Massive Elder Scrolls 6 Update Has Me Worried

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Todd Howard occasionally shares small updates about The Elder Scrolls VI just to let fans know it’s still in development. These updates are usually just minor details presented as new information, but they’re welcome reminders that the game hasn’t been forgotten, especially after such a long wait. While we probably won’t see any actual gameplay or hear major announcements for several years, it’s still reassuring to know Bethesda is working on it and that it will eventually be released.

Howard recently shared some concerning details about the game that have lowered my expectations. I now believe The Elder Scrolls VI won’t be the groundbreaking title many have anticipated after such a long development period. While I always expected some disappointment, this report has shifted my cautious hope into a worried acceptance that Bethesda often delivers similar results.

The Elder Scrolls VI Is Running On The Creation Engine

In a recent interview with the Kinda Funny podcast, Todd Howard shared some updates on the development of The Elder Scrolls VI. He mentioned that most of the team is now focused on the game and they’ve reached a key milestone that’s boosted morale. Howard also indicated that The Elder Scrolls VI will be more in line with the traditional RPG style Bethesda is famous for, moving away from the more innovative approaches seen in games like Fallout 76 and Starfield. Notably, he confirmed the game will be built using the new Creation Engine 3.

Bethesda Game Studios has been building its games on a custom engine, the Creation Engine, ever since Skyrim. This engine originally evolved from an older one called Gamebryo, which powered games like Fallout 3 and Oblivion. The idea was to create truly expansive and immersive open-world experiences. However, by today’s standards, the Creation Engine is quite old. It frequently uses loading screens to divide areas, struggles to create realistic character movements, and is prone to bugs and technical problems. This leads to NPCs that often act strangely or unconvincingly. While not the worst engine ever made, it often holds back Bethesda’s more ambitious game designs.

As a huge Bethesda fan, I was really excited for Starfield, but honestly, even with the new Creation Engine 2, it still felt… familiar, and not in a good way. A lot of the same old bugs and clunky mechanics from their previous games were still there. It makes me wonder if they’d have been able to really deliver on their vision for Starfield if they’d built it on a completely new engine. Instead, it feels held back by old code that’s over a decade old. That’s why I’m a little scared about The Elder Scrolls VI. I really hope they address these issues before the next big release, because the potential is there for something truly amazing!

It’s still a long way off before The Elder Scrolls 6 is released, leaving plenty of time for improvements. However, if the game launches in 2029 or later and still has the long loading times, awkward movements, simple fighting, and bugs that have been common in past Bethesda games, it will feel very old-fashioned and let fans down. It’s also unlikely Bethesda’s current game engine can create the deep, immersive experience players now expect, like the one found in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Ultimately, the Creation Engine will probably prevent The Elder Scrolls 6 from reaching its full potential, just as it has with other Bethesda titles.

Bethesda Will Never Abandon The Creation Engine

It’s not really surprising that Bethesda continues to use its older game engine. The studio is familiar with it, it works well within their established development process, and it’s cheaper in the short run than retraining everyone on a new system. The engine also has strengths – it creates impressively realistic physics for individual objects, adding a unique level of immersion, and it’s very mod-friendly, allowing the dedicated community to easily customize the game.

I get why people are so attached to the Creation Engine, and why some fans still love it even with its flaws. But it’s clear that this engine is preventing Bethesda from reaching its full potential. It’s similar to what happened with 343 Industries and the Slipspace Engine in Halo Infinite. That engine had limitations and received a lot of criticism for its graphics – things like poor shadows, objects suddenly appearing, and a lack of detail. While 343 improved the engine for Infinite, they then found it difficult for new staff to learn how to use it. Ultimately, after a necessary change, they decided to switch to Unreal Engine 5 for the next Halo game.

I don’t think Bethesda should use Unreal Engine 5 for The Elder Scrolls VI or any of their games. The engine didn’t work well for Oblivion Remastered – the graphics were uninspired and the performance was terrible on all platforms. It also has several drawbacks that would negatively impact The Elder Scrolls 6. However, Bethesda could learn from 343 Industries: sometimes it’s best to abandon a struggling engine. Bethesda keeps trying to fix the Creation Engine, despite its obvious, long-standing problems.

Look, I’m a huge Elder Scrolls fan, but I’m honestly a little worried about The Elder Scrolls VI. Bethesda has a lot to prove after some recent issues, and the hype for this game is massive. I’m hoping they’ll fix the big problems with their engine before release, but I have a feeling it might end up feeling a bit old-fashioned when it finally comes out. When Todd Howard announced the game, the immediate reaction wasn’t excitement, it was concern about the engine – and that really struck me as a bad sign. So, I’m trying to keep my expectations pretty low, just in case. We’ll have to wait and see on launch day, but I’m bracing myself for potential disappointment.

Could the Creation Engine hold back The Elder Scrolls 6? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-24 23:13