Pixel Sundays: The Elder Scrolls – History, Evolution, and Global Impact
The Elder Scrolls series is known to almost everyone. This franchise has been around for more than 25 years, and hopefully, it will stick with us for many more years. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about the Elder Scrolls series.
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This week in our Pixel Sundays article, we’re gonna talk about The Elder Scrolls franchise. Most people know this series from Skyrim, Oblivion, or Morrowind. But there’s a lot more to it, and today, we’re covering it all.
History of The Elder Scrolls
The Elder Scrolls is a series of action RPGs by Bethesda Softworks. These games are known for their big open worlds and lots of freedom. It all started back in 1994, and since then, the games have evolved a lot. Let’s kick things off with some major milestones these games have achieved.
The first game in the series was The Elder Scrolls: Arena, released in 1994. It was developed and launched for MS-DOS. Originally, the game was intended to be an arena combat game, as the name suggests. However, during development, they changed course, turning it into an RPG with an open world. Despite some technical issues at launch, Arena laid the foundation for the Elder Scrolls franchise we know today. By the way, you can play this game for free on Steam.
Then in 1996, The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall was released. This game had one of the biggest worlds ever in a video game, covering 161,000 km². For comparison, the UK is 209,000 km² in total. Daggerfall introduced four different factions and tons of quests, setting new standards for RPGs. You can also grab it for free on Steam.
A few years later, in 2002, we got The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, which came out not only on PC but also on Xbox. The story was much more detailed in this game, and it won several awards because of it. This brought in a lot more fans, making it even more popular.
Then came The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, released in 2006. This game had improved graphics and enhanced enemy AI, making combat more fun and challenging. The world felt much more alive, and the gripping story made it one of the best RPGs of its time.
And then, in 2011, came the game that most of you probably know, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. We all know and love it – a game with a massive open world (though not as big as Daggerfall). Skyrim also introduced more support for creating mods, which led to tons of community-made content. Skyrim won numerous Game of the Year awards.
In 2017, The Elder Scrolls Online was released, but it’s a bit different from the other games since it’s not a main title. Instead, it’s an MMORPG, meaning you play it with a lot of other people. Even though it’s set in the same universe, it’s worth looking at differently. We’ll get into this one more later on.
Now let’s move on to a deeper dive into the development, influences, and future of the Elder Scrolls series. Buckle up, there’s a lot of cool history ahead!
Development of the Series
It all started with The Elder Scrolls: Arena – the game that didn’t go exactly as planned. Originally, it was supposed to be a gladiator-based action game in a fantasy universe. However, the more they worked on it, the further they strayed from that idea. They started adding more missions, a deep storyline, and RPG elements. Eventually, they even added an open world, which completely changed the direction of the game. Fun fact: there’s actually not a single arena fight in the game, despite the name – the only thing left from the original idea was the title: The Elder Scrolls: Arena.
Now, let’s go into some more detail and see how the games evolved over time. Back in 1994, Daggerfall used a 2D engine with simulated 3D elements. Because of that, the open world wasn’t really a true “open world” as we think of today. In The Elder Scrolls: Arena, the open world was made up of different areas that had to be loaded separately.
Moving on to Daggerfall’s combat – attacks were controlled by mouse movements, but there was also magic. The magic system was very simple, with a limited mana pool and different types of spells. You could also have simple dialogues with NPCs, but overall everything was kept pretty minimal. There weren’t many dynamic interactions since the focus was mostly on the story.
With Daggerfall, a new and improved 2.5D engine was introduced. This made it possible to create a more realistic environment and added more depth to the world. The open world in Daggerfall was so huge that it couldn’t have been fully stored on a PC at the time, so the map was procedurally generated. The game also introduced new RPG elements like skill and attribute points that affected your combat strength.
The magic system also got expanded, adding new spells with more effects, making them even cooler. NPCs were given a little more life as well. Daggerfall featured different factions and political systems, which made interactions with NPCs feel more natural. There was also a basic reputation system that affected NPC behavior depending on your actions.
Next up is The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, released in 2002. This game saw a big graphical upgrade with a switch to the Gamebryo engine, which allowed for true 3D models in the world. It also added a lot more map detail and handcrafted cities like Vivec and Balmora. The combat system based on attributes and skills was also expanded further, with hits being calculated based on your stats. However, because of this system, the combat could look a bit silly – sometimes you’d just stand in front of enemies, whacking at them without much happening, all while your agility stat determined your speed.
Magic got another upgrade too – now you could create your own spells and enchant your items, adding even more options to the game. Dialogue was also expanded, now offering dialogue choices and a keyword-based conversation system. Morrowind also let you take on side quests rather than just focusing on the main storyline. Morrowind was also the first game in the series to get DLCs, which added new regions, weapons, and stories.
Now we’re in 2006 with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. This game used the Havok physics engine, which allowed for realistic collision and movement simulation. The graphics also got an upgrade with HDR textures and vibrant lighting effects that made the landscapes look more lively. The combat got a physics-based overhaul, making weapon hits feel more impactful. Magic was also more enjoyable since you could now quickly switch between spells during combat.
NPCs were improved thanks to the Radiant AI system, which gave them routines and decision-making processes. Time of day, weather, and other factors influenced their behavior. DLCs brought even more areas and missions to the game.
Then in 2011 came the game that many of you probably played: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This game was instantly popular despite its bugs – or as we like to call them, features. People actually loved the small quirks of the game. As Todd Howard, Game Director and Executive Producer of Bethesda, once said: “It just works.” Skyrim used the Creation Engine, which supported dynamic lighting, realistic weather effects, and detailed environments. The character models and animations were a big step up from Oblivion.
