Dragon Age: The Veilguard's reveal trailer dropped several weeks ago, and many fans of the series were surprised by the art style that was represented in the trailer. While Dragon Age has never been a realistic series, and the art style in Dragon Age has never remained consistent between games, the simplified, 3D cartoonlike style of the Dragon Age: The Veilguard trailer was a step in a very unexpected direction for many fans. The release of the gameplay trailer shortly after showcased a less cartoony art style, but it is still clear that the art of Dragon Age: The Veilguard is in a different direction to that of its predecessors.

It's been a while since Bethesda has released any substantive news about The Elder Scrolls 6's development, including its possible art style. The Elder Scrolls series differs from Dragon Age in that its art style remains relatively consistent from installment to installment, with only the improvements in game development technology and narrative design marking any real changes. While there are many good reasons to change The Elder Scrolls 6's art style, there's also a clear case to keep the art style the same.

The Elder Scrolls 6 logo on Craglorn background
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How The Art Style of The Elder Scrolls 6 Could Change

Setting has proven to be one of the most important factors in the art style in The Elder Scrolls, as it defines the architecture, landscape, and design of even organic beings such as people and animals. For example, the horses in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, found in a very temperate Cyrodiil, are far more graceful and leaner than the stout and hardy horses found in Skyrim. With The Elder Scrolls 6's rumored move to Hammerfell would come the opportunity to lean into another different art style, and hopefully one that is more visually striking than Skyrim or Oblivion's.

It has also been 13 years since Skyrim's release. Game development technology has taken massive steps forward, and it may be time to give The Elder Scrolls 6 a revamp. While the art style in The Elder Scrolls is fine, it's not unique or distinctive in any way, and refining the art style could go a long way in defining the series, especially after such a long gap between Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls 6.

Why The Art Style of The Elder Scrolls 6 Shouldn't Change

Alternatively, Bethesda could choose to leave The Elder Scrolls 6's art style unchanged. Consistency across a series is desirable to retain its identity and, while this is less common in video games than it is in TV shows and movies, consistency is important for brand awareness and genre for audiences. As seen with the reception of the Dragon Age: The Veilguard's reveal trailer, pivoting the art style too much can result in backlash from some fans, who may feel as if the spirit of the games is lost.

The Elder Scrolls already has interesting art to draw from thanks to the many cultures present in Tamriel. Dunmer, Nord, and Redguard art all have visually striking and distinct styles that would be difficult to translate exactly to a 3D video game, but could absolutely influence a unique art style that still remains true to The Elder Scrolls. If The Elder Scrolls 6 is set in Hammerfell, the location and culture of the Redguards could prove to be the perfect opportunity to create a more stylized art style that makes The Elder Scrolls 6 immediately identifiable.