6 things The Elder Scrolls 6 should learn from Starfield

Starfield, like many expected, made quite the splash at launch and was an instant commercial success. The space epic introduced some evolutions into the BGS formula, and many of its ideas are likely to make it into the highly awaited TES6. With this in mind, here are some learnings The Elder Scrolls 6 can take from Starfield.

Starfield was Bethesda’s attempt at a massive sci-fi RPG featuring the hallmarks of their prior titles. The game offered an expansive galaxy to wander around in, complete with futuristic settlements, a fleshed-out spaceship builder, and more. But underneath the spacey exterior is everything players have come to expect from their games.

From dialogue trees to quest structures, there’s plenty of Skyrim in Starfield. Many elements of the iconic 2011 title are embedded into Starfield’s DNA and it’s clear that Bethesda learned a lot from their previous release. The studio will likely enter full production for TES6 in the near future, and it would be wise to take some lessons from their latest RPG.

On that note, here are some learnings, good and bad, that The Elder Scroll 6 can take from Starfield.

What TES6 can learn from Starfield

Less procedural generation, more handmade content

The lack of a massive open world that is packed with points of interest and brimming with opportunities for exploration is possibly the biggest departure from prior BGS titles in Starfield. Games like Skyrim and Fallout 4 are known for delivering a strong sense of discovery and curiosity through richly detailed open worlds that hide surprises at every turn.

Starfield lacks this element as the game emphasizes traveling to different planets, many of which are procedurally generated and barren. This takes away some of the magic associated with Bethesda’s games, and TES6 could be better off by sticking to what worked so well in the past.

Traits and backgrounds

Skyrim’s character creator provides plenty of flexibility but Starfield manages to trump it through the inclusion of traits and backgrounds. Starfield’s backgrounds are almost an evolution of the selectable races in Skyrim as they provide a bit of backstory to your character alongside some significant early-game bonuses.

Traits, on the other hand, inject a risk-reward element into character creation by offering a tempting set of pros but with some undesirable cons. This adds further depth to the experience and gives players more control over the abilities of their characters. Implementing traits and backgrounds in TES6 would help open up additional role-playing opportunities right from the start.

A tighter focus

Starfield has a lot going on, and at times, to its own detriment. The idea of 100 star systems and 1000 explorable planets is alluring but the novelty wears off as you hop from location to location and sit through loading screens to tick off objectives.

The game features its vision of a dystopian metropolis in space, a cyberpunk city, and even a settlement inspired by old-western tropes. The diversity on display can be something to behold but none of them recreate the charm of Whiterun or are as memorable as Megaton. By leaning in so many directions, the game is unable to dedicate itself to making one of these spaces truly special.

The Elder Scrolls 6 can learn from this and commit to a whole-hearted iteration of Tamriel, packed with quaint villages, lively towns, and expansive cities.

Outpost building

A lot has been made of the outpost-building systems in Fallout 4 and Starfield. Some players like it, others don’t, and while it can be clunky at times, it’s still a great way to immerse yourself into the game world.

By building your own outposts and settlements, you can change the game world beyond the effects caused by main-story decisions. It also offers a solid reason to return to the game even after the credits roll.

Ultimately, the option to create outposts in TES6 could allow you to turn a slice of Tamriel into a place you can call home.

Refining melee combat

Melee combat in Starfield leaves a lot to be desired. The game doesn’t feature a sizable arsenal of melee weapons to begin with, and the mechanics themselves don’t feel nearly as good as the shooting.

Melee weapons playing second fiddle to guns in a futuristic RPG is passable, but they will certainly be the primary focus in The Elder Scrolls’ fantasy setting. This makes it essential for the mechanics to see a significant improvement as players will be spending a lot of time with swords and maces in TES6.

Making melee weapons feel weightier and more impactful is a must, and the variety on offer could also use an enhancement.

Lockpicking mini-game

The lockpicking mini-game in Skyrim and Fallout 4 got the job done but the task grew tedious after spending dozens of hours in the game. In contrast, Starfield’s digi-picks are a more intuitive way of lockpicking that presents players with an engaging challenge.

Beating a particularly tricky digi-pick is rather satisfying and it is certainly a step up from mindlessly rotating the analog stick until you hit the spot. Seeing the mechanic return in some shape or form in TES6 could help freshen things up.

Those were our picks for some of the things TES6 could some Starfield. If you’re a fan of Bethesda’s RPGs, check out our Starfield guides:

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