Bethesda’s latest offering, Starfield, has joined the illustrious ranks of Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. With such renowned company, there were sky-high expectations surrounding its release, especially given the lengthy and delayed development it underwent—a situation that The Elder Scrolls 6 is facing as well. While Starfield ushers players into a fresh universe of space exploration, some fans feel it falls short of Bethesda’s grand promises, unable to quite match the hype that surrounded it.
The Elder Scrolls series stands out as one of Bethesda’s flagship franchises, with Skyrim being a hallmark of its success and one of the top-selling games ever. Eager fans have been on tenterhooks for news about The Elder Scrolls 6 for nearly a decade. Given some of the stumbles with Starfield, there’s a sense of hesitancy about what The Elder Scrolls 6 might deliver. However, if Bethesda can take a reflective approach, learning from the Starfield experience, and gives ample time before unveiling The Elder Scrolls 6, the company has the opportunity to dodge the pitfalls encountered with Starfield.
The anticipation surrounding The Elder Scrolls 6 is palpable, with fans hopeful it sidesteps the challenges faced during Starfield’s journey. Thanks to its established legacy, The Elder Scrolls 6 doesn’t have the same tumultuous development history, like the reboots Starfield endured. This stable ground sets the stage for a smoother development process and a finished game that ideally lines up with what players expect.
Bethesda’s experience with Starfield should serve as a valuable lesson as they pivot focus towards The Elder Scrolls 6. The studio should refrain from revealing or setting a release date until they’re completely certain of delivering a product that aligns with or surpasses player expectations. Given the lengthy development timeline, this assurance is critical.
A prevailing trend within the AAA gaming space is announcing new games only a few months ahead of their release. This strategy allows developers to ensure most elements are finalized, reducing the risk of over-promising features that might not materialize in the final product. Game development often involves cutting content, and revealing information prematurely can lead to a mismatch between player expectations and reality.
Instead of rushing to appease fans restless since 2011 for the next installment, Bethesda would be wise to take the necessary time to ensure The Elder Scrolls 6 is charted on the right course. This may mean holding off on any official proclamation about its status a while longer. Yet, the payoff of delivering a game that meets or exceeds expectations will justify the patience of those who’ve eagerly waited over a decade for news from one of the most cherished franchises in the gaming world.
