Will Xbox Exclusivity Kill Mods in The Elder Scrolls 6? Skyrim Writer Weighs In!

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Initially, Starfield may not have made a powerful debut, but it’s important to acknowledge its progress. Over time, the game has been consistently improving, particularly thanks to its active modding community. These creative modders have been essential in filling the gaps, adding depth and richness to the game.

Even Emil Pagliarulo, Bethesda’s studio design director and co-writer of the acclaimed game Skyrim, could not help but express his admiration for it. However, as the stars align for Starfield, there is a looming threat on the galaxy’s edge that Elder Scrolls 6 enthusiasts might want to watch carefully.

The excitement for The Elder Scrolls 6 is high, but what if Xbox pulls the plug?

In a chat with GamesRadar, Pagliarulo expressed his excitement over the game’s growth due to user-created content. He is visibly pleased with the strides the game has taken over the past two years, and he holds the community in high regard for their significant contributions.

Initially, I thought the mod community would create content at a reasonable pace. However, their output is far beyond what I anticipated, leaving me awestruck and inspired. They’re delivering exactly what I had hoped for.

During the very same interview, he conceded a well-known fact: many are yearning for “The Elder Scrolls 6”. Since the teaser was shown around seven years ago, apart from an announcement of its early production phase, there’s been relatively little information revealed about it.

Fans really, really, really want Elder Scrolls 6.

Clearly, there’s a lot of buzz and eagerness surrounding the upcoming game. However, it’s worth noting that there’s a small, yet genuine possibility that Microsoft might employ an exclusivity strategy. Despite their recent emphasis on inclusivity and access for gamers across all platforms, this move wouldn’t be entirely unexpected from them.

As an ardent gamer, I can’t help but feel a pang of anticipation, knowing there’s a tiny, yet real chance that TES6 might initially grace the screens of Xbox consoles exclusively, before making its way to PC and other platforms at a later time.

It’s possible you might be wondering, “Why is TES6 being released then?” Here’s an explanation that might make sense: To boost hardware sales. With TES6 still a couple of years away, it could conveniently coincide with the launch of the next-generation Xbox consoles.

Microsoft might view this situation as an ideal chance to entice gamers towards their ecosystem using the highly anticipated game TES6 as an alluring lure. As one of the most eagerly awaited games of the decade, restricting it to their platform, even for a brief period, could prove to be a potent (yet perhaps harsh) strategy.

It’s not unreasonable to speculate about this in today’s tech industry. If such a scenario unfolds, we might witness an unmodified launch of the game, which would be quite significant. And let me tell you, that could be catastrophic. Mods, as demonstrated by Starfield, have the power to not just fix a game, but completely change it.

According to him, they played a significant role in propelling the game into an entirely different level, and given that he is the creator of ‘Skyrim’, a game that has endured over a decade thanks to its lively, tumultuous, and stunning modding community, his words hold weight.

Mods aren’t a bonus, they’re the soul of Bethesda games

In most cases, mods serve as an enjoyable extra addition to games, much like a delicious cherry on top. However, for Bethesda games, it’s more than just an extra; it’s the base or foundation. The modding community has been instrumental in giving games like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout their enduring appeal. In fact, it’s due to mods that Skyrim remains a popular choice among gamers today.

In their unmodified state, games such as “Skyrim” aren’t the same as what’s known as “Skyrim Grandma.” They won’t offer additional storylines created by fans like “Enderal.” They won’t foster communities that see these games as dynamic environments rather than finished products.

If TES6 is only available on Xbox consoles at launch and not on PC, the entire community and creative potential of the series could effectively cease to exist from the start. Although the necessary resources may arrive later, the initial spark of creativity that typically accompanies a new game release might already be extinguished by then.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but feel a mix of pride and a tinge of bittersweet irony regarding Starfield. Pagliarulo certainly has every reason to be proud of its metamorphosis, but the reality is, the very dream he nurtured, the game-changer that once rescued one title, might unintentionally become the initial victim of a narrow-minded launch strategy.

However, as was pointed out before, this is merely a guess. Here’s hoping that Microsoft and Bethesda won’t forget what truly keeps their games enduring – it’s not about exclusivity or early access. Instead, it’s about the modders, visionaries, and fans who transform games into immersive worlds.

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2025-04-24 18:24