The intro ofSkyrimhas reached unprecedented levels of infamy over the course of a decade, and now Todd Howard teases that Bethesda has known exactly howThe Elder Scrolls 6will open for a very long time. There’s been much speculation surrounding the nextElder Scrollsgame, and though it’s been over four years since the debut of its announcement trailer, fans still don’t even know where the sequel is supposed to take place. Whether it will end up inHigh Rock or Hammerfellremains to be seen, and Bethesda will no doubt remain tight-lipped about it untilStarfieldhas had its time in the limelight.
Though one could make the argumentThe Elder Scrolls 6was announced too early, Bethesda clearly has a very specific vision in mind forSkyrim’s successor. From tone and music, to the defining features of its gameplay, Todd Howard explains in a recent interview by Lex Fridman that the development team establishes these concepts early on.
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For some reason, during these early stages of conceptualization, Todd Howard admits to having a peculiar fixation on creating the right opening sequence. He escapes the role of game director for a moment, and puts himself into the role of a player, wondering what they might want to do or what they might expect from anElder Scrollsintro. The franchise has certainly had plenty of variance in that regard, fromMorrowind’s steady introduction on a boat headed for Vvardenfell, toOblivion’s prologue taking place in an escape from the Imperial Prison – if the opening forThe Elder Scrolls 6is to match its predecessors, it should ultimately have an intro that’s right for its setting.
In addition toThe Elder Scrolls 6, the podcast also covers theimpending release ofStarfield, and what players might expect from the upcoming Bethesda title. Despite being a brand-new intellectual property, the excitement forStarfieldis sky-high. Described as having a Nasapunk aesthetic,Starfieldseeks to escape a comparison withThe Elder ScrollsandFalloutgames, and to truly establish its own unique identity.
Though not related toThe Elder Scrolls 6, fans may still want to giveStarfielda look, as many of its ambitious features and additions are very likely tech that will bereused for the nextElder Scrollsgame. From environment art and fidelity, to character creation and bringing back roleplaying mechanics, there is a lot thatStarfieldoffers which might find its way toThe Elder Scrolls 6. Given Todd Howard’s tone in the interview, one thing is known for certain: Bethesda is quite confident inSkyrim’s successor, and that should be a very comforting thought forElder Scrollsfans.
The Elder Scrolls 6is currently in development.
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