Bethesda Dev Warns of Toxic Backlash for Elder Scrolls 6

Former Bethesda lead artist Nate Purkeypile has issued a warning about the development of The Elder Scrolls 6. He believes the studio is in a 'no-win situation' regarding fan expectations.

Purkeypile stated that even if the sequel is just as good as Skyrim, the team will likely face toxic backlash. He specifically mentioned the possibility of 'death threats' and 'hateful comments' from the community.

The game was announced in June 2018 but remains in early development. Studio head Todd Howard has confirmed the game is 'still a long way off' and is asking fans for patience.

Purkeypile believes the studio announced the game early to manage anger over the long wait. He noted that the studio has learned to delay games for quality, as seen with Starfield.

Former Bethesda Game Studios lead artist Nate Purkeypile has expressed concerns regarding the immense pressure facing the development team for The Elder Scrolls 6. In a recent interview, Purkeypile described the situation as a 'no-win situation' due to the high expectations placed on the sequel.

Purkeypile, who worked at the studio from 2007 until 2021, considers Skyrim to be one of the 'top 10 games of all time.' He questioned how the team could possibly beat that legacy. He warned that even if the new game achieves the same level of quality as Skyrim, the reaction from the community would likely remain negative.

'If they do, great! And I hope it’s a great game, but even if it’s just as good as Skyrim was, you’ll still get so many people throwing out hateful comments,' Purkeypile said. He added, 'I’m sure there will be more death threats again. All of that stuff. It’s really unfortunate that that’s the way things have gone.'

The developer noted that this toxic environment was a factor in his decision to leave the company. He has since founded his own indie studio, Just Purkey Games.

The wait for The Elder Scrolls 6 has been exceptionally long. The game was officially revealed on June 10, 2018, exactly 2,403 days after the release of Skyrim on November 11, 2011.

As of the latest reports, it has been over seven and a half years since the announcement, yet the release date remains distant. Even Todd Howard paused during the six-year anniversary of the announcement to acknowledge, 'oh wow, that has been a while.'

Despite the long wait, the game is confirmed to be in production. Bethesda stated in August 2023 that the project had entered 'early development.' More recently, in March 2024, the studio confirmed that 'early builds' of the game were available.

However, Howard has been clear that a release is not imminent. In an interview regarding the Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition, he stated that the game is 'still a long way off.' He emphasized the need to manage fan anxiety, saying, 'I’m preaching patience. I don’t want fans to feel anxious.'

Nate Purkeypile offered insight into why Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls 6 so early. He believes it was a strategic move to placate fans who were frustrated by the long silence following Skyrim and during the development of Starfield.

'We needed to make sure people were not just pissed at us,' Purkeypile explained. However, he noted that this approach is 'a very expensive way to do that,' referring to the high cost of producing game trailers.

The studio appears to be prioritizing quality over speed. Studio design director Emil Pagliarulo recently pointed to the delays of GTA 6 as the 'smartest thing they could do.' He posed the question of whether fans want a rushed game or a polished one.

'Do they want a game that comes out before it should and doesn’t meet their expectations? Or do they want the turkey that is in the oven for long enough to be delicious when it finally comes out of the oven?' Pagliarulo asked. He confirmed the team will 'take our time and as long as it needs to be great.'

Purkeypile noted that Bethesda's experience with Starfield proved they are now willing to delay games. He believes there is less economic pressure to release The Elder Scrolls 6 on a specific date and more pressure to ensure it is good.

Todd Howard has hinted at a potential change in how Bethesda handles game releases. In a discussion about the The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, which was released without prior warning, Howard suggested this might be the template for future titles.

'I like to just announce stuff and release it,' Howard said. 'My perfect version — and I’m not saying this is going to happen — is that it's going to be a while and then, one day, the game will just appear.'

He referred to the Oblivion shadowdrop as a 'test run' that 'worked out well.' This suggests a potential shift away from long marketing cycles, though no official confirmation has been made regarding The Elder Scrolls 6.

Additionally, it was confirmed earlier this year that The Elder Scrolls 6 will include a character designed in memory of a fan. This follows a charity campaign that raised over $85,000 for Make-A-Wish.