Skyrim Lead Designer Still “Shocked” by Game’s Enduring Popularity, Attributes Success too Player Freedom
Bethesda‘s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, released in 2011, continues to draw players over a decade later, a fact that still surprises one of it’s key creators. Bruce Nesmith, lead designer on the acclaimed role-playing game, recently expressed his astonishment at the title’s longevity in a podcast with FRVR. ”A year later,another game should have surpassed it. And then two years later, three years later, five, ten. It’s like ‘what the hell is going on here?'” Nesmith said. He recounted meetings where Todd Howard would share player statistics,leaving the team incredulous at the game’s continued success.
Skyrim’s enduring appeal,according to Nesmith,stems from its commitment to player agency. “We didn’t shut anything out. We didn’t try to control the experience,” he explained. “We let it be yoru experience, it was a player-driven experience.” While open worlds are now commonplace – “almost a cliché,” Nesmith noted – Skyrim distinguished itself by offering genuine freedom, a quality few games have replicated.
The game’s success isn’t solely about its open world, but also its ability to create a sense of unique player experience, despite its imperfections. Players continue to return to, and new players continue to discover, Skyrim, fueling anticipation for the eventual release of The Elder Scrolls VI.
