Summary
The Elder Scrolls 6is likely still a bit far away, as even though the game was officially announced back in 2017, no release date has been revealed. That said, whenever the game does release, it will need to be animprovement over previousElder Scrollsgames, bringing the franchise into the modern era and competing with the RPGs that have been launched in the wake ofSkyrim.
Many have argued that this sort of modernization and evolution is something that Bethesda failed to achieve withStarfield. Though the long-awaited interstellar epic does a lot right, it has been criticized for its lack of innovation, not just when compared to other contemporary titles, but within Bethesda Game Studios' own catalog of RPGs. The space opera is certainly better looking than the BGS games that came before it, but not much was done to alter the fundamental game design staples that the studio has been engaging with since the days ofFallout 3andOblivion, with elements like quest design, exploration, and progression feeling a bit too familiar. Bethesda should aim to avoid similar issues when developingThe Elder Scrolls 6.
Bethesda Game Studios Needs to Evolve Its RPG Formula With The Elder Scrolls 6
Combat Should See Some Improvement in Elder Scrolls 6
Although more recent releases likeFallout 4andStarfieldimprove Bethesda’s brand of combat, squaring off against enemies has never been these games' strong suit.Oblivion,Skyrim, andThe Elder Scrolls Onlineall have essentially the same combat mechanics, ones that are built around stats and progression rather than skill or moment-to-moment action. For instance, melee combat inStarfieldis mostly the same as it is inSkyrim, resulting in battles of attrition that don’t significantly reward skills like reaction speed or positioning.
Though there has always beencriticism of combat inThe Elder ScrollsandFallout, most players accept the shallow mechanics as part of the experience, as aspects like narrative and exploration are considered more important. However, contemporary RPGs likeElden Ring,The Witcher, andLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealthprove that a game can have great combat without compromising those other aspects, soThe Elder Scrolls 6ought to get more competitive when it comes to actual combat mechanics and skill-based gameplay.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Should Approach Story and Character Differently
Starfieldcontinues a protagonist framework thatThe Elder Scrollshas stood by for several entries, with the player-created character fitting into the “chosen one” archetype. This facilitates epic storytelling, allowing for the establishment of high stakes from the get-go, but it also leads to plots that are at-times by-the-numbers or even nonsensical. For instance,Fallout,The Elder Scrolls, andStarfieldall position the player-character as morally upright and decent while presenting opportunities for the player to commit immoral, indecent acts that don’t have much bearing on the narrative. This can result in side content like theDark Brotherhood questlines inElder Scrollsgamesfeeling a bit toothless, offering a surface-level depiction of evil that is self-contained and at odds with the main story. By making a few key changes to long-standing approaches to main quests, side content, and general narrative framing, Bethesda Game Studios can further improve its fantasy storytelling inThe Elder Scrolls 6.
The fantastic atmosphere andworldbuilding ofStarfieldhelp it feel unique, and the game is great in many other areas as well, but there is some truth to the arguments that it is only superficially different from previous Bethesda Game Studios releases in terms of design. While many long-timefans are looking forward to seeing the return of the studio’s fantasy RPG series withThe Elder Scrolls 6,Starfieldproves that Bethesda should prioritize innovation, making bold, fundamental changes to gameplay, structure, and narrative.
