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- Considering Skyrim’s legendary status, the expectations for The Elder Scrolls 6 are towering.
- Unfortunately, the last two Bethesda projects, Starfield and Shattered Space, have been less than ideal.
- Starfield’s disappointment, lengthy wait period, and high expectations are a very bad combination for The Elder Scrolls 6.
When you learn of an in-development game’s existence way longer than you’re supposed to, nothing good comes out of it, trust me. Anticipation turns to anxiety, expectations to disappointment, and all that wait into frustration. In this case, ignorance certainly is bliss.
Look back and remember a game you knew was coming but then took a lifetime to release. When it came out, was it everything you had anticipated? I doubt that. This is why knowing The Elder Scrolls 6 has existed for years now is nothing but a curse.
Why it matters: Following Skyrim, the hype of The Elder Scrolls 6 is unreal, but based on the mediocre Starfield that was supposed to be a hit, things aren’t looking quite good.
Evergrowing Expectations For The Elder Scrolls 6
It was 2018 when Bethesda proudly revealed the successor to its majestic Elder Scrolls franchise. At that time, I was practically jumping in excitement. Just one problem though. I didn’t know it was slated for a “2026 or later” release.
When I learned of this, my excitement gradually turned into fear. 8 years is a very long period, enough for the circumstances to change drastically. At the time of the reveal, all I thought was, “Bethesda will cook something incredible.” Now, it’s been replaced by “Will it turn out fine?”
If Bethesda knew the game couldn’t be finished till 2026 at the very least, why reveal it as early as 2018? If you ask me, the notion of “We’ll reveal games the moment they’re confirmed to let our fans know we’re busy, and then take our time finishing it” is very flawed. It fosters doubts and breaks hearts.
Plus, there’s also the existence of Skyrim. The Elder Scrolls 6 just might become the victim of its predecessor’s blinding legacy. Skyrim was a behemoth on release; it still is. A landmark in the open-world genre and a force to be reckoned with to this day. The insane expectations are only natural. Will the sequel reach the same heights?
Bethesda Is No Longer What It Once Was
With its extensive modding, Skyrim has dominated the landscape for an unbelievable amount of time, and right now, everyone expects The Elder Scrolls 6 to at least be in the same league. And the 8 years of wait didn’t do it any favors, either. On the contrary, it raised the expectations even higher, which can be pretty fatal.
Bro, at this point my expectations are for the game to come out before I’m 50
byu/this-is-my-p inElderScrolls
Let me express the second reason why I fear for The Elder Scrolls 6. Recent events dictate that Bethesda might not be the gaming genius it once was. The example of Starfield is before you.
Bethesda went all out in saying it would be the ultimate space exploration title, revolutionizing the genre. It was also “25 years in the making,” which was like adding fuel to the excitement fire. Alas, you and I both know how that turned out. After years of hype, what awaited was a mediocre title.
The Shattered Space DLC fared no better. When I looked at the reveals, I thought this might finally save Starfield. How wrong I was. The DLC is plagued with more or less the same issues. The only thing it shattered were my expectations for The Elder Scrolls 6.
I Hope My Fears Don’t Come True
Back in Starfield’s time, everyone knew just what Bethesda was capable of based on its prior works. Gamers’ unshakable trust made them hype Starfield up despite the lengthy development. Everyone knew Bethesda would deliver something great.
But now I’m starting to regress back to what happens when expectations pile up and the waiting period is enormous. Starfield failed to impress not once but twice, which has done nothing but increase my feeling of dread.
I have countless precious memories associated with Skyrim. It was revolutionary for the young me, especially with all the mods loaded. I’ve sunk countless hours into the game, which is all the more reason why I feel The Elder Scrolls 6 is going to be a letdown every passing day.
Well, I guess it’s still too early to set anything in stone. A miracle can surely happen. Who knows, Bethesda might significantly up its game following the underwhelming Starfield. It was a new IP and a step in uncharted territory, but the team is experienced when it comes to The Elder Scrolls. For now, let’s leave it at that and hope for the best.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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