The Elder Scrolls 6is still a long way away, but it’s worth talking about the new features that Bethesda might implement to improve the next game in the franchise. One particular feature that’s worth considering is multiplayer, specifically co-op multiplayer.
The past mainline games inThe Elder Scrollsfranchise (barringElder Scrolls Online) have been single-player experiences. However, mods that allow multiplayer gameplay – particularly theSkyrimTogether Reborn mod – have been gaining traction in the recent months. If anything, this is proof that adding a multiplayer co-op feature inThe Elder Scrolls 6is a good idea.
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Emulating Skyrim Together Reborn
TheSkyrimTogether Reborn mod was first uploaded in July 2022. On its Nexus Mods page, it’s described as “a passion project, created through the work of a small team of volunteers.” Given its status as a non-official mod,SkyrimTogether Reborn is understandably a bit buggy, and a few in-game features had to be removed to allow for a smoother multiplayer experience. Regardless, it’s the most complete andfunctionalSkyrimmultiplayer modto date.
The community clearly loves it. Since the mod was uploaded,SkyrimTogether Reborn has garnered just over 600,000 downloads. Additionally, popularSkyrimcontent creators have shared their thoughts on the mod, praisingSkyrimTogether Reborn for what it’s achieved and for allowing fans to experience a decade-old game in a whole new way – with friends.
Given this, Bethesda would do well to consider adding a similar feature toThe Elder Scrolls 6. After all,SkyrimTogether Reborn has pretty much confirmed that there’s a significant part of the community wanting to experienceThe Elder Scrollsuniverse through a smaller multiplayer experience. UnlikeThe Elder Scrolls Online,SkyrimTogether Reborn provides a more intimate experience. Through it, a small group of friends can simply fool around in a controlled environment without the usual MMORPG elements.
Implementing Multiplayer Co-op in The Elder Scrolls 6
First and foremost, ifThe Elder Scrolls 6were to come with a multiplayer feature, it should be fully optional. This is to ensure that the developer is catering to the fans ofSkyrimTogether Reborn without taking anything away from players who prefer the true single-player experience. Doing so not only appeals to more players – perhaps even those who were not originallyfans ofThe Elder Scrollsseries– but also improves the title’s replayability.
That said, if Bethesda decides to go along with multiplayer co-op, it needs to iron out a fewissues that weren’t covered inSkyrimTogether Reborn. For example, waiting and sleeping are fully disabled when the multiplayer mod is active as it could lead to complications in synchronizing the specific game world that the players inhabit. The same goes for synchronization bugs involving character movement and quest progression. Finally, there’s the challenge of ensuring that mods still work for the entire party even with the multiplayer feature.
However, despite all of this, there’s still a big chance thatThe Elder Scrolls 6won’t come with built-in co-op. This is because the games in the franchise often center around some sort of chosen one – the most recent example being that the player character inSkyrimis the Last Dragonborn. So, if Bethesda were to implement such a feature, the game would need to justify there being multiple “chosen ones” in the lore. Alternatively,The Elder Scrolls 6could do away with the chosen onetrope altogether.
Lore issues aside, there’s still no denying that optional multiplayer co-op would be an excellent addition to a world as vast and populated as that ofThe Elder Scrollstitles. IfBethesdadoesn’t want to provide the community with the feature, then it seems inevitable that another group of dedicated modders will. It’s only a matter of time.
The Elder Scrolls 6is currently in development.
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