The Elder Scrolls VI keeps Skyrim’s unbeatable progression system

Bethesda’s upcoming return to Tamriel in The Elder Scrolls VI will bring back the beloved character progression system from its endlessly popular predecessor Skyrim.

While new games like Fallout 4 and Starfield have more traditional leveling systems, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim managed to find a perfect balance between the hardcore elements of Morrowind and more casual RPGs. With the studio’s next project, Skyrim’s leveling system finally returns.

In an interview with MinMaxx, ex-Bethesda developer Bruce Nesmith confirmed that The Elder Scrolls VI will keep the majority of Skyrim’s progression system. After all, if it isn’t broke, why fix it?

This means that players will advance skills that they are actively using. For example, if you want to get better at sneaky archery, you’ll have to skulk around the shadows with a bow and arrow. If you want to get better at alchemy, you’ll have to scoff down random ingredients and brew potions. It’s still one of the most engaging leveling systems in gaming history.

Nesmith also confirmed that Skyrim’s more casual, but still reactive, magic system will also be present in the series’ next entry. Players will be able to mix and match elemental styles whenever they so please, allowing them to create deadly combinations.

“The whole magic system for Skyrim, that I persuaded Todd to let me throw the baby and the bathwater and start from scratch, and he trusted me enough to do that, there will probably still be traces of that in 6," Nesmith explained. "The whole 'you do it to get better at it', while that was not my unique idea, I had a large hand in that - that's absolutely going to continue. A lot of the concepts dealing with how you level, things like that - there'll be a bunch of new ideas thrown in, but I'm betting some of the stuff I worked on will still survive."

The Elder Scrolls VI was announced alongside Starfield back at E3 2018, but the upcoming fantasy RPG game is still years away. Nesmith confirmed that the game was only revealed early to appease waves of angry fans.

With Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda parent company Zenimax Media, The Elder Scrolls VI will be an Xbox and PC exclusive when it finally releases. The game will also launch on the Xbox Game Pass subscription service.