Crimson Desert May Be The First Real Test For The Elder Scrolls 6

by

When you’re a leader in any field, you’ll always face competition. That’s where Bethesda is now, and it’s a tough spot to be in. They’re also under pressure to create a sequel that lives up to one of the most popular and well-regarded open-world games ever made.

It’s been eight years since Bethesda announced Elder Scrolls 6 in 2018, and the open-world gaming landscape has changed a lot since then. Many successful games have been released, each offering unique features and creating a huge variety of options for players. This year, Crimson Desert has become a standout title in the genre, which puts interesting pressure on Bethesda as they develop the next Elder Scrolls game.

The developers are facing a tough challenge: how to satisfy fans who love the familiar feel of their previous games while also creating something fresh and new. They want to build a world as captivating as their earlier work, but still keep everything players enjoyed about Skyrim. It’s a delicate balance, and we’ll explore why it’s so difficult.

A New Brand of Open World

Let’s look at what Crimson Desert does well, and how those elements could benefit Bethesda as they develop future games. Beyond having three characters you can play as, the game features impressive ways to traverse its massive world. Players can use magical wings, a gliding shield, or a rocket pack, all of which add exciting options for getting around and exploring the vertical landscapes.

The way each character – Kliff, Daminane, and Oongka – moves and overcomes obstacles is distinct and creates a compelling contrast. Usually, open-world games make you want to use fast travel, but Crimson Desert encourages exploration on foot, rewarding players for discovering more of the game world.

The game’s world is much more engaging thanks to realistic physics. For example, you can use your Axiom Claw to pull down a tree and then launch yourself like a catapult, letting you quickly travel long distances with skillful moves. This is just one way the environment can be used to help you get around.

Crimson Desert really shines with its challenging boss battles, fluid and cinematic combat, and breathtaking moments. The game world, Pywel, feels incredibly detailed and vibrant, making it a joy to explore. It’s not just a map filled with tasks; it’s a living, breathing place where exploration takes center stage, and quests feel like a natural part of the adventure.

Bethesda has already explored many of these ideas in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, and we previously compared it to Crimson Desert. While Skyrim and Crimson Desert share similarities despite being released years apart, we’re not suggesting Bethesda should simply copy features from the newer game.

Bethesda needs to make sure Elder Scrolls 6 feels less rigid and more fluid than their recent open-world games. This is especially important now, with Crimson Desert on the horizon, and it’s not just about the issues we’ve already discussed – the stakes are higher than ever.

Before we get into the details, let’s look at why Bethesda’s next Elder Scrolls game has the potential to be incredibly immersive – a world you might find hard to stop playing once you get invested.

Masters Of Their Game

Let’s be real – this is Bethesda. While some of their recent games haven’t quite lived up to the standard set by Skyrim, they’re still masters at creating immersive open worlds that are hard to leave.

This studio doesn’t focus on flashy visuals like some games, especially compared to Crimson Desert. Instead, they excel at creating a deeply detailed world with complex characters and relationships. It’s so immersive that it can be a lot to take in, especially how everything connects to your experience as a player.

Bethesda consistently excels in storytelling, which gives them a clear advantage. While Crimson Desert’s story was decent and kept us engaged, it felt a bit fragmented. Bethesda, on the other hand, creates stories that feel fully integrated into the game. You can expect engaging side quests and memorable characters to naturally unfold as you explore their worlds.

It’s still too soon to know how much player-created content Crimson Desert will have, but Bethesda remains the clear leader in game modding. Their games are famously a little strange, which really inspires players to make their own additions and changes. People are already creating mods for Crimson Desert, and some, like the ‘Iron Man’ mod, are quite popular. However, it’s not yet at the level of the extensive modding communities built around Bethesda’s games.

Compared to Crimson Desert, Bethesda’s game offers a level of freedom and control over the story that’s truly unique. While Crimson Desert does a good job of letting players explore a large world, Bethesda’s approach goes further by making your choices directly impact the narrative. This makes the experience feel incredibly immersive, like you’re genuinely living a different life.

When it comes to the success of Elder Scrolls 6, Bethesda should focus on what it does best. It doesn’t need to directly compete with games like Crimson Desert. Instead, it should recapture the magic that makes its worlds so beloved and ensure Elder Scrolls 6 delivers plenty of that familiar charm.

Now, let’s discuss a key area the studio needs to consider – and potentially copy – once their new game is released to players.

Consistent Evolution

Beyond the enjoyable gameplay of Crimson Desert, the developers are doing a fantastic job of supporting the game after launch and listening to player feedback when adding new content. Updates come out incredibly quickly. Crimson Desert has changed significantly in just a couple of months since its release, and Bethesda should take note of this and aim to provide a similar level of support and improvement for their own games.

The studio is used to gradually updating and expanding its games over several years – it’s always been their standard practice. However, things are different now. Players expect games like Pywel to constantly improve and stay fresh, and meaningful new features are key to keeping them engaged and coming back for more.

Bethesda needs to address this, particularly if Elder Scrolls 6 retains the typical imperfections found in their games. Even without those issues, it’s smart to learn from what they’ve done well. While frequent patches aren’t necessarily needed, Bethesda should understand that player expectations have changed recently, largely due to the way Crimson Desert has handled updates and support.

The next Elder Scrolls game doesn’t need to compete with games like Crimson Desert by being more visually impressive. Instead, it should focus on creating a unique experience that fits its own story and the kind of world it wants to build. However, it does need to show that Bethesda can evolve its classic gameplay formula and adapt to modern gaming trends.

When Crimson Desert is released, it won’t just be compared to Elder Scrolls 6. It will inevitably be measured against every open-world game that’s come out since Skyrim captivated players. This new title represents a significant return for the studio, and it’s crucial they get it right from the start, actively listening to and incorporating player feedback along the way.

If any game studio can successfully revitalize the open-world genre, it’s likely Bethesda. Now, it’s up to them to deliver on that potential and make it happen.

Just so you know, this article is all my opinion as a fan – GamingBolt isn’t necessarily saying these are their views, it’s just what I think!

Read More

2026-06-01 18:51