Bethesda Game Studios are well known for a long list of popular games. However, back in 2011, the studio released Skyrim, which has remained a hugely popular, active game within the gaming community. Since then, The Elder Scrolls (TES) games have been released to continued success and appeal. But while Elder Scrolls VI is on the slate, it’s been a long time coming. Has the anticipation for this game been what’s keeping Bethesda afloat all this time?
A History of Elder Scrolls
Widely considered one of the most influential titles in RPG games, this fantasy game really set the world alight upon its release. The first game from Bethesda dropped in 1994, when Arena was released. Initially, this was a simple gladiator battle game, but the developers changed direction mid-development and created an open-world game, which became the first complete Elder Scrolls RPG. It set a precedent for the franchise from which the rest of the games and releases could improve upon.
Following up on this success, 1996 saw the release of Daggerfall, which offered a smaller world and better detail. It had many plot hooks and was much better constructed than its predecessor. Just a year later, the first spinoff, The Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire dropped, and that game came with a different approach. This time around there was a battlemage fortress instead of Tamriel, and there was no open-world gaming. Instead, closed level game mechanics and a multiplayer mode was on offer. The next few years saw various additional spinoffs from the main franchise such as The Elder Scrolls Travels and Redguard. 2002 saw the third installment of the main franchise, Morrowind, drop, and four years later, Oblivion, the fourth installment dropped. This latest was created to bring the game into a new age, add more appeal enas well as enhanced graphics. It offered more sidequests, and got major expansions added as well.
Finally, part five, Skyrim was launched in 2011. Selling over 30 million copies, this is the best-selling of all The Elder Scrolls games. It’s also the 12th best-selling game of all time. To achieve this, Bethesda added even more features and changed up core game mechanics, adapting to the mainstream audience.
So, how did Bethesda get here? Well, it was through the use of a diligent team, solid software such as the best project management tools, solid art direction, and, of course, excellent narrative and storytelling skills. But everyone is wondering when the next game will be released.
The Elder Scrolls VI
There’s been a long wait for the sixth installment of the franchise. Yes, since 2011, there have been other Elder Scrolls releases, but all of these are spinoffs from the main event. Bethesda has released tentative dates, stating that the long-awaited follow-up will come in 2026, but fans remain skeptical. That being said, it’s out of preproduction and into the development phase, so things are moving. This lingering wait for the next installment has most definitely kept Bethesda in the public eye as fans eagerly wait for news of the next game.
Importantly though, it’s not just The Elder Scrolls that have kept Bethesda relevant. While perhaps the initial TES game put Bethesda on the map, the studio’s remarkable ability to create creative and enduring games has seen it remain at the top of the pecking order. Bethesda has other major game releases, such as Fallout, which is part of the reason no sixth TES installment has launched. Fallout is also a major game franchise with Fallout 4 the most recent iteration. The studio has announced Fallout 5 too, which is due to land after TES 6 is finally released.
As such, while TES has had a major impact and definitely helped Bethesda, it’s not the only game the company has in its arsenal. The buzz around Fallout is also a major influence, with both franchises bouncing off one another to create excitement and interest in what Bethesda has to offer.
