Skyrim Remake Unlikely: Former Bethesda Artist Explains Why

Eight years after its initial announcement, development of The Elder Scrolls VI remains a lengthy process, with Bethesda confirming the game is now in full production but offering no firm release date. The update comes as fans continue to speculate about the long-awaited sequel to Skyrim, and whether a complete remake of earlier titles might precede its arrival.

Todd Howard, head of Bethesda Game Studios, told GamesRadar+ that the majority of the studio is currently focused on The Elder Scrolls VI. “The majority of this building is working on The Elder Scrolls 6,” Howard said. Despite the significant effort, Howard cautioned against expecting a swift release, acknowledging the game’s protracted development. “It’s a process,” he continued. “We all wish it went a little bit faster – or a lot faster – but it’s a process that we want to get right.”

The prolonged development cycle has led to questions about the feasibility of a full remake of previous Elder Scrolls titles, such as Oblivion or Morrowind. Nate Purkeypile, a former Bethesda artist who worked on Fallout 3, Fallout 4, and Skyrim, expressed skepticism about Bethesda’s ability to successfully undertake such a project. Speaking on the Kiwi Talkz podcast, Purkeypile praised Capcom’s recent Resident Evil remakes, which were built from the ground up, but doubted Bethesda could replicate that approach.

“I very, very much love the Resident Evil remakes, and it’s cool that they’re built from the ground up, but I don’t suppose that’s achievable with Bethesda games,” Purkeypile stated. He cited the complex interconnected systems within Bethesda’s role-playing games as a major obstacle. “With so many systems interacting with each other, trying to get those to behave the same way [as the original]… I wouldn’t wish that on anybody.”

Purkeypile’s assessment highlights a fundamental difference in game design philosophy. Capcom’s Resident Evil titles generally feature more linear level design, while The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series are known for their expansive open worlds and intricate mechanics. Recreating these complex systems would require substantial time and resources. The recent release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which utilizes the older Gamebryo engine rather than a complete rebuild in Unreal Engine 5, supports this view, according to reports.

Bethesda’s current priorities also suggest a full remake is unlikely. Howard indicated that the studio is balancing development of The Elder Scrolls VI with ongoing support for its existing games, including Starfield. “We also, again, have that benefit of having so many millions of people playing our other games that we’re actually trying to figure out how to serve those other audiences while we make a new one,” he explained. Studio design director Emil Pagliarulo echoed this sentiment, stating that the team doesn’t feel pressured by the long wait, preferring to prioritize quality over speed. “Do they want a game that comes out before it should and doesn’t meet their expectations? Or do they want the turkey that is in the oven for long enough to be delicious when it finally comes out of the oven?”