Skyrim’s lead suggests Bethesda should learn from Baldur’s Gate 3 to create more impactful RPGs like The Elder Scrolls 6, stating, “The gaming community has spoken.”
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Bruce Nesmith, a former lead on Skyrim and veteran of Bethesda Game Studios, has expressed interest in drawing inspiration from RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3 while developing new titles such as The Elder Scrolls 6, if he were still involved.
In a recent interview, he discussed the evolution of Bethesda’s games and the potential for further innovation. He noted, “Bethesda games in the last decade have become less dynamic to meet audience expectations, but a more fluid world would be very cool.”
Nesmith highlighted Baldur’s Gate 3 as a prime example of a game that excels in meaningful player choices, which is no surprise given its record-breaking success and a stellar average rating of 96 on Metacritic. He believes Bethesda could learn from this success, stating, “Part of what made it so popular is that it felt like all choices were meaningful, making a big difference in gameplay.” He pointed out that Bethesda has “maybe pulled back from doing [those meaningful choices] a little bit,” which diminishes the overall impact of their games.
He elaborated, “The focus is on putting your toys away, but in these games, your actions in the Thieves Guild quest line can completely alter the fate of the Mages Guild. Your choices should have a real impact on the world.” Although Nesmith is no longer with Bethesda, he would strive to infuse the same spark that makes Baldur’s Gate 3 so engaging into future RPGs.
“If I were in a position to make decisions, I would aim to create games like Baldur’s Gate 3, where players feel their actions have a broader impact,” he concluded. While I appreciate Baldur’s Gate 3, I also believe The Elder Scrolls has its own unique charm that captivates players.
I just hope The Elder Scrolls 6 captures that essence, and I wouldn’t mind seeing some of the impactful decision-making that Larian Studios’ RPG is celebrated for. Only time will tell, and unfortunately, we have a wait ahead of us.
Nesmith believes it’s “wiser” for Bethesda to stick with its Creation Engine for new titles like Elder Scrolls 6, citing Fallout 76 as an example of the challenges involved in switching engines.
