No one needs me to point out how obnoxious the word “ Skyrim ” has become lately. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim originally released in 2011, but has seen more ports, editions, and updates than we even want to keep track of anymore. It’s already available on pretty much every mainstream platform already, but it’s also going to release on the Nintendo Switch. Not only that, but it’s still getting updates six years later. There’s a new Survival mode for Skyrim that’s going to release very soon. All of this revolves around one single solitary title that Bethesda seems determined to milk until it’s bone dry.
The whole situation has even started to spark its own slew of memes. There’s the one that shows Bethesda’s Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing, Pete Hines, saying, “We heard you loud and clear, Skyrim is coming to Ouya.” This meme varies and uses all kinds of other unnecessary, and laughable potential ports. Another meme that makes me laugh in particular is a fake Skyrim item called the Bethesda Staff. The item’s description reads, “Summons a new edition of Skyrim wherever the caster is pointing.” You know you’ve got a problem when the entire internet starts mocking you.
It’s for that reason that Bethesda really needs to start developing another The Elder Scrolls game. I know there’s The Elder Scrolls Online , but that’s only going to attract a certain audience. Single-player role-playing games are generally going to be more one-size fits all than a MMO. And as far as the video game industry (and Bethesda are concerned), the more people you can sell your game to, the better you’ll be. It’s just good business.
So take the fact that everyone is quite frankly sick and tired of hearing the word “ Skyrim ,” and combine it with a brand new chance to make money. Why in the world would Bethesda refuse? It’s high time they realize that they’re not going to be able to push their previous cash cow anymore. Ol’ Skyrim is getting older, a little white around the face, and it’s time to put it out to pasture. Or perhaps maybe we might just want to put it out of its misery and kill it dead.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Skyrim just as much as the next person. I might end up replaying it until the day I die. I just don’t want to see it re-released anymore. There are enough ports and editions now that most everyone will be able to find something that they like, on a platform that they’d like to play on. Bethesda doesn’t have to worry about any new generations missing out on Skyrim .
So when do we get to see the next The Elder Scrolls game? There will almost certainly be more expansions for The Elder Scrolls Online to look forward to, but we’d all love to see a brand new game. Can we finally journey to the Black Marsh/Argonia? Or will we get to hang out with all the other cool cats in Elsweyr? Which as-of-yet-unexplored area of the The Elder Scrolls universe would you love to see in the next game?