The Elder Scrolls franchise is known for epic single-player experiences that allow players to explore a massive in-game world and play in whatever way suits them best. The Elder Scrolls 6 is expected to follow this same formula, evolving the foundational mechanics of the franchise while giving fans some new elements to enjoy. While Bethesda is focusing on the release of outer space open-world game Starfield and FPS shooter Redfall, there are very few details known about what TheElder Scrolls 6 will be like. What might be worrying is the advent of microtransaction systems in recent Elder Scrolls titles, and what this might mean for future games.
Microtransaction systems in video games are extremely common in recent years, as the popularity of pay-to-win games like Diablo Immortal and Clash of Clans have shown how lucrative the formula might become. Of course, the gaming community at large has mixed feelings about microtransactions, especially if a game is virtually unplayable without consistent real-world purchases. While open-world MMORPGs like The Elder Scrolls Online allow players to experience a massive world while offering paid DLC expansions for a profit, Bethesda might want to stay away from the formula that made The Elder Scrolls: Blades so controversial.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Might Adopt a Paid Currency and Membership System
As some players might know, Bethesda has a previous history of incorporating paid content and microtransactions into games. The Elder Scrolls Online has an in-game currency called "Crowns" that can be used to purchase items that are not available in the rest of the game. Outside the long-enduring Elder Scrolls Online, the multiplayer Fallout 76 also includes an in-game currency called "Atoms" that serve virtually the same purpose. It is not out of the realm of possibility for Bethesda to allow players to buy exclusive cosmetic items in The Elder Scrolls 6 using in-game currency.
In a franchise that allows players to do almost anything that they'd like - as seen in Skyrim, but especially when including Skyrim mods - it would be worrying to see microtransactions in The Elder Scrolls 6. While the franchise is known to have one-time paid DLC content like Dawnguard and The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles, this content often provides players with in-game experiences, mechanics, and items they wouldn't have otherwise received and are fully optional. The Elder Scrolls 6 could incorporate the ESO Plus membership system that unlocks all DLCs for players for a monthly fee, but this would require consistent real-world purchases.
Why Microtransactions In The Elder Scroll 6 Might Alienate Fans and Break Immersion
When The Elder Scrolls: Blades was released, the game received mixed reviews due to an intrusive microtransaction system that undercuts the experience. Of course, making players pay for in-game currency and loot crates that never seem to appear in-game isn't uncommon, with games like Star Wars Battlefront II and Destiny 2 putting pressure on players to pay to win. Adding microtransactions to The Elder Scrolls 6 could undercut any kind of creative evolution that Bethesda adds to the title, especially if there are membership fees or paywalls involved. Of course, The Elder Scrolls: Blades was a financial success, bringing up questions surrounding player satisfaction over monetary gains.
Ultimately, if the long-enduring success of Skyrim has proved anything, it's that The Elder Scrolls franchise has a devoted community of fans who deserve an immersive, epic, open-world game that does not push them to pay for vital in-game content. This includes questioning the necessity of adding a membership service and a potential system for microtransactions into the game. After all, the enduring spirit of The Elder Scrolls is giving players the freedom to craft a hero who can embark on their own journey, not paying real money to make that journey a reality.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is currently in development.
