Bethesda’s next-generation Creation Engine 2, meticulously crafted for Xbox Series X/S consoles, is poised to lay the foundation for the future of Fallout and Elder Scrolls games. Given the extensive effort invested in this engine, Bethesda’s commitment to it suggests a shift to the more ubiquitous Unreal Engine is unlikely, at least in the foreseeable future.
Bethesda Game Studios has poured significant resources into updating their proprietary Creation Engine 2 for upcoming titles like Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6. In 2020, Todd Howard, Bethesda’s Game Director, described the leap to Creation Engine 2 as the “largest engine overhaul in Bethesda’s history.” In 2023, Howard further emphasized the magnitude of the undertaking, stating that the extensive work on Creation Engine 2 “took so long to do.” This level of investment is not easily discarded, despite the substantial benefits of migrating to a widely adopted platform like Unreal Engine 5, which could potentially reduce technical debt and simplify development.
However, the allure of a bespoke engine tailored to Bethesda’s specific needs remains strong. The company, renowned for its expansive RPGs, believes Creation Engine 2 is perfectly suited to realize their ambitious visions. Bruce Nesmith, a former Bethesda veteran who spearheaded the development of Skyrim and Oblivion, echoes this sentiment. In an interview with Video Gamer, he asserts, “Gamebryo is no longer a business, it hasn’t been for a while. But that engine has been constantly tweaked, updated and refined to do exactly the kinds of games that Bethesda makes: The Elder Scrolls, the Fallouts, Starfield. It’s perfectly tuned to that kind of game.”
The debate surrounding the engine’s importance is a fascinating one. While Creation Engine 2 is undoubtedly a powerful tool, it’s essential to remember that the engine itself doesn’t dictate the quality of a game. As Nesmith points out, “We’re arguing about the game engine, let’s argue about the game. The game engine is not the point, the game engine is in service to the game itself. You and I could both identify a hundred lousy games that used Unreal. Is it Unreal’s fault? No, it’s not Unreal’s fault.”
Ultimately, the success of future Bethesda games hinges on the creative vision and execution of their developers, not solely on the engine that powers them. The question remains: will Creation Engine 2 enable breakthroughs in gameplay mechanics, possibly reviving physics-defying magic like levitation and hyper-jumps, as seen in the Elder Scrolls series, or will Starfield’s jump-and-flight mechanics pave the way for new possibilities in future games? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Bethesda’s unwavering commitment to their custom-built engine promises a future filled with innovative and immersive gaming experiences.