Skyrim introduced a dual-wielding combat system, letting you assign a different weapon to each hand. This meant you could wield a sword in one hand and cast magic with the other. There were also some spells and weapons that required both hands. You played as the Dragonborn, capable of using powerful shouts. Thanks to the improved Radiant Story system, the game could generate new side quests as you played.
NPCs in Skyrim also responded directly to your actions. For instance, they’d make comments if you passed by with a drawn weapon or if you had a fire spell equipped. Their behavior would change after certain quests too. The DLCs for Skyrim offered much more than just new areas and missions. Hearthfire, for example, let you build your own house and furnish it. Dawnguard added the option to become a vampire hunter or even a vampire yourself, and Dragonborn took you to a new island where you could even ride dragons.
Global and Cultural Impact
Bethesda did something truly great with their Elder Scrolls games, and others definitely took notice. There are quite a few games out there that drew inspiration from The Elder Scrolls series. One of the most notable examples is The Witcher 3. The developers at CD Projekt Red loved how the open world was designed in Skyrim, and they used that as a model for their own game.
There’s also a ton of merchandise related to Skyrim and the other Elder Scrolls games. You can find figures, posters, swords, and much more in different stores. There are also official novels, like The Infernal City and Lord of Souls, that expand on the lore of Tamriel and tell new stories.
The Elder Scrolls games owe a lot to their community too. There are the modders, who we’ll get into a bit more shortly, but there are also many fans who show their love for the franchise. You can find Skyrim cosplays at many gaming conventions, and plenty of fans are active on social media, sharing their love for the series.
Skyrim and its Mods
Mods are a huge part of what keeps Skyrim alive. Even though the game is over 13 years old now, it still has around 100,000 players every day. A big reason for that is the mods, which enhance the graphics, add new quests, and much more. Of course, there are also fun mods that you play just for a laugh, and there are countless of them out there. With all these mods, it’s easy to sink thousands of hours into the game.
Bethesda makes it especially easy for modders to create mods. They even released an official modding tool called the Creation Kit, which makes it possible for beginners to create their own small mods. The world of Skyrim was also designed with interfaces for modders in mind. The open world is easy to modify, and there are modular systems in place for extending the game. We can also expect that modding will be heavily supported in The Elder Scrolls VI too.
The modding community is very active. There’s an annual Skyrim Modding Jam where modders work to create the best mod for the game in a limited time. This brings out some real gems. If you want to check out mods for Skyrim, your best bet is Nexus Mods. And Skyrim fans don’t just stick to Skyrim – there are mods for other games like Crusader Kings 3, which let you play in the world of The Elder Scrolls.
The Elder Scrolls Online
Now let’s talk briefly about The Elder Scrolls Online. Unlike the main titles, this game wasn’t developed by Bethesda directly but by ZeniMax Online Studios. Instead of being a single-player RPG, it’s an MMORPG, which means you play in a large open world alongside lots of other people. It’s also the first Elder Scrolls game you can play with your friends.
The game takes place about 1,000 years before the events of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and it’s all about the war for the Ruby Throne in Cyrodiil. You can explore the world of Tamriel, complete quests, take on PvE missions, or fight against other players. There are also dungeons and raids you can tackle with other players to get epic loot – pretty much like any MMO. You can customize your character how you want, leveling different skills, and using different weapons and armor.
The game is constantly expanding with new content, and there are annual expansions that keep things fresh and give players a reason to come back. So far, there are already 7 DLCs, and more will likely come in the future. Throughout the game, you also get new insights into the world of Tamriel through books and other in-game interactions.
Innovations and Future of The Elder Scrolls
In the future, we can expect more DLCs and updates for The Elder Scrolls Online, which will continue to expand the world and provide hours of fun for players and entire guilds. But that’s not all. The modding community is here to stay. Until the next main Elder Scrolls game releases, mods for Skyrim will keep coming out, keeping the experience fresh and interesting. The future is uncertain, but there’s no doubt we’ll see some amazing things.
I’ve been holding back on something: a new game in The Elder Scrolls series has already been announced – The Elder Scrolls VI. The official teaser for the game was released on June 11, 2018, and nope, that’s not a typo. It’s been over six years since we got that teaser, which showed nothing more than the game world. We still don’t have a release date or a full trailer. In recent years, Bethesda has been busy working on games like Starfield and Fallout 76, leaving little time for a new Elder Scrolls game. Let’s hope they finally take the time to work on it, and that we get to play it in the coming years.
Conclusion
The Elder Scrolls series has climbed its way up since 1994, improving with every release. Today, it’s undoubtedly one of the most influential and beloved RPGs of all time. The open world and engaging stories won over many fans and built a strong community. Especially the modding community, which keeps the game alive and evolving. Thanks to them, Skyrim is still popular and relevant years after its release. The MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online brought a new perspective to the world of Tamriel, reaching a whole new audience.
With the announcement of The Elder Scrolls VI, the future of the franchise remains exciting. Bethesda will hopefully set new standards with the next game and create what could be the best RPG of all time. But for now, we’ll have to wait and see. This franchise has survived for over 25 years and will continue to do so, thanks to all of you – the fans who support and love it.
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By 
Kilian
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Hey, I’m Kilian, but online you’ll probably know me as “Tux1243.” I've been part of the team for almost two years now, always trying to keep you in the loop with the latest and coolest gaming news. I also have a huge passion for doing deep dives and detailed analyses of entire game series and franchises. I love getting to the bottom of things and exploring the little details and backstories that make game worlds so fascinating.
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