Bethesda’s new space-based RPGStarfieldhas 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 theFalloutandElder Scrollsseries. It’s been a shaky few years for Bethesda, as the release ofFallout 76failed to live up to expectations, butStarfieldlooks 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 thatStarfieldis 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:Skyrimhas proved its longevity by standing the test of time. The game still has an active player base, with plenty ofSkyrimmodsto keep the game feeling fresh almost a decade after its initial release. Mods aren’t the only waySkyrimremains feeling fresh, though, as one trick Bethesda used in development has ensured there’s always something new to find inSkyrim.
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Will Starfield Be Bethesda’s Next Hit?
BothThe Elder Scrolls 6andStarfieldwere announced at E3 2018 to rambunctious applause. While the former still appears to be some way off,Starfieldseems as though it will release in December next year to challengeFalloutandThe Elder Scrollsas Bethesda fans' favorite IP. It is, perhaps, a sign of the faith Bethesda is bestowing uponStarfieldthat it was chosen as the next major IP to release overThe Elder Scrolls 6. The past years have proven Bethesda’s confidence in its new IP, as whileStarfieldhas been pushed up Bethesda’s priority list,The Elder Scrolls 6is little more than a consideration at this point.
A major hint as to the scale ofStarfield’srelease exists in the form of the game’s release date. As things stand,Starfield’srelease date is set to coincide with the 11th anniversary of the initial release ofSkyrim. While many fans may have been hoping for moreSkyrim-related content on the game’s 11th anniversary, Bethesda has other plans. It was a bold move to pick such a significant date forThe Elder Scrollsseries to host the release ofStarfield, and it may be a sign of intent.The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis 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 forStarfield, it may need to consider taking a page fromSkyrim’sbook.
Skyrim’s Hidden Secrets
The trick toSkyrim’slongevity 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 referencingPac-Man, to under-bridge references toThree Billy Goats Gruff. It seems as though it would be nearly impossible for a single player to uncover everyhidden secret inSkyrim, 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 toSkyrim’slongevity. 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, diehardSkyrimfans 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 aSkyrimfan discovering a dungeonfor the first time after 7 years of playing the game. It is these small discoveries that makeSkyrimsuch a great game to revisit time and time again. While it may be a slight exaggeration, it seems as though there are enough secrets inSkyrimto tide over a player for a lifetime.
IfStarfieldis to live up to the reputation ofSkyrim, as that appears to be Bethesda’s desire, secrets are something that it needs to capture perfectly. The longevity ofSkyrimis unmatched by almost every other RPG. The game has now been updated to be played across three generations, withSkyrim’sXbox Series X upgrade modcontinuing the trend.Starfieldcould certainly match this impressive longevity, but it will be crucial to match the volumes of content offered bySkyrim’shidden secrets in order for that to happen.
What Could Starfield’s Secrets Look Like?
Skyrimcontains a number of references to pop culture and historical mythology. These little Easter Eggs bring the sense of discovery that’s so valuable inSkyrim. 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 toThe 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 ofSkyrimvery well, butStarfield’s theoretical Easter Eggs could open new doors. The space setting allows for references to sci-fi pop culture. For example, whereSkyrimshows an enchanted green sword, maybe inStarfield’suniverse 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 inStarfieldvsSkyrim. The far-off sci-fi setting ofStarfieldopens up a galaxy of possibilities for hidden secrets, but whether Bethesda will make use of this is yet to be seen.
Starfieldwill release on the 11th of November 2022 on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
