Bethesda's new space-based RPG Starfield has been the subject of a lot of hype since its E3 teaser trailer. Being Bethesda's first new IP in over 25 years, fans are eager to see what's next from the developer of the Fallout and Elder Scrolls series. It's been a shaky few years for Bethesda, as the release of Fallout 76 failed to live up to expectations, but Starfield looks as though it could be set to change this. While little was shown in the teaser, it still impressed fans, and many cannot wait for it to debut next year.
It's clear that Starfield is a big priority for Bethesda, but if it is to live up to the lofty expectations set by its predecessors, it should look to learn from them. In particular, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has proved its longevity by standing the test of time. The game still has an active player base, with plenty of Skyrim mods to keep the game feeling fresh almost a decade after its initial release. Mods aren't the only way Skyrim remains feeling fresh, though, as one trick Bethesda used in development has ensured there's always something new to find in Skyrim.
Will Starfield Be Bethesda's Next Hit?
Both The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield were announced at E3 2018 to rambunctious applause. While the former still appears to be some way off, Starfield seems as though it will release in December next year to challenge Fallout and The Elder Scrolls as Bethesda fans' favorite IP. It is, perhaps, a sign of the faith Bethesda is bestowing upon Starfield that it was chosen as the next major IP to release over The Elder Scrolls 6. The past years have proven Bethesda's confidence in its new IP, as while Starfield has been pushed up Bethesda's priority list, The Elder Scrolls 6 is little more than a consideration at this point.
A major hint as to the scale of Starfield's release exists in the form of the game's release date. As things stand, Starfield's release date is set to coincide with the 11th anniversary of the initial release of Skyrim. While many fans may have been hoping for more Skyrim-related content on the game's 11th anniversary, Bethesda has other plans. It was a bold move to pick such a significant date for The Elder Scrolls series to host the release of Starfield, and it may be a sign of intent. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is the development studio's most successful game to date and has been brought to nearly every gaming platform. If Bethesda is intent on ensuring the same success for Starfield, it may need to consider taking a page from Skyrim's book.
Skyrim's Hidden Secrets
The trick to Skyrim's longevity lies in the sheer volume of hidden secrets and questlines. The game is simply chocked full of content for the player to explore and uncover. Secrets range from cheese in Makarth referencing Pac-Man, to under-bridge references to Three Billy Goats Gruff. It seems as though it would be nearly impossible for a single player to uncover every hidden secret in Skyrim, but that doesn't stop fans from trying. Traversing the map in search of hidden secrets and Easter Eggs is one of the game's great pleasures, and it doubles as one of the keys to Skyrim's longevity. With the game now approaching 10 years old, fans might expect that they've uncovered all there is to know about the classic adventure RPG. However, they would be wrong in that assumption.
To this day, diehard Skyrim fans are still uncovering new details about the game. Just this past week, fans have been going crazy over the revelation that the pickaxe animation can be skipped by hitting ore veins with a power attack. Another recent discovery saw a Skyrim fan discovering a dungeon for the first time after 7 years of playing the game. It is these small discoveries that make Skyrim such a great game to revisit time and time again. While it may be a slight exaggeration, it seems as though there are enough secrets in Skyrim to tide over a player for a lifetime.
If Starfield is to live up to the reputation of Skyrim, as that appears to be Bethesda's desire, secrets are something that it needs to capture perfectly. The longevity of Skyrim is unmatched by almost every other RPG. The game has now been updated to be played across three generations, with Skyrim's Xbox Series X upgrade mod continuing the trend. Starfield could certainly match this impressive longevity, but it will be crucial to match the volumes of content offered by Skyrim's hidden secrets in order for that to happen.
What Could Starfield's Secrets Look Like?
Skyrim contains a number of references to pop culture and historical mythology. These little Easter Eggs bring the sense of discovery that's so valuable in Skyrim. One of the most commonly touted Easter Eggs makes reference to King Arthur in a humorous fashion. The player can find a sword lodged in a stone outside of Rebel's Cairn just north of Rorikstead, in what is clearly a reference to the classical myth. The player can also find references to pop culture, a notable one being a reference to The Empire Strikes Back. in this Easter Egg, a skeleton is suspended from the ceiling of an ice cave with a green enchanted sword located beneath the corpse, just out of reach.
These Easter Eggs fit the aesthetic of Skyrim very well, but Starfield's theoretical Easter Eggs could open new doors. The space setting allows for references to sci-fi pop culture. For example, where Skyrim shows an enchanted green sword, maybe in Starfield's universe there exists the potential for actual laser melee weapons. Much of what would take the player out of the experience in a classic RPG setting could fit perfectly in Starfield vs Skyrim. The far-off sci-fi setting of Starfield opens up a galaxy of possibilities for hidden secrets, but whether Bethesda will make use of this is yet to be seen.
Starfield will release on the 11th of November 2022 on PC and Xbox Series X/S.