Summary
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remasteredwas well-received by many gamers, including those who first played the game when it was released nearly twenty years ago. The older games inThe Elder Scrollsseries include captivating stories, important lore, and deeper systems than some ofThe Elder Scrollsgames that came after them. One of the most popular of the older games inThe Elder ScrollsisThe Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind.Oblivion Remasteredmay set a trend in remastering or remaking these popular games.
If Bethesda is planning on remaking other games inThe Elder Scrolls, thenMorrowindis an obvious option.Morrowinddidn’t age as well asOblivionon many fronts, but it still has dedicated fans and a solid playerbase. In the weeks followingOblivion Remastered’s release,Morrowind’s player count saw a spike, showing that there is a group of players who still enjoy it, even in the face of significant technology barriers.
The Pros of a Morrowind Remaster
Morrowindis considered by many to be one of the best open-world RPGs, andranks highly inThe Elder Scrollsgames among users.Morrowind’s unique setting, lore, progression, and guild mechanics resulted in it being incredibly immersive. Players could track their development in real ways through gameplay, with meaningful improvement as the character progressed and became more powerful.
Morrowind’s setting and lore, such as its Houses, the Tribunal and the religion surrounding it, the limited presence of the Empire, and Vvardenfell’s unique flora and fauna, make it one of the most unique provinces in Tamriel.Morrowind’s quest and world system are often cited as one of the reasons it is so immersive, but following directions without quest markers may be inaccessible for wider modern audiences.
Removing barriers to playingMorrowind, such as its lack of voiced dialogue, its graphics, and its hit-dice combat mechanics in a remake would likely result in a hit game. BecauseMorrowinduses such an outdated system and engine, it would likely have to be a remake rather than a remaster. This, however, introduces new problems, such as long-time players becoming upset over changes toMorrowind’s core design. A remake, even one made by another studio, as is the case with theOblivion Remaster, would need to balance managing the expectations of established fans with what gamers would expect from a modern game.
Barriers a Morrowind Remaster Would Have to Overcome
Morrowind’s biggest limitation is in its technology, and it has limitations thatObliviondidn’t have when it was released. One of the biggest barriers to aMorrowindremaster or remake would be that most dialogue inMorrowindis unvoiced. Casting an entire game is a massive endeavor and runs the risk of not being as immersive as the original.
Overhauling Morrowind’s Technical Limitations
Another issue is that the game engine is outdated, and has issues with character models thatObliviondidn’t have.Morrowindwould need to be ported to a new engine while also keeping the core mechanics that make it memorable. While a complete remake, rather than a remaster, would be more realistic, it’s unlikely that it’ll be created by Bethesda, as the studio has been reported to have shifted all its focus to developingThe Elder Scrolls 6.
However, despite these barriers, aremake ofMorrowindwould likely be well-received by many fans ofThe Elder Scrolls. Many players findMorrowindinaccessible despite wanting to play it, and a remake would allow them to play it, while longtime fans could return to it.Elder Scrolls Online’sMorrowindChapter was well-received and is a good indicator of how aMorrowindremake would do, simply based onMorrowind’s unique setting.
