6” an exceptional game to win over newcomers, rather than repeating the mistakes made during the launch of “Starfield”.

Starfield Was Met With Various Criticisms Upon Its Release

At its launch, Starfield faced criticism from several quarters due to design choices that some felt contradicted the classic gameplay style fans had grown accustomed to from Bethesda. For one, the sci-fi RPG was criticized for its exploration elements generated procedurally, which some deemed a step down compared to games like Fallout 3 and Skyrim. Moreover, the game’s story, stealth systems, base-building mechanics, and main questline were also frequently criticized.

The Feedback from Starfield and Its Post-Launch Support Should Be Applied to The Elder Scrolls 6

Considering the feedback garnered from Starfield and its subsequent updates, it would be wise for Bethesda to apply these learnings to perfect The Elder Scrolls 6 while faithfully preserving the series’ traditional elements. Given the long-standing anticipation for TES 6 among gamers, it is crucial that Bethesda delivers an unforgettable experience from the get-go. Post-release enhancements for The Elder Scrolls 6 are certainly appreciated; however, they should not monopolize development resources to the extent that it extends the wait for their future projects.

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2024-09-11 13:04