The engine powering your favorite Bethesda games is getting a major upgrade, but will it be enough to overcome past criticisms?
Bethesda Game Studios has long relied on its proprietary Creation Engine to bring its sprawling worlds to life. This in-house technology has undoubtedly been a significant asset, enabling the creation of immersive experiences like Skyrim and Fallout 4. However, it's also fair to say that some of the technical hiccups and limitations players have encountered in these titles can be traced back to this very engine. For a while, the word on the street was that The Elder Scrolls VI would be built upon Creation Engine 2, the same engine powering the highly anticipated Starfield. But in a recent revelation, Todd Howard, the figurehead of Bethesda, has announced a surprising shift: The Elder Scrolls VI will actually be running on the brand-new Creation Engine 3.
During a candid interview with Kinda Funny Games, Todd Howard delved into various aspects of Bethesda's upcoming projects, including Fallout 76, Starfield, and, of course, the much-anticipated next installment in The Elder Scrolls saga. When the conversation turned to the successor to Skyrim, Howard shared some exciting news: "We've spent the last several years bringing Creation Engine 2, which powers Starfield, up to Creation Engine 3, which is going to power Elder Scrolls 6 and beyond."
This announcement is significant because it marks the first time we've heard of a Creation Engine 3. Previously, back in 2021, Howard had indicated that Creation Engine 2 would be the foundation for both Starfield and the next Elder Scrolls game. While it was naturally assumed that TES6 would benefit from advancements over what powers Starfield, the introduction of a completely new engine iteration, CE3, suggests a more substantial leap forward.
But here's where it gets controversial... While this news is undoubtedly exciting for fans eager for the next generation of Elder Scrolls gameplay, the specifics of what Creation Engine 3 will offer in terms of improvements over its predecessors remain a mystery. Many players are holding out hope that the development team has prioritized addressing long-standing issues, such as the frequent loading screens that can interrupt the flow of exploration in Bethesda's open-world titles. Only time will tell if these hopes will be realized.
What are your thoughts on the Creation Engine? Do you believe Creation Engine 2 represented a significant upgrade from the technology used in Fallout 4? And perhaps the biggest question on everyone's mind: when do you predict The Elder Scrolls VI will officially grace our screens? We'd love to hear your opinions in the comments below – do you agree with the direction Bethesda is taking, or do you have concerns about the engine's past performance?
