The Elder Scrollsfranchise 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 6is 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 gameStarfieldand FPS shooterRedfall,there are very few details known about whatTheElder Scrolls 6will be like. What might be worrying is the advent of microtransaction systems in recentElder Scrollstitles, and what this might mean for future games.
Microtransaction systems in video games are extremely common in recent years, as the popularity ofpay-to-win games likeDiablo ImmortalandClash of Clanshave 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 likeThe Elder Scrolls Onlineallow players to experience a massive world while offering paid DLC expansions for a profit, Bethesda might want to stay away from the formula that madeThe Elder Scrolls: Bladesso controversial.
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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 Onlinehas 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-enduringElder Scrolls Online,the multiplayerFallout 76also 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 inThe Elder Scrolls 6using in-game currency.
In a franchise that allows players to do almost anything that they’d like - as seen inSkyrim,but especially when includingSkyrimmods - it would be worrying to see microtransactions inThe Elder Scrolls 6.While the franchise is known to have one-time paid DLC content likeDawnguardandThe 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 6could incorporatethe ESO Plus membership systemthat 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
WhenThe Elder Scrolls: Bladeswas 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 likeStar Wars Battlefront IIandDestiny 2putting pressure on players to pay to win. Adding microtransactions toThe Elder Scrolls 6could 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: Bladeswas a financial success, bringing up questions surrounding player satisfaction over monetary gains.
Ultimately, if thelong-enduring success ofSkyrimhas proved anything, it’s thatThe Elder Scrollsfranchise 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 ofThe Elder Scrollsis 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.
