About 989 days ago, Bethesda Games Studio released a 36 second trailer forThe Elder Scrolls 6. Unsurprisingly, this trailer excited many fans, but revealed very little about the upcoming title. As such, there are probably thousands of days left in its development cycle. Todd Howard has confirmed this in many interviews. While it may be a while off, this long development period could actually benefit the game in many ways.
There are many reasons thatThe Elder Scrolls 6likely has a long way to go. First, there are all of Bethesda’s current development projects, such asStarfield, which are likely set for release before theSkyrimsequel. Next, there is all of the cutting edge technology that the title apparently uses. Finally, Microsoft’s Bethesda acquisition could play massively into the game’s lengthy development time, alongside the massive ambitions the studio has for it.
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The Elder Scrolls 6 Comes Out After Starfield
Before anySkyrimsequel can come out,Starfieldneeds to release. This is the next big Bethesda open-world RPG, one with a more epic scale than any before it.Starfieldreportedly maps an entire open-world universe. Not even Bethesda’s MMORPGThe Elder Scrolls Onlinehas anything like this sort of size. As of the moment, fans know incredibly little aboutStarfield,apart from a scant few leaked screenshots and artwork.
So, what can theStarfieldleakstell aboutThe Elder Scrolls 6? Well, from the images already leaked, it is obvious that the game looks different compared to other Bethesda games. There are elements ofMass Effectand even the indieSpace Engineersin the game’s supposed aesthetics. These images also tell fans that the game is in an incredibly early stage of production, with incomplete textures and a lack of proper UI elements. Knowing thatStarfieldwill come out beforeThe Elder Scrolls 6, it is unsurprising that the game probably has many days left in development.
From Todd Howard’s interviews about the therelationship betweenStarfieldandThe Elder Scrolls 6, it seems incredibly likely thatStarfieldwill act as a sort of prototype for the sixthElder Scrollstitle. The two evidently share similar new open world technology. Starfieldis also the first title under Microsoft and Bethesda’s new merger, so it seems incredibly likely thatStarfieldis testing the waters for the next installment in its central franchise.
The Technology For Elder Scrolls 6 Isn’t Ready Yet
One of the reasonsStarfieldis coming out beforeThe Elder Scrolls 6is because both titles use the same core world generation system. According to Bethesda, both games will use the same procedural generation tools to forge their worlds. This is a technique Bethesda has used before, but not to anything like the scale these current projects require.
The wayThe Elder Scrolls 6’s world is being developed uses a lot of procedural generation. First, random generation seeds create a rough shape to the world. Procedural elements spiral off from this, sculpting a world that feels realistically random. After being roughly hewn by random procedures, the world then undergoes a lot of refining. Cities flourish. Caves wind towards civilization. Finally, a full world arrives.The Elder Scrolls 6’sprocedural generationis one of the central causes of its far-off release.
RELATED:The Elder Scrolls 6’s Procedural Generation Has Huge Implications For Its Map Size
Microsoft’s Bethesda Acquisition Powers The Game
It would be, of course, remiss to not mentionMicrosoft’s recent acquisition of Bethesdawhen considering why the nextElder Scrollstitle is a long way off. The duo are already knee deep in the creation of not justStarfield,but also the newIndiana Jonestitle from Machine Games. Todd Howard has direct executive producer input on this title, and it could be further into production thanThe Elder Scrolls 6.
Microsoft and Bethesda have stated that theIndiana Jonesgame will not delayThe Elder Scrolls 6’sdevelopment. However, it should be noted that a development cycle and release date are not as linked as one might think. Now that Bethesda is owned by the larger company, it joins a huge list of studios andgame franchises owned by Microsoft.
As such, its release schedule will likely change with Microsoft’s general release plans, Game Pass schedule, and several other factors. Both companies have confirmed that allBethesda games will be “first” on Xbox. Plus,StarfieldandThe Elder Scrolls 6will be available day one on Game Pass, which is a very powerful feather in Microsoft’s cap. As such, it seems likely that the sixth game’s release could be later due to Microsoft’s crowded release schedule.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Will Be Playable For Decades
While Microsoft’s input could cause further delays, it will be essential due to the game’s huge ambition. Obviously, any sequel toSkyrimhas a lot to live up to. ThebestSkyrimmodsare still massively popular now.Skyrim’spopularity means it makes perfect sense for its sequel to aim even higher.
For the first time sinceSkyrim, Bethesda’s signature game tool, the Creation engine, is undergoing a massive overhaul. This will allow for a much more detailed focus on NPCs and large, labyrinthian cities in the title.The cities ofThe Elder Scrollsare already incredible, and this entry into the series looks to improve that even further. Newer technology will allow for a more active, dynamically shifting set of civilizations inThe Elder Scrolls 6.WhileSkyrimstill holds up, its cities do feel empty relative to more contemporary titles.
Further to all of this speculation about the new engine and its capabilities are Todd Howard’s own words. In an interview with IGN, Todd Howard said that he wantsThe Elder Scrolls 6to be playable for 10 yearsat least.Skyrimhad its own playability tools like Radiant Quests, but most of its long life came as a result of mod support. If Bethesda are moving to design this new game with re-playability in mind, it could do absolute wonders for the game. If the gap betweenThe Elder Scrolls 6andSkyrimis anything to go by, Bethesda will need the decade of content before its next game.
