Summary
Over six months on from the release of Bethesda’s long-awaitedStarfieldand the ambitious open-world title has still yet to hit its stride with players. Despite the frenzy of excitement surroundingStarfieldin the years leading up to its launch, the game’s sometimes clunky mechanics and stilted storytelling left some gamers who had been hoping forSkyrimin space feeling underwhelmed. But even as Bethesda continues work on the Shattered SpaceDLC with hopes of winning back players who felt burned by the game upon release, it may beThe Elder Scrolls 6that stands to benefit the most fromStarfield’s failure to launch.
With the release of Shattered Space, Bethesda has an opportunity to rehabilitate its reputation somewhat ahead of the launch ofThe Elder Scrolls 6.Using this DLC to show that it is still focused on giving gamers a best-in-class RPG experiencewould allow Bethesda to assuage some players’ worries about the future of its other famous franchise. By working to rightStarfield’s wrongs and following it up with a strong launch forThe Elder Scrolls 6, the developer could potentially even regain its former glory.
Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC Faces an Uphill Battle
Scheduled to launch in 2024, the Shattered SpaceDLC forStarfieldpromises to give the game a second shot. But given the laundry list of complaints many players have about the base game, from its menu-heavy mechanics to the copy-and-paste nature of many ofStarfield’s quests, Bethesda has plenty of work to do if it hopes to bring the gameplay inStarfieldin line with players’ expectations.
Even if the Shattered SpaceDLC manages to rightStarfield’s most egregious wrongs, though, it’s unlikely to change some players’ perceptions of the troubled title based on how it was received upon release.
While this may not bode well for the future ofStarfieldas a franchise, it could prove to be a boon forBethesda’sElder Scrolls 6. By being willing to listen to players’ concerns and working to rectify them with the Shattered SpaceDLC, Bethesda could prove that it was still dedicated to delivering some of the innovative, expansive, and enjoyable RPGs in the industry. If Bethesda takes this tack and manages to get back in players’ good graces with Shattered Space, following it up with a drama-free launch forThe Elder Scrolls 6should be its next priority.
A Strong Launch for The Elder Scrolls 6 Could Repair Bethesda’s Reputation
Easily one of the most anticipated games currently in development, a solid launch for the long-awaitedThe Elder Scrolls 6could help repair Bethesda’s now somewhat diminished reputation following themixed reception toStarfield. While releasing the game in a wholly bug-free and perfectly polished state could prove to be virtually impossible given the massive scope of its RPGs, Bethesda should still work to avoid repeating some ofStarfield’s most egregious mistakes.
This means making sure that the issues with poor PC performance and broken quests inStarfieldthat plagued players following the game’s launch aren’t repeated withThe Elder Scrolls 6. Bethesda also needs to ensure that the side content available in the game avoids the cookie-cutter feel of many of the missions in its sci-fi RPG. While it’s likely thatThe Elder Scrolls 6willemploy the use of procedurally generated quests likeStarfielddid, Bethesda should refine this system to avoid having players running across duplicate dungeons throughout the campaign.
By learning lessons fromStarfield’s lackluster launch and ensuring thatThe Elder Scrolls 6ships in a solid state, Bethesda has the chance to win back fans underwhelmed by its recent releases. A strong showing forStarfield’s Shattered Space DLCpaired with a smooth release ofThe Elder Scrolls 6would be a winning combination that wouldn’t just please fans, but also help the company regain its role as one of the most respected and revered RPG developers in the industry.
