Following the unexpected release of Oblivion Remastered last week, there has been much conjecture regarding whether Bethesda Game Studios plans to utilize the classic RPG as a basis for The Elder Scrolls VI instead of the more refined Skyrim. Bruce Nesmith, a developer involved with the original Elder Scrolls IV, does not think that will be the case.
In a conversation with VideoGamer, Nesmith indicated that player choices should take precedence over statistics management in The Elder Scrolls VI. “We don’t want the game to interfere,” stated the former Bethesda developer. “That is a very contemporary perspective on RPGs. It lies at the core of the ‘you play to improve’ [leveling system] concept of The Elder Scrolls. This means I don’t have to select my skills; I simply play. Forget about all that if you prefer.”
The Oblivion Situation | The GameSpot Show
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Oblivion Remastered has demonstrated remarkable popularity, with Bethesda indicating that the RPG has attracted over 4 million players thus far. Nesmith acknowledged a “movement to nostalgically revisit classic RPGs.” However, he still feels that most players “simply want to enjoy engaging games” rather than become “overwhelmed by stats and extraneous elements.”
Consequently, Nesmith asserts that above all, “users value having authentic choices within the game.” He references the Fallout series, in which he contributed to Fallout 3 (and provided his insights for that remaster). “And you can notice this in the responses to various Bethesda titles,” noted Nesmith. “The choices made in Fallout 3 regarding character interactions and completing quests varied greatly compared to Fallout 4 [where] there was really only one approach to succeed, with limited moral decisions apart from the main storyline, and players appreciate that.”
In summary, Nesmith was impressed by Oblivion Remastered, stating, “I doubt the remaster genuinely does it justice.” Meanwhile, Bethesda Game Studios head and creative director Todd Howard confirmed that The Elder Scrolls VI is indeed in development following the launch of Oblivion Remastered. It’s important to note that Virtuos co-developed the title alongside Bethesda. For further details, explore GameSpot’s Oblivion Remastered review.
