Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls 6 might still be years down the line, but fans are anticipating it to be one of the largest-scale open-world RPGs in history. Even today, TES games are so massive that players have to rely on a myriad of waypoint markers to track their next destination. These symbols are handy for traversing Tamriel but cause visual clutter that can be immersion-breaking, which is why Bethesda should adopt Ghost of Tsushima's clever Guiding Wind system.
Instead of using waypoints or a mini-map, Sucker Punch Productions' samurai epic used gusts of wind to lead players towards quests. By simply swiping across the PlayStation 4 controller's touchpad, a rush of air would rustle the trees and shrubs around players in the direction of an objective. This kept users from having to constantly toggle back to the world map or mindlessly head in the direction of a marker, instead letting them uninterruptedly bask in Ghost of Tsushima's beautiful world while traveling on horseback.
It's far too early to know what The Elder Scrolls 6 could be like, as it won't launch until after Bethesda's new sci-fi game, Starfield, which is itself likely still a ways off. But whenever TES 6 does come around, it will likely feature a gargantuan map. Bethesda has been pioneering open-world games for decades, and TES 6 will reportedly take advantage of a major leap in technology from even the company's most memorable releases. Company Chief Software Engineer Todd Howard previously said the engine behind TES 6 will be optimized "for the vast worlds we love to create, with generational leaps not just in graphics, but CPU and data streaming as well." Those upgrades would be best enjoyed undisturbed by HUD clutter.
Why Elder Scrolls 6 Needs Ghost Of Tsushima's Guiding Wind
Rumors have suggested The Elder Scrolls 6 is be a survival game, which could mean players will need to scrounge for supplies to stay healthy and take shelter from bad weather. Howard has even stated TES 6 is being designed for a decade of play, "at least." With that much detail to adventure through, Ghost of Tsushima's Guiding Wind would ensure players don't get bogged down by too many menus and maps to enjoy the open-world Bethesda has in store.
Even after playing Skyrim for hundreds of hours, players have discovered new secrets lurking atop snowy cliffs and in dark caves. If that's true of an Elder Scrolls game released in 2011, TES 6 will presumably feature many more places to explore and mysteries to uncover. With a possible release as far away as 2026 or later, Bethesda will likely do everything in its development power to make that roughly 15-year time gap show in The Elder Scrolls 6's gameplay.