Ex Bethesda Dev Thinks Switching to Unreal Engine 5 Would Be Better

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Summary

  • Bethesda should consider switching to Unreal Engine 5 for future games due to ongoing issues with the Creation Engine, says ex-dev.
  • Some fans and a former artist believe the switch would improve game development and player experiences.
  • Despite potential drawbacks, such as performance issues with UE5, Bethesda’s decision remains uncertain for future titles.

As a long-time Bethesda fan with countless hours spent traversing the landscapes of Tamriel and the post-apocalyptic wasteland, I can’t help but feel a mix of anticipation and concern about the future of their game development. The ongoing issues with the Creation Engine, as highlighted by former artist Nate Purkeypile, are something that has been a persistent thorn in the side of Bethesda’s games for over a decade.

A previous employee from Bethesda believes it’s appropriate for the development team to begin creating games using Unreal Engine 5 rather than their in-house Creation Engine. This change could potentially offer benefits and drawbacks, but the former Bethesda developer has highlighted some internal challenges when working with the Creation Engine.

Since the launch of Skyrim in 2011, Bethesda has been relying on some variant of the Creation Engine. For Starfield, they moved to the Creation Engine 2, but many players criticized it, citing that long-standing bugs and problems from games dating back more than a decade were still present in Starfield. Even the original Creation Engine had carryovers from earlier versions, as it was constructed using the Gamebryo engine, which was also used to develop games like The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion and Fallout 3.

Currently on Kiwi Talkz, former Bethesda artist Nate Purkeypile shared his thoughts about the company’s future and proposed that a shift towards Unreal Engine 5 could be beneficial for Bethesda. Purkeypile played significant roles in games like Skyrim, Fallout series, and Starfield during his tenure at Bethesda. Having experience with both Creation Engine and Unreal Engine 5, he believes that making the switch would potentially improve their projects, as Halo is doing. Nevertheless, Purkeypile appears to harbor doubts about whether this transition will actually occur in reality.

Creation Engine vs Unreal Engine 5

In Starfield, Purkeypile acknowledges that a significant portion of the game’s development time was dedicated to refining the “rendering and animation systems,” a process that slowed down the release of the game due to the transition to Creation Engine 2, a first for Starfield. With Creation Engine 2 now complete, it could facilitate a smoother launch for Bethesda’s future titles. However, some persisting issues with Creation Engine 2 have been noted by fans, suggesting that further refinements are needed, which might delay progress again.

As a gamer myself, I’ve noticed that while Unreal Engine 5 holds the potential for mind-blowing graphics, some games developed using it, like Silent Hill 2, have been plagued with stutters and performance issues. It’s hard to pinpoint if these problems stem from the game coding or the engine itself. On the other hand, Starfield didn’t exactly wow everyone visually, but ensuring that every player can enjoy a smooth gaming experience, regardless of their hardware, is crucial. Companies like Bethesda, with a massive PC community thanks to its open modding scene, will probably prioritize not excluding gamers with less powerful rigs.

It’s quite possible that our current discussion might not matter much, since the next game from Bethesda may still be several years off. During this time, the Creation Engine could undergo significant upgrades or even be replaced by something completely new. By then, system requirements and performance with Unreal Engine 5 could significantly improve. As for what Bethesda decides to do, we’ll have to wait and see. Ideally, they’ll strike a balance that offers improved performance and a more contemporary gaming experience compared to what Starfield provided.

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2024-12-25 05:23