Summary
Bethesda’sThe Elder Scrollsseries is one of the most successful RPG franchises in gaming history, and the lifespan of its latest mainline installment,Skyrim, is proof of that. However, the series is also quite aged at this point, so it needs to continue adapting to current gaming trends to stay above the competition. One wayThe Elder Scrollscould accomplish that is by implementing several features fromStarfieldin its next installment,The Elder Scrolls 6.
With the announcement ofThe Elder Scrolls 6, many fans have wondered whether some of the distinct features of Bethesda’s latest IP,Starfield,will carry over to the next installment of their favorite RPG franchise. After all, there are plenty of noteworthy features inStarfieldthat could benefit anElder Scrollsgame, especially as the series is now around three decades old. At the same time, there are also a fewStarfieldfeaturesThe Elder Scrolls 6should avoid if it hopes to make a positive impression.
In-Depth Customization (Steal)
Customization goes a long way in video games, especially in modern gaming. Many gamers crave an in-depth amount of customization that allows them to personalize their experiences and become heavily immersed in them.Starfieldhas an enormous amount of customization that goes far beyond the character creator itself. Aside from character Traits and Backgrounds, which is a new feature to Bethesda’s character creation,Starfieldplayers can customize their own shipspiece by piece and even personalize their journey through the game by playing it as a story, a sandbox, or a mixture of the two.
It’s likelyThe Elder Scrolls 6will include customization to the extent ofStarfield’s, and it certainly should if Bethesda doesn’t already plan to implement it. While pastElder Scrollstitles have allowed players a decent level of customization, they have paled in comparison toStarfield’s. It goes without saying that players would not only leap at the thought of attributing innate characteristics likeTraits and Backgrounds to theirElder Scrolls 6charactersbut also at the thought of being allowed to customize other parts of their experience as well.
Loading Screens (Drop)
Loading screens are very common in Bethesda titles, but it’s high time that changes. Almost every transition inStarfieldis accompanied by a loading screen of some kind, and it has left most players agreeing that there are far too many. Glorified loading screens between shipsgrav jumping inStarfieldfrom one galaxy to the next makes sense, given the amount of time it would take players to manually travel between them. However, a loading screen when entering any building or ship tends to break immersion, and as Bethesda aimed to makeStarfieldan incredibly immersive experience, its countless loading screens are a tough pill to swallow.
It would be a nice change of pace to seeloading screens almost entirely absent in future Bethesda titles, as the developer designs its games with player immersion in mind. IfThe Elder Scrolls 6were to allow players to enter buildings and towns without a loading screen, it would surely earn high praise from critics and gamers. Unfortunately, it ultimately comes down to what the game’s engine allows, soThe Elder Scrolls 6may very well end up in the same boat asStarfield.
Outposts (Steal)
One ofStarfield’s best customization features is found in the ability it gives players to build custom outposts on any planet. There is certainly more that Bethesda could have done with outposts inStarfield, but the feature has stood the test of time, asplayers are still buildingStarfieldoutposts and sharing them online.
Implementing some sort of outpost-building feature inThe Elder Scrolls 6would be a win for the franchise. It’s difficult to picture what the mechanics would look like in such a drastically different game world, but it’s far from impossible to do. Perhaps players could build custom buildings and/or camps in the wilderness ofThe Elder Scrolls 6that they could call home. In any case, it’s a feature worth considering as Bethesda moves forward with the latestElder Scrollsinstallment.
Procedurally Generated Locations (Drop)
Procedural generation is rapidly becoming more common in video games, especially since the release of Hello Games’No Man’s Sky.Starfieldimplemented procedural generationas well to create over 1,000 planets, each with unique biomes, flora, and fauna to discover. However, it didn’t take long forStarfieldplayers to realize that each planet still looks and feels the same, despite being different in many ways.
It’s unlikely that Bethesda will go this direction withThe Elder Scrolls 6because the sci-fi space fantasy associated withStarfieldcalls for procedural generation quite a bit more than would be necessary for anElder Scrollsgame. It’s still possible the developer will consider utilizing the system moving forward, but it should disregard procedural generation when it comes toThe Elder Scrolls 6.
New Game Plus (Steal)
DespiteStarfield’s New Game Plus being a fairly divisive feature among fans, it has still earned its place as one of the most innovative approaches to the game mode yet, in addition to being a first for Bethesda. WhileThe Elder ScrollsandFalloutfranchises do not have a New Game Plus mode to speak of,Starfieldincludes one that is an evolution of the traditional formula. Traditionally, New Game Plus allows players to start a new playthrough with certain aspects of their previous character still in place — like unlocked skills, character level, acquired and upgraded gear, etc. However,Starfield’s New Game Plus centers around its story, as the world and the characters in it are drastically affected by each subsequent playthrough.
Even ifThe Elder Scrolls 6chose to go a different direction with New Game Plus thanStarfielddid, it would still be a welcome addition to one of Bethesda’s most beloved franchises. The addition of a New Game Plus mode inThe Elder Scrolls 6would simultaneously place more emphasis on its story, as it would likely be unnecessary to start a subsequent playthrough unless there were some overarching goal beyond players simply continuing to improve their character.
Starfieldmay not have gotten everything right, but Bethesda should considercarrying over whatStarfielddid get right toThe Elder Scrolls 6. There are plenty of features inStarfieldthat are unfamiliar to past Bethesda games, and it would be great to seeThe Elder Scrollsfranchise evolve accordingly. Even ifThe Elder Scrollssticks to its traditional formula, however, it’s likely to be an exciting time for fans of the franchise.
