At first glance, Grand Theft Auto and the Elder Scrolls video game series appear to have nothing in common. One series features explosive action in modern-day settings with an emphasis on bombastic, gang-centric gameplay, while the other explores a vast fantasy world with a focus on mythical campaigns and adventures. Both franchises have released online versions while the main entries have come to a standstill, and the lengthy development times for each have made clear these games have more similarities than meets the eye.
The latest main installments of Grand Theft Auto and The Elder Scrolls were Grand Theft Auto V and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, both of which were met with great success. To this day, Grand Theft Auto V and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are both still popular with gamers. The gameplay and freedom players held in each open-world were revolutionary during their releases, but with the gaming industry constantly evolving and becoming more competitive, expectations are rising. The struggle to secure the legacy of each series is a challenge for both Rockstar and Bethesda as fans anticipate the long-awaited sequels.
The success of Grand Theft Auto and Skyrim have led both developers to favor minor updates, system ports, or remasters over the dedicated development of sequels. Rockstar Games usually releases a new installment for their IPs every four to five years, meaning, following that pattern, Grand Theft Auto fans should have received GTA 6 three years ago. This development could have been slowed by the release of Red Dead Redemption 2, which was also met with great success. RDR2‘s well-received single-player experience could be a good sign for GTA’s sequel, though Rockstar’s lack of communication on the project is still worrying. This situation is similar to Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls 6 debacle, as little to no information has been given about the sequel. However, Elder Scrolls 6‘s release is much bleaker with the recent failure of Fallout 76 and less than stellar reception of Fallout 4. Either way, the lengthy absence of news and updates has placed both developers in strained positions.
GTA And Elder Scrolls Depend On And Are Threatened By Continued Interest
While Grand Theft Auto and Elder Scrolls offered exhilarating single-player experiences, their online counterparts have been quite profitable as well. GTA Online has maintained steady popularity thanks to streamers, content creators, and the recent RP craze. Likewise, Elder Scrolls Online has continued to undergo heavy development. ESO’s recent Blackwood and Morrowind DLCs offered hours of new content in familiar settings. Their success and profit margins could indicate that Rockstar Games and Bethesda are less inclined toward serious development on GTA 6 and Elder Scrolls 6 so long as their online counterparts maintain their popularity.
Unfortunately, the lengthy absence of GTA 6 and Elder Scrolls 6 are setting fans of both franchises up for inevitable disappointment. Both series have gone far too long without sequels, and each had high expectations for those sequels to begin with. The longer the developers wait to reveal details about the projects, the more fans are likely to expect. Similar to CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 debacle, lengthy delays and growing expectations made consumers impatient, with the final product considered a disappointment to many. With luck, GTA 6 and Elder Scrolls 6’s will manage to avoid the same fate.
While the futures of Grand Theft Auto and Elder Scrolls have been in limbo for years, neither sequel project has been officially canceled. Rockstar and Bethesda will both be held to the highest standards in the coming years, as the reception of their highly-anticipated sequels could heavily impact public perception of the studios. Neither Grand Theft Auto 6 nor Elder Scrolls 6 have received release dates yet.
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