2020 hasn’t been the best for many, but certainly had a lot to offer to gamers. While there was a fair share ofCovid-19 related delays to video gamesand disappointing launches, Sony andMicrosoftfinally ushered in the next generation of console gaming with the release of PS5 and Xbox Series X. Sony already had a stellar library of exclusives, and withDemon’s Soulsas the launch title and a promise of a steady flow of exclusives, seemed poised to dominate this generation.
On the other hand,Microsoftremains on a shopping spree for studios both small and big to join Xbox Game Studios. The heavily anticipated acquisition of Bethesda’s parent company, ZeniMax Media, has finally been completed after passing reviews from the European Commission. Xbox added 20 popular Bethesda titles to its Game Pass service, meaning there may be a greater chance that fans may receive remastered versions of classic titles in the future.
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Many of Bethesda’s Offerings Haven’t Aged Well
A gaming giant like Bethesda has been making games for a long time, and some of its popular franchises have lasted several console generations. The two most prominent franchises that fall under this category areThe Elder Scrollsand theFalloutseries.The Elder Scrolls 1released way back in 1994 and the firstFalloutreleased in 1997. Although the two games haven’t made the cut for Xbox Game Pass for now, its sequelsThe Elder Scrolls 3: MorrowindandFallout: New Vegashave.
These titles, as well as the earlierDoomgameshaven’t really aged well for the most part. The washed-out textures, low draw distances as well as some obtuse mechanics make it really hard for modern or younger gamers to get into. The fantastical worlds and the characters that inhabit them are so enticing, that gamers who miss these titles would be doing themselves a disservice. Thus, many of such games definitely warrant a remaster.
Scope of Such Remasters and Related Possibilities
Remastered Bethesda titles are currently the subject of fan speculation for the most part, hence all related information should be taken with a grain of salt. Xbox has shown a lot of interest in bringing its beloved titles to a new light, with the biggest example beingHalo: The Master Chief Collection,alongside some others. Since it wouldn’t necessarily make a lot of sense bringing decades-old titles to Xbox Game Pass for newer players, remastered versions have a slight chance of happening instead. Bethesda has also pointed towards something similar, with Todd Howard stating that they have many surprises for fans in the near future.
Most speculation points to fans receivingmore information aboutStarfieldorThe Elder Scrolls 6, but there is still a slim chance that such remasters could be in the works. However, fans shouldn’t expect a lot from such remasters if that’s something potentially in development. As great as it would be to receive remasters comparable to the scope of the fan-madeThe Elder Scrolls: Skywind,it’d prove taxing for a team already hard at work for future games. It’s important for fans to keep their expectations in check, as smaller upgrades such as improved visuals and better framerate options would probably be the standout highlights, if such remasters do even happen.
In addition to this, there are a fair chance that these upgrades may turn out to be Xbox exclusive versions of the game, as it’d prove a great talking point for making itthe best platform to experience Bethesda games.
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Bethesda’s Future Titles Are Still Some Ways Off
As much as there are rumors of Bethesda’s titles such asStarfielddropping soon, the possibility of this happening seems unlikely.Starfieldseems to be actively in development, as the most substantial piece of information about the game is stillleaked screenshotswhich showed basic UI and environments. On the other hand,The Elder Scrolls 6is largely shrouded in mystery, as there is almost nothing known about the next entry at the time of writing.
Bethesda’s other studios, such as Arkane and Tango Gameworks, are already hard at work on their upcoming projects;DeathloopandGhostwire: Tokyorespectively. Funnily enough, both of these titles already have existing deals with Sony, which will be unaffected by the acquisition. While there isn’t any lack of exclusive titles for Microsoft’s machines for the time being, the heavily anticipated acquisition could show something substantial in the near future, like remasters of Bethesda’s many classic games.
