Games

Why Elder Scrolls 6 Needs to Be More ESO Than Skyrim in its Art

Published

1 month ago

November 25, 2024

Since Starfield‘s release has come and gone, Bethesda fans have shifted their attention to the studio’s next open world RPG: The Elder Scrolls 6. It has been 13 years since the last Elder Scrolls game was released and 6 years since The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced. While work is confirmed to still be underway on the game, Bethesda has kept details to a minimum.

Expectations for The Elder Scrolls 6 are incredibly high. Not only does Bethesda need a win after Starfield‘s somewhat troubled launch, but The Elder Scrolls 6 is a follow-up to one of the most beloved western RPGs of all time. Skyrim raised the bar for Bethesda games with its environmental storytelling, soundtrack, and scope. However, when it comes to one aspect of The Elder Scrolls 6, the game may be better off following in the footsteps of one of the franchise’s spin-offs.

Why The Elder Scrolls 6 May Avoid Skyrim’s Fate With Its Post-Launch Support

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While the scope of Skyrim’s story DLC was limited, Bethesda should have exactly what it needs to surpass hurdles from the past.

The art style used in Skyrim is a great fit for the experience that the game wants to deliver. The Nordic, alpine setting has a realistic aesthetic that lends itself to the lived-in nature of the open world, which makes Skyrim‘s more fantastical elements stand out to the viewer. That said, The Elder Scrolls 6 might be better off taking inspiration from The Elder Scrolls Online‘s art style.

The Issues With Skyrim’s Visuals

Especially when looking back at Skyrim‘s art style from the modern era of video game graphics, the game’s visuals are pretty drab. Skyrim‘s color palette is the primary culprit, as it is dominated by muted shades of green, gray, brown, and white. Past Bethesda RPGs like Fallout 3 have been criticized in the past for the one-note color schemes found in their open worlds, and Skyrim did little to divert from this pattern. The game’s art style was a product of its time, but players will have higher expectations for a modern release.

The Benefits of an ESO-esque Art Style

The Elder Scrolls Online stands apart from mainline entries in The Elder Scrolls series thanks in part to its diversity in visuals. Not only does ESO allow players to explore significantly more biomes than were offered in older games in the franchise, but its setting is filled with vibrant colors. This helps the game’s regions to truly stand apart from one another. Previous Elder Scrolls games had memorable encounters spread throughout the open world that made exploring each region feel memorable, but in ESO, the locations themselves — whether it be Stros M’Kai, Auridon, Summerset, or a number of other distinct areas in the world — are memorable to explore.

When it comes to fantasy media, there are already so many shows, movies, and games — including some Elder Scrolls entries — that feel the need to resort to washed out, lackluster color palettes. The decision not to shy away from color makes ESO‘s open world stand out in an entrancing way. ESO‘s pops of color lend credence to the idea of Tamriel being a magical, fantastical world.

Taking inspiration from ESO‘s art style would go a long way in making The Elder Scrolls 6‘s open world feel more distinctive and more appealing than Skyrim‘s. The Elder Scrolls 6‘s setting is rumored to be Hammerfell, and a rich and varied color scheme would help the province’s unique biomes to stand apart from one another. Hammerfell’s most well known region is the Alik’r Desert, which could feel like a chore to explore if Bethesda takes notes from Skyrim‘s visual style.

Showcasing Graphical Improvements in The Elder Scrolls 6

Additionally, The Elder Scrolls 6 is bound to be quite a leap forward graphically compared to Skyrim. If Bethesda wants to show off how good this game looks compared to its predecessor, going in the direction of ESO would make any graphical enhancements stand out significantly more. There’s a lot that Bethesda should borrow from Skyrim, but in this instance, taking after ESO‘s art style is one easy way to help The Elder Scrolls 6 feel like an immediate upgrade when fans watch the first trailer — whenever it comes out.