Summary
Bethesda should’ve supportedThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimandFallout 4much longer, says Todd Howard. While both games notably received DLC andnext-gen upgrades, Howard believes the titles should have had longer support cycles. That is something Bethesda is currently implementing withFallout 76and plans to do with the upcomingThe Elder Scrolls 6.
Word of Bethesda’s support cycles comes via a wide-ranging interview that Howard participated withYouTuber MrMattyPlays. In it, Howard answered an array of questions about all things Bethesda, including future projects,as well as the potential for remakes of older Fallout titles, like Fallout 2. Those are sadly not happening.
That said, Howard explained in great detail how Bethesda is approaching its games in a post-Skyrim and Fallout 4 world. The approach can currently be seen in Fallout 76as well as Starfield, and it will most certainly be on display in the next Elder Scrolls title.
Bethesda Is Approaching Its Games With A 10-Year Plan
While Skyrimreceived three major expansions in the form of Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn, as well as numerousupgraded anniversary editions, Howard’s words are not just about DLC. The same can be said of Fallout 4,which had a total of six DLC packs, of which two were expansions.
“We would look back at Skyrim, which we’re still updating to a small extent and there’s all of the creations and mods there – still a hugely played game,” Howard lamented. “Same with Fallout 4. That we wish we had supported them longer, and we’re still doing work there.”
Those regrets have shaped how Bethesda has gone about things with Fallout 76 as well asStarfield. “We went into 76 knowing, ‘Hey, this is a game we’re going to support for as long as we can.’ Starfield we go into that knowing the same thing,” Howard explained. “And as we go into Elder Scrolls 6, with all these games, you got to start now by thinking about a 10-year horizon. How do we support a game for that long?”
To do that, Howard believes in “serving that audience on a month-to-month basis.” For example, Fallout 76 has a robust community calendar for its seasons, with each week offering something new to players. Additionally,the game will be getting playable Ghouls next year, helping add to its longevity and replayability.
While slightly coy, Howard did confirm that The Elder Scrolls 6 will follow that model. “We know people are going to play it for a long time and so it’s not just what it means for content. It goes further than that,” Howard explained. “The type of game, what it means for your character, what it means for other things to say, ‘Hey, can this be something that you come back to?’ We see that with Skyrim. What people do in the game today, even though it’s popular, what are people doing when they come back to the game after putting it down for a few years?”
Bethesda titles already had a positive reputation for their support and expansions, so if Howard’s words are anything to go by, then fans should be prepared for even more content. And if Fallout 76 or Starfield are anything to go off of, then the next Elder Scrolls will be a behemoth. Now, about that release date…
