The intro of Skyrim has reached unprecedented levels of infamy over the course of a decade, and now Todd Howard teases that Bethesda has known exactly how The Elder Scrolls 6 will open for a very long time. There's been much speculation surrounding the next Elder Scrolls game, and though it's been over four years since the debut of its announcement trailer, fans still don't even know where the sequel is supposed to take place. Whether it will end up in High Rock or Hammerfell remains to be seen, and Bethesda will no doubt remain tight-lipped about it until Starfield has had its time in the limelight.
Though one could make the argument The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced too early, Bethesda clearly has a very specific vision in mind for Skyrim's successor. From tone and music, to the defining features of its gameplay, Todd Howard explains in a recent interview by Lex Fridman that the development team establishes these concepts early on.
For some reason, during these early stages of conceptualization, Todd Howard admits to having a peculiar fixation on creating the right opening sequence. He escapes the role of game director for a moment, and puts himself into the role of a player, wondering what they might want to do or what they might expect from an Elder Scrolls intro. The franchise has certainly had plenty of variance in that regard, from Morrowind's steady introduction on a boat headed for Vvardenfell, to Oblivion's prologue taking place in an escape from the Imperial Prison – if the opening for The Elder Scrolls 6 is to match its predecessors, it should ultimately have an intro that's right for its setting.
In addition to The Elder Scrolls 6, the podcast also covers the impending release of Starfield, and what players might expect from the upcoming Bethesda title. Despite being a brand-new intellectual property, the excitement for Starfield is sky-high. Described as having a Nasapunk aesthetic, Starfield seeks to escape a comparison with The Elder Scrolls and Fallout games, and to truly establish its own unique identity.
Though not related to The Elder Scrolls 6, fans may still want to give Starfield a look, as many of its ambitious features and additions are very likely tech that will be reused for the next Elder Scrolls game. From environment art and fidelity, to character creation and bringing back roleplaying mechanics, there is a lot that Starfield offers which might find its way to The Elder Scrolls 6. Given Todd Howard's tone in the interview, one thing is known for certain: Bethesda is quite confident in Skyrim's successor, and that should be a very comforting thought for Elder Scrolls fans.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is currently in development.