The development of large-scale games like The Elder Scrolls 6 and GTA 6 requires extensive time to ensure their quality, according to Emil Pagliarulo, design director at Bethesda. In a clear endorsement of Rockstar’s decision to delay GTA 6, Pagliarulo emphasizes that the priority must always be to deliver a polished and bug-free product. “GTA 6 has just been delayed again, and it was the smartest thing they could do”, he commented in a recent interview.
The “A” is for “Backwardness”
Pagliarulo uses the comparison with problematic launches like that of Cyberpunk 2077, which debuted in a manifestly unfinished state, negatively affecting players’ perception. Similarly, Fallout: New Vegas faced challenges after its release. These examples underscore the complexity and risk that studios face when trying to fix post-launch issues.
The longevity of games like Skyrim, which continues to receive attention and new versions more than a decade after its release, shows that quality titles have a prolonged lifespan. “We are going to take the necessary time to ensure that The Elder Scrolls 6 is a great game”, said Pagliarulo, hinting that there is no predictable timeline for these projects.
For his part, Todd Howard, one of the main people responsible for Bethesda, mentioned that Fallout 76 remains “the game we are working on most actively”. This focus on improving the customer experience suggests that the studio is not only concerned with upcoming releases but is also committed to the ongoing support of its current titles.