Elder Scrolls 6: Innovation or Evolution?

Is Elder Scrolls 6 set to bring groundbreaking innovations? Probably not, at least not significantly. The trajectory of Bethesda’s game development largely hinges on the limitations of their highly-used yet outdated engine, the Creation Engine.

Understanding the Engine Constraints

The Creation Engine, dating back to the 1990s, has seen only minor updates over two decades. This core engine, an updated version of the Gamebryo engine (itself based on the Netimmerse engine from 1997), has constrained Bethesda’s ability to innovate in substantial ways.

Debilitating limitations of this engine manifest in several aspects. For example, the inability to climb ladders suggests technical barriers that prevent certain gameplay interactions. Similarly, the necessity to ‘zone’ when entering a building indicates significant limitations in level design and game physics. Intriguingly, even something simple like a bucket over a NPC’s head fails to prevent a player from stealing everything, demonstrating the engine's inability to manage basic interactions accurately.

Technical Challenges and Limitations

Elementary mechanics like physics, NPC conversations, and animation are hindered by these limitations. NPCs speak in clipped manners due to limited dialogue handling, and there are recurring physics bugs that can result in players floating into space. These issues are reflections of the fundamental coding that has not been significantly updated in decades.

Why Innovation is Difficult

Bethesda is constrained by the capabilities of their long-used engine. Their attempts to innovate are often limited to refinements such as better graphics, potentially reintroducing base building, or enhancing existing systems. However, the core gameplay mechanics, rooted in years-old technology, make it difficult to introduce revolutionary new features.

The only substantial innovation seen in Bethesda’s games has been in visual and graphical improvements, often achieved through modding. Third-party developers, such as the modding community, frequently surpass Bethesda’s own limitations, leading some to question why the company insists on maintaining these constraints.

Is Modding a Viable Alternative?

The ease with which players can mod Elder Scrolls games should not be seen as an endorsement of Bethesda’s development practices. Rather, it underscores the shortcomings of their engine. The ability to modify graphics and gameplay elements is a testament to the engine's modular and somewhat outdated nature, which allows for extensive customizations.

While modding presents a powerful tool for enhancement, it also highlights Bethesda’s inability to adapt their engine to the needs of modern gaming. Instead of pushing the boundaries of what is possible, they rely on this community to fill the gaps left by their technical constraints.

Is Elder Scrolls 6 the Same? Probable, But Evolutionary

Will Elder Scrolls 6 innovate significantly? Likely not. If Bethesda continues to use the same engine, any new game will be constrained by the same limitations. However, we can expect some enhancements and a gradual evolution towards modern gameplay and graphics, albeit at a much slower pace than seen in more innovative studios.

Conclusion

While Elder Scrolls 6 may bring some enhancements, true innovation is unlikely due to the constraints of the Creation Engine. If Bethesda truly wishes to innovate, they need to consider a complete overhaul of their technology stack. Until then, we will continue to see incremental improvements and refinements rather than groundbreaking changes in gameplay and design.