Upon its release in 2023, Starfield faced criticism for feeling outdated due to its reliance on the Bethesda Creation Engine. Despite upgrades and some visually stunning moments, much of the gameplay seemed reminiscent of older titles from the studio. A former lead artist at Bethesda, Nate Purkeypile, has expressed his belief that transitioning to Unreal Engine 5 could be beneficial for the company. However, Bethesda remains committed to using Creation Engine for upcoming projects like The Elder Scrolls VI, raising concerns among fans about the sustainability of this decision.

The Challenges of Staying with Creation Engine

When Starfield launched, it was evident that while the game featured beautiful scenes, many elements felt overly familiar, sparking debates about the effectiveness of the Creation Engine. Nate Purkeypile, who worked on multiple Bethesda titles, believes that sticking with this engine might hinder innovation and development efficiency. He likens the process of developing games with Creation Engine to laying train tracks while the train is moving—and on fire. This analogy underscores the challenges developers face when working with an engine that requires constant updates to remain competitive.

Purkeypile argues that switching to Unreal Engine 5 would allow Bethesda to leverage a more modern toolset, making it easier to hire talent and scale up projects. He notes that other studios, such as CD Projekt Red, have successfully made this transition. Although the change would require significant effort, it could help Bethesda stay relevant without constantly playing catch-up. The current approach, he suggests, makes it difficult to focus on creating content when so much time is spent upgrading systems.

The Case for Sticking with Creation Engine

Despite the criticisms, Bethesda seems determined to continue using the Creation Engine for future projects, including The Elder Scrolls VI. Bruce Nesmith, a former systems designer on Starfield, points out that the engine has evolved specifically to support the types of games Bethesda creates. This specialization means that the engine is finely tuned for open-world RPGs like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series, which may explain Bethesda's reluctance to switch.

Nesmith acknowledges that while there are risks associated with sticking with Creation Engine, it has been responsible for some exceptional games. The question then becomes whether the benefits of staying with a specialized engine outweigh the potential advantages of adopting a more versatile one. The slow development pace of The Elder Scrolls VI, announced in 2018 but still without a release date, highlights the ongoing challenges. Ultimately, Bethesda must decide if the "laying down tracks while on fire" metaphor accurately describes their development process and if this approach can be sustained long-term.