It seems that base building as a feature has become increasingly common when it comes to Bethesda RPGs. Since Skyrim introduced the ability to create and customize houses in the Hearthfire DLC, both single-player games such as Fallout 4 and multiplayer titles like Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls Online have expanded upon the mechanic in different ways. This trend could indicate that the feature will also make a return in The Elder Scrolls 6.
Player housing is often considered a relatively important element of RPGs, especially since Elder Scrolls players tend to form the habit of hoarding various items they find around Skyrim and Morrowind. Having a dedicated base allows them to easily store things for later usage, or simply display items they're particularly proud of. Additionally, for those looking for a more immersive roleplaying experience, it can be beneficial to have a set area for their character to return to when they're finished adventuring.
Given that The Elder Scrolls 6 is still in the design stage according to Todd Howard, there's been plenty of time for Elder Scrolls fans to theorize about what mechanics from Skyrim will be returning in the upcoming release. From combat to playable races, there's been plenty of debates about how TES 6 could improve upon familiar features of the franchise, and one of these recurring topics is the issue of player homes and bases. How exactly could the next Elder Scrolls game implement the mechanic?
How Elder Scrolls 6's Building Mechanics Could Differ From Skyrim's
There are a few different ways that building could appear in The Elder Scrolls 6, based on previous Bethesda titles that similarly implemented it. In The Elder Scrolls Online, players can't exactly build a house from the ground up, but they can create different furnishings to decorate their home's interior. Skyrim's Hearthfire DLC goes a bit further than that, providing players with a few different plots of land where they can build up manors with different layouts according to what sort of rooms they're looking for. Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 are by far the most customizable in this regard, though, allowing for the placement of individual elements such as floors and walls as players create entire bases and settlements.
It isn't just worth looking at Bethesda titles, however, as many other popular games in recent years have similarly included building mechanics. Valheim, an open world survival title, is a good example to turn to. It could be argued that exploration is a large part of any Elder Scrolls release, at least the franchise's open world games, and allowing players to gather materials in order to build genuinely unique homes or even entire settlements could be a good way to encourage them to visit new areas in search of resources. Functionality is also important to keep in mind, though, as many Skyrim homes felt particularly lackluster in terms of storage and visual options. Housing is one big feature that fans should keep an eye out for as more Elder Scrolls 6 development news begins to come out.