AlthoughThe Elder Scrolls 6is likely years away from seeing the light of day, it’s clear why fans are always looking for information. This was proven by the latestElder Scrolls 6leak, which mostly ignored lore, but convinced fans and media across the internet that there was some inkling of truth to it. And it’s easy to see why, its predecessor set forth a precedent since unseen from Bethesda.
Skyrim originally released in 2011 and, since then, Bethesda has released theDishonoredfranchise, multipleDOOMgames,The Elder Scrolls Online, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, multipleEvil Withingames, multipleWolfensteingames, and more. And while they are all great games in their own right, none hold a candle to the influence thatSkyrimhas had since its release. And with little to go on forThe Elder Scrolls 6, it’s clear that its hype train momentum is carried solely by Skyrim, and that could be a double-edged sword.
RELATED:Skyrim Probably Won’t Matter in The Elder Scrolls 6
Why Skyrim is so Influential
Fans of the franchise could not throw a dart at a board without hitting a reasonSkyrimhas always been so popular. It defined the open-world franchise, influencing modern and indie developers to this day, and presented multiple storylines within one game. Players could complete skip the main story line and focus on theDark Brotherhoodshould they wish and gave players unprecedented freedom, even if it didn’t always make sense. And it took one of game’s most popular backdrops and made it unique.
As proven with the recentreveal ofAssassin’s Creed Valhalla, Norse mythology, setting, and inspirations are incredibly popular.God of War, Assassin’s Creed, andElden Ringall see this, as the latter is reportedly taking inspirations in design, the middle is giving a historical and cultural view of the Viking people, and the former’s soft reboot dives deep into Norse mythology.Skyrimdid it, not first but early, and made it its own. From the Draugr to the Jarls,Skyrimoozes with, arguably, the most popular backdrop for video games today. As such, it casts a long shadow in terms of gameplay, story, design, and ultimately influence in the forms of remakes, ports, memes, and more. It echoes internet culture, and for better or worse, that’s whatThe Elder Scrolls 6has to contend with.
The Elder Scrolls 6: Doomed to Live in Skyrim’s Shadow?
Players have likely seen the cacophany ofSkyrimmemes from waking up as a prisoner to getting hit by an arrow in the knee. Some may even hear shop owner’s voicelines in their head, and others may have a diehard opinion on the Nord vs. Empire conflict. To this day,Skyrimendures against newer games and RPGs. With this kind of legacy, it’s cleat thatTodd Howard wantingThe Elder Scrolls 6to last 10 yearsis not something out of reach, at least not due to competition outside itself. ButThe Elder Scrolls 6may live inSkyrim’s shadow, and it’s pretty clear it already has.
Bethesda is a big name in the gaming industry, and since the release ofSkyrim, has put out a ton of IP. It begs the question as to whyTheElder Scrolls 6may just now be entering full productionas of January 2020. It begs the question as to why it has taken so long. WhileThe Elder Scrolls OnlineandSkyrim’s DLC cannot be forgotten, there’s still some big gaps between entries.
Morrowindreleased in 2002 to be followed byOblivionin 2006. It was followed bySkyrimin 2011, but suddenly and ignoring the ports,The Elder Scrollsfranchise became one to skip an entire game generation? There hasn’t been a mainline entry originally released on the PS4 and Xbox One, and at this point, it’s clear thatThe Elder Scrolls 6is at least a cross-gen game, if not fully next-gen.
From a financial standpoint, it certainly makes sense to port and refreshSkyrim. It’s legacy is so far reaching that it still has a solid following and playerbase today, near 9 years since its original release. But from a financial standpoint,The Elder Scrolls 6could be as viable, assuming it could set itself apart fromSkyrim. But it’s clear that’s harder that it sounds. With little doubt, it seems clear that theElder Scrolls 6will likely release a decade and change afterSkyrimbecause rivaling it is laughable. The question then becomes: is that enough time, is that enough technological leaps, forThe Elder Scrolls 6to escapeSkyrim’s shadow? Only time will tell.
