Summary
Fallout 4’s settlements have consistently proven to be one of the game’s best features, as fans all over the world continue to share their impressive designs to this day.Starfield, Bethesda’s latest IP, added an almost identical feature when it gave players the ability to build outposts on the planets of their choosing. In this way, bothFallout 4’s settlementsandStarfield’s outposts have served as an excellent way for players to customize their gaming experience and create a unique home away from home for themselves in each game. Now, Bethesda’s upcoming RPGThe Elder Scrolls 6should look at implementing something similar, as it would surely earn accolades from fans.
A settlement or outpost-building feature inThe Elder Scrolls 6would likely come with its challenges, considering the series follows a set of rules starkly different from the futuristic mechanics ofFalloutandStarfield. However, despite these challenges, it’s still entirely possible forThe Elder Scrolls 6to include a feature like this, especially in light of whatSkyrimwas able to accomplish in itsHearthfireDLC and what could potentially be an even larger open world than the franchise has ever seen.
How The Elder Scrolls 6 Could Make Settlements Work
The Elder Scrolls 6 Could Improve Upon Skyrim’s Hearthfire Content
WhileThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimhas been one of the most praised (and most re-released) games ever made, its various DLC content additions were a different story — namely,Hearthfire. The concept ofHearthfirewas solid: purchase land, build a house, and live there. However, many players and critics found the house-building feature to be too restrictive on their creative capabilities, to the point that many consideredpurchasing one of the pre-built houses inSkyrimto be a much more satisfying experience. Nevertheless,Hearthfireset a precedent for the building mechanics in Bethesda’s subsequent games, andThe Elder Scrolls 6could improve upon that concept and make it standard gameplay.
PerhapsThe Elder Scrolls 6could bringHearthfireback toThe Elder Scrollsby allowing players to purchase land and build a house there, but instead, integrate it into regular gameplay rather than adding it on later as DLC. Additionally,The Elder Scrolls 6could improve uponHearthfire’s divisive mechanics by implementing and enhancing those of thesettlements and outposts inFallout 4andStarfield, respectively. A house-building feature would then undoubtedly fit into the world ofThe Elder Scrolls 6, as it would settle on a foundation previously established by one ofSkyrim’s DLC packs - if not one of its worst.
The Elder Scrolls 6’s Settlements Could Serve as Camps
Another wayThe Elder Scrolls 6could include settlement-building mechanics is by allowing players to build camps anywhere in the open world. It can be assumed that Bethesda plans to makeThe Elder Scrolls 6’s open world even larger than its predecessor, especially followingStarfield, and providing players with the ability to construct camps in the wilderness would make exploring its predictably sizable open world a bit more manageable.Bethesda’s online RPGFallout 76included a feature similar to this, and it would surely find a good home inThe Elder Scrolls 6, especially if players could progressively improve their camp-building potential by collecting new blueprints or harvesting unique materials.
It is currently unclear whatThe Elder Scrolls 6will bring to the beloved franchise, but some kind of settlement or outpost construction feature similar toFallout 4andStarfieldwould be welcomed with open arms. In fact, a feature such as this is almost expected to be implemented inThe Elder Scrolls 6in some way, considering the positive reception the building mechanics ofFallout 4,Fallout 76, andStarfieldhave garnered. The only obstacle will be ensuring it fits into the world andlore ofThe Elder Scrollswithout feeling out of place or unnecessary.
