Different games, same fight. Fans of GTA VI and of The Elder Scrolls VI are in substantially similar boats. Notable difference, their studios. While Rockstar never communicates, or almost. Bethesda tends to say too much. And while six years have already passed since the announcement of THES VI At E3 2018, Bethesda is back with an announcement that will not reassure players.
The Long Wait The Elder Scrolls VI
Arena, Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls has been bringing together for over 30 years. But with its fifth opus, released in 2011, the franchise became legendary. Many studios wanted their Skyrim. Same problem for many players, eager to rediscover the same sensations as their beginnings in Skyrim. Bethesda took advantage of the success of its game to monetize it as it should, with three DLCs, Dawnguard, Hearthfire et Dragonborna remastered edition in 2016, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Special Editionand an anniversary edition, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Anniversary Editionin 2021.
But Skyrim, RPG lovers have visited it extensively. And this despite the three DLCs, additional quests and mods. The rest is long overdue. The future of the franchise was finally announced in 2018, at E3. The great mass of video games was undoubtedly the perfect place for such an announcement. A short teaser of just a few seconds, with a title: The Elder Scrolls VI. From ? Nothing. An announcement that undoubtedly lacked restraint (Todd Howard admits it himself), Bethesda having had to focus on Starfieldhis space RPG, since then and until its release in September 2023.
Starfield disappointment fuels fears about the future of The Elder Scrolls
More Starfield did not live up to players’ expectations, just like its DLC, Shattered Spacereleased this September 30, 2024. While fans of this title with great potential are now waiting for Bethesda to correct its many problems, what about the future? In an interview given to GamesRadar on the occasion of the release of Shattered SpaceEmil Pagliarulo, design director at Bethesda, focused on Starfieldincluding what his creation had learned at the studio and whether he thought it would carry over into future projects.
“Fans really, really, really want Elder Scrolls 6.” It’s a fact, and even more so since the premature announcement in 2018 followed by the lack of communication. But before we can lay our hands on The Elder Scrolls VIBethesda needs to offer us more Starfield. This is where GamesRadar asks Pagliarulo what he thinks about the future of this space action game:
“Oh, I’m very happy with the future of Starfield. I’m very excited about what we’re working on now and what’s next. And it’s amazing what our mod community has already accomplished. I think we’re getting to the point where Starfield transcends its status as a game and becomes a sort of platform for science fiction and space content. I mean I expected the mod community to produce things. But not at the speed at which they do it. It’s impressive. Inspiring. It’s everything I hoped for.”
Only, this response from Bethesda disappointed more than one player.
Players fearful for the future of Bethesda productions
On Reddit, in response to sharing the interview with GamesRadar, the most popular comment, with more than 4,000 likes, does not hide its fears about what comes next:
“TAll this only makes me worry about the ES 6. This is not the lesson we can learn from Starfield. If this is their main lesson, it means they are likely to repeat the same mistakes.
On the other hand, they focus on mods. Yes mods are important but I want the base game to be great and the mod scene to add to it. But as with Starfield, I think they see mods as a way to fix their game.“
This opinion, widely shared among players, suggests an undisguised fear. “I’ve been so excited for ES6 for so long and have been disappointed by Bethesda so many times that I honestly don’t even want it anymore. I’d rather the series die with its dignity than be executed by Bethesda.” explains another Internet user. “I want a game that I don’t think Bethesda can make anymore.” shares a third.
last lap and then leaves?
Bethesda has been disappointing for several years now. Fallout 76, Starfieldthe latest big productions from Bethesda Game Studios struggle to convince. Although Fallout 76 or in a much better condition than at launch, its redemption took a long time. Despite everything, with time, and above all resources, it is possible. Of Diablo IIIThen Diablo IVhas No Man’s Skypassing through Fallout 76examples of redemption accumulate over the years.
Starfield will he have the right to a mea culpa? Likely. The game sold well, despite receiving mixed reviews. Bethesda therefore has the resources to allocate a team to improving the title, when the studio is now focusing on The Elder Scrolls VI. Only, repeated bad decisions have crumbled the players’ confidence. And with the immense anticipation aroused by the continuation of the franchise, it is possible that Bethesda no longer has the right to make mistakes. THES VI will sell by the millions, that’s a certainty. Let’s just hope that the launch is less chaotic than the last productions. In any case, that’s what we hope for them; losing such a video game monument would be absolutely sad.
Source: hitek.fr
