The mixed critical receptionStarfieldreceived at launch hasn’t stopped Bethesda Game Studios from supporting the space RPG with consistent content updates. Just a few weeks ago, the developer added a highly-requested feature to the game that has been highly requested by fans for ages. During Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, Bethesda unveiled the REV-8, a new land vehicle that finally lets players explore planets without having to walk across them. Apart from this rover, BGS will also release theShattered Spaceexpansion forStarfieldlater this month, which will add a brand-new planet to the game alongside various enemy factions, points of interest, weapons, and alien creatures.
Bethesda’s support forStarfieldwon’t end there, though, as the Microsoft-owned developer apparently has a lot more in store for the RPG in the future. Speaking in a recent interview with TheGamer,Starfieldlead creative producer Tim Lamb expressed that BGS “would like to support the game for a very long time,” just like it did withThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimand some of the company’s other titles. He then went on to hint that more majorStarfieldcontent was already in the works. WhileBethesda’s long-term commitment toStarfieldis exciting for passionate fans of the 2023 space-faring RPG, the studio should avoid spreading itself too thin and failing to learn from its past mistakes to prevent any negative impact onThe Elder Scrolls 6’s development.
Bethesda’s Long-Term Starfield Support Should Aid, Not Hinder The Elder Scrolls 6’s Development
The Elder Scrolls 6 is Still Years Away, Meaning It Will Likely Have to Appeal to New Gamers
The Elder Scrolls 6’s teaser trailer has gained somewhat of an infamous reputation among theTEScommunity due to the time that has passed following its initial announcement. The upcoming action RPG was unveiled all the way back at E3 2018, but as of 2024, Bethesda still hasn’t given fans a single hint ofTES 6’s gameplay. Considering the fact thatthe highly-anticipated sequel toSkyrimjust entered full productionlate last year, fans will probably have to wait even longer for Bethesda and Xbox to provide more information onThe Elder Scrolls 6.
Given that Bethesda releases games so slowly nowadays, there’s a good chance thatThe Elder Scrolls 6won’t be released until the end of this decade. Even if the upcoming RPG makes its way to store shelves as “early” as 2026 or 2027, it will still be more than 15 years since the launch ofSkyrimin 2011. Due to the massive gap between the two releases, it’s likelyThe Elder Scrolls 6will have to appeal to a new generation of gamers in addition to longtime fans. As such, Bethesda should give a good first impression of the series by knocking it out of the park withTES 6instead of making the same mistakes it made withStarfield’s launch.
Starfield Was Met With Various Criticisms Upon Its Release
Starfieldwas criticized by many at launchfor design decisions that some argued were antithetical to the trademark gameplay formula fans had come to expect from Bethesda. For instance, the sci-fi RPG was derided for its procedurally-generated exploration elements, some viewing them as a downgrade compared to titles likeFallout 3andSkyrim. Additionally,Starfield’s story, stealth systems, base-building mechanics, and main questline were also common points of criticism.
The Feedback from Starfield and Its Post-Launch Support Should Be Applied to The Elder Scrolls 6
Taking all this into account, Bethesda should use the feedback it receives fromStarfieldand its future content updatesto enhanceThe Elder Scrolls 6and handle the series' classic formula properly. Gamers have waited ages forTES 6to be released, so BGS should do the right thing and give its fans the experience they’ve been longing for from day one. Post-launch support forThe Elder Scrolls 6would be welcome, of course, but it shouldn’t take up too much of Bethesda’s development resources and, as a result, make the wait for the company’s future games even longer.
