Bethesda is known for a few key franchises that have become cornerstones in gaming. This includes The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Due to the popularity of Bethesda's franchises, gamers always eagerly await the next release from the studio. Unfortunately, the wait is usually long, because the games are vast and take quite a bit of time to make. This is understandable, though the problem is exacerbated by Bethesda's tendency to announce its games earlier than necessary, and Fallout 5 is the latest example of this.
Todd Howard and Bethesda at large are clearly excited about the projects they are working on, and they cannot wait to share it all with fans. However, revealing projects too early can have negative consequences, and the studio should consider keeping things quieter in the future. While announcements can be exciting, when they are made too early, as is the case with Fallout 5, it can frustrate gamers more than it builds up hype.
The Long Road to Starfield's Release
Starfield is nearing release, but it has been in production for a shockingly long time. The idea for Starfield can be traced back to The 10th Planet, a canceled Bethesda space combat game that was originally meant to be released in 1997. The thought of making a science fiction game set in space never died down, and while Bethesda worked on other projects, ideas still swirled around until the name "Starfield" was finally trademarked in 2013. This alerted gamers that the studio was busy with something, but no details were revealed until 2018 when the first teaser for the game was shown at E3. The announcement that the studio was working on a Skyrim-like adventure in space easily sparked the excitement of the gaming world, but it would be a long while before gamers would get another good look at Starfield.
Since 2018, several more Starfield trailers have been released, with some of them showing interesting tidbits, including VASCO, which is one of the companions that will be available. The most substantial trailers thus far include the E3 2021 presentation, as well as the 2022 Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase which unveiled the character creator as well as some of the gameplay that players can expect. Additionally, plenty of screenshots have been shared, along with a YouTube series called Into the Starfield that tracks the game's development.
The early announcement of Starfield has been both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, in some ways, it has helped the game to achieve almost mythical status, as it has had years to develop an air of mystique around it as gamers are left wondering what is taking Bethesda so long. The longer gamers wait, the greater the anticipation grows, and the more gamers begin to imagine what Starfield could do. Already a ton of theories have popped up around Starfield, with gamers wondering whether the game will feature intelligent alien races and, if so, whether they will be playable.
On the other hand, the rising expectations could end up hurting the game when they grow so large that it becomes impossible for any real game to live up to them, no matter how talented the developers are. Early announcements also open the door for disappointment when delays are announced, like when Starfield was slated for a November 2022 release, but was eventually pushed to 2023.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Is Coming... Eventually
When it comes to open-world games, few have had as much of a colossal impact as The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. The game was originally released in 2011, and since then it has been released on almost every platform one can think of while managing to sell over 30 million copies, making it one of the bestselling games on the market. Skyrim has had an incredibly long lifespan which has been helped along by the cornucopia of mods created by fans. However, gamers have been wondering when the next entry in the series is coming.
The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced in 2018 at E3. There was not much to reveal at that point, because the game was still in pre-production. About four years later, the game is still in pre-production according to Howard. This suggests that the game is still many, many years away, and gamers will likely only get to play it in the mid-2020s, if not later. The early announcement may have satisfied fans by confirming to them that the game is on the way. However, it could also infuriate gamers when they realize just how long they have to wait.
Fallout 5 Is Now in the Same Boat
The last Fallout game to be released was Fallout 76, which came out in 2018. Although Fallout 76 had a disastrous launch, Bethesda gradually improved the game over time, and it now enjoys a lively community and a much better reputation. In 2021, Howard confirmed that Fallout 5 would be coming and that the studio already had an idea of what it wanted out of the game. However, it was only in 2022 that it became clear just how far away the game is. Howard revealed that the development of Fallout 5 would begin after The Elder Scrolls 6, a game that is still in pre-production. Consequently, gamers will have to wait for both The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield to release before they ever get to play Fallout 5.
Bethesda has a busy schedule ahead, and Howard has let gamers know precisely what the studio's plans are. While some gamers may appreciate the transparency, the early announcement of games can also have downsides, especially when gamers still have several years to wait. For maximum anticipation without building up frustration, Bethesda should consider keeping its projects under wraps until a little closer to release.
Fallout 5 is still in early development.