Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 share a deep connection, and it's not solely because they are both RPGs developed by Bethesda. These two titles were first unveiled through a simple logo trailer at Bethesda's E3 presentation in 2018. However, it took Bethesda a full five years to bring Starfield to fruition, during which time the company underwent a significant change in ownership, being acquired by Microsoft.
For PlayStation enthusiasts who were initially thrilled by the 2018 announcements of these games, the subsequent acquisition by Microsoft posed a dilemma. What options are they left with? Should they consider purchasing an Xbox? Setting aside the challenges faced by PlayStation, there's an opportunity for these two games to mutually benefit from one another. In the following five years or so, there are valuable mechanics and concepts from Starfield that could find their way into The Elder Scrolls 6.
1. The Photo Mode
Photo modes have become a customary feature in gaming for quite some time. However, it was during the era of the PS4 and Xbox One consoles that this concept truly gained momentum. These systems made their debut long after the release of the last main installment in the series, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, which came out in 2011.
It's high time for the franchise to embrace contemporary trends, and The Elder Scrolls 6 is likely to do just that. Given that a photo mode is already present in Starfield, it's almost a certainty that it will be included in the upcoming game. Fans need not hesitate to kindly remind Bethesda of this expectation.
2. How The Encumber Meter Works
There's nothing more frustrating than delving into a dungeon in an Elder Scrolls game, only to realize that you've exceeded your carrying capacity. Carrying an excessive load can slow down your character to a crawl, leaving you pondering what to do with all that loot.
In Starfield, weight limits remain a concern, but being over-encumbered no longer results in reduced movement speed. Instead, players in Starfield will deplete their oxygen while on the move, necessitating more frequent breaks to replenish it. This mechanic could potentially be adapted for use in The Elder Scrolls 6, with stamina likely replacing oxygen as the limiting factor.
3. Backgrounds And Traits
The Elder Scrolls series has had commendable customization features in the past, which Starfield seems to be missing. Notably, there are no distinct races in Starfield, which is somewhat peculiar, especially for a space exploration game. One might wonder about the absence of exotic alien species in the game.
However, Starfield's customization does introduce interesting elements like Backgrounds and Traits. These concepts grant players specific advantages and abilities at the beginning of the game, enhancing the gameplay experience. Therefore, it would be beneficial for The Elder Scrolls 6 to consider incorporating similar features, such as Backgrounds and Traits, to provide players with new and exciting options.
4. A New Way To Pick Locks
Lockpicking mechanics in Bethesda RPGs have remained fairly consistent for the past decade. However, Starfield introduced a notable departure from this tradition by eliminating the need to manipulate pins. Instead, players are now tasked with aligning slots within rings. While it's still a challenging task, practice leads to mastery.
This approach is considerably more user-friendly compared to the conventional lockpicking system found in The Elder Scrolls games. While The Elder Scrolls 6 doesn't necessarily have to adopt the exact Digipick mechanism from Starfield, it would be wise to aim for a system that closely resembles this concept, offering players a more intuitive and engaging lockpicking experience.
5. A Mobile “House” For Companions
Handling companions in previous titles of The Elder Scrolls series has often been a bit chaotic. Starfield, however, largely resolved this issue by enabling players to relocate them as if they were items within their fleet of spacecraft. This simplifies the process of locating companions and offers the convenience of having a ship brimming with companions ready for quick substitutions.
While The Elder Scrolls may not feature spaceships, there are alternative mobile solutions worth considering. For instance, a substantial vessel like the previously mentioned island concept could serve as a viable option. Alternatively, players could utilize a sizable caravan or stagecoach as a means to accommodate and manage their companions.
6. One Planet, But Many Islands
One of the most significant departures in Starfield is that the game doesn't confine itself to a single open-world planet. Instead, it introduces numerous planets to explore, essentially forging a new category known as the open-universe RPG. However, it's important to note that incorporating space travel into The Elder Scrolls 6 would be an excessive departure from the series' established norms.
Nevertheless, the core concept of exploration can still be pursued. Players could potentially access various continents or small islands via boats, each offering distinct biomes to enrich the game with a broader range of environments.
7. Jumping Into The Multiverse
I have to be cautious not to give away any explicit story details in this comment. Nevertheless, Starfield does touch upon the concept of Multiverses, albeit in a rather limited manner. There's a sense that there was untapped potential in this aspect of the game.
It's as if Bethesda wanted to explore this idea tentatively, likely inspired by the trend in various other properties such as the MCU and even games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake. It would be intriguing for The Elder Scrolls 6 to fully embrace and delve deeper into the multiverse concept, potentially creating a game within the series that breaks new ground and offers a unique experience unlike anything seen before.
8. Weapon Rarity
A significant trend in looter RPGs, such as Diablo, revolves around the use of colored gear. These colors signify different tiers, simplifying the process for players to determine the relative value of weapons or armor without solely relying on numerical stats. The primary titles in The Elder Scrolls series have not adopted this particular distinction.
Starfield introduces this somewhat older mechanic to Bethesda RPGs, and it's a feature that the company should consider incorporating into their future releases, extending beyond just The Elder Scrolls 6. Additionally, it's worth noting that in Starfield, there's no need for maintenance or repairs of armor and weapons, which is another aspect that The Elder Scrolls series could consider for its equipment system.
>>> Read more: 8 Best Starfield Companions, Ranked
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