“Even if The Elder Scrolls 6 is great,” Skyrim veteran thinks Bethesda developers will face harassment and “death threats” anyway

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As an ardent fan, I can’t help but echo the sentiments of a seasoned Skyrim developer: Regardless of how exceptional The Elder Scrolls 6 turns out to be, online harassment seems almost unavoidable for Bethesda developers.

Nate Purkeypile has had enough experience in discussions to understand their usual flow. In the past, he was an artist (often serving as a lead artist), contributing to titles ranging from Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, Skyrim, and Starfield. Regardless of whether his games are adored or not, Purkeypile has borne witness to the internet’s darkest shades.

At the GDC conference, an experienced developer shared that releasing Fallout 76 was challenging because “it was a difficult situation” due to the fact that “the internet can be incredibly harsh.” While Fallout 76 wasn’t universally lauded at its debut, some individuals online went overboard with their criticism and even targeted Bethesda employees with harassment.

According to Purkeypile, even if The Elder Scrolls 6 turns out fantastic, it’s likely we’ll see lengthy YouTube videos and more threats, he remarks. He compares receiving backlash for a game people don’t enjoy to the public outrage over seal hunting.

Mark Darrah, a former BioWare producer, spoke up against the online harassment many developers experience, stating, “It’s essential to consider the context before getting upset about something.” Furthermore, he emphasized that buying a game does not grant anyone the right to mistreat others online.

Regardless of the choice made, the impending pushback isn’t likely to be much on Purkeypile’s plate. After departing from Bethesda, he has since released an ominous-looking “heavy metal horror game” that is immersed in a folkloric open world.

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2025-03-19 16:12