Former Bethesda designer says the studio’s infamous loading screens are “a necessary bane” of how it makes RPGs, whether you’re playing Oblivion Remastered, Starfield, or Skyrim

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Bethesda Software has a fondness for using loading screens, which may be something you encounter again if you’re playing Oblivion Remastered. You might notice this feature in many of their past games such as Starfield, Skyrim, and more. While other game studios have managed to create more seamless experiences within their open-world RPGs, it is suggested that Bethesda may not shift away from loading screens since they are a longstanding part of the studio’s history.

Bruce Nesmith, a key figure in Bethesda’s projects ranging from Fallout 3 to Starfield, emphasizes that segmented regions and loading screens are crucial elements in Bethesda’s approach to creating RPGs. This design choice enables them to manage details such as item placement within an area, along with other persisting aspects, even after players move on.

According to Nesmith, people who criticize the games from Bethesda often assume it’s due to laziness or a refusal to adapt to current trends. However, he clarifies that the complexity and graphical intensity of these games make it challenging to deliver both at once.

Despite the best efforts made, the seamlessness in Bethesda’s RPG games just doesn’t seem to materialize. Nesmith explains that the team has strived for improvement, but encountering numerous challenges along the way has resulted in a less enjoyable gaming experience overall.

He explains that it’s impossible to display both interior and exterior views of multiple locations simultaneously. Instead, he suggests pausing the game for a brief loading screen before resuming play, as attempting complex streaming techniques often results in lag or “hitching.

If a game is simplified and focuses on fewer elements, it results in a more streamlined playthrough, making it less of an authentic open-world adventure. Unfortunately, this is sometimes unavoidable when trying to create the desired gaming experience, even though it wasn’t a preferred choice for Bethesda. The reality was, we didn’t really have another option.

Here it is – Bethesda’s long load times might be something you’ll need to tolerate for a bit more. Luckily, players find the occasional oddity in Oblivion Remastered quite acceptable.

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2025-05-01 18:09