Previous Team Member of 'Starfield' Suggests Bethesda Should Transition to Unreal Engine 5
If there was a significant criticism levied against Starfield upon its 2023 release, it was that various aspects of the game appeared outdated, heavily reliant on outdated Bethesda Creation Engine technology. Despite multiple updates to the engine (this being the first title constructed using Creation Engine 2), numerous stunning visuals persisted, yet much of the game felt distressingly familiar, leading players to question if a transition was long overdue.
One previous Bethesda developer, Nate Purkeypile, a Lead Artist who contributed to Starfield, Fallout, and Skyrim, and now heads his own studio, voices his agreement in a recent conversation with KIWI TALKZ. He explained why he believes it's time for Bethesda to migrate to Unreal Engine 5 after years of sticking with Creation Engine:
"I think it's quite telling that a few studios with related technologies have made that switch recently...CD Projekt Red, for example...It's not as straightforward as just beginning development on the game...yes, that's accurate...but with the extensive tools and knowledge base at their disposal, the hiring and ramping up processes become much less cumbersome."
"I personally believe that staying relevant and not constantly playing catch-up is more feasible...much of Starfield's development effort was dedicated to updating rendering and animation systems, resulting in a difficult balance of both developing the game and establishing those systems simultaneously...all while the game was on fire, metaphorically speaking."
Indications suggest that Bethesda has no plans to abandon the Creation Engine for forthcoming projects. The Elder Scrolls VI, like Starfield, will utilize Creation Engine 2, leading to concerns among players, particularly Starfield devotees.
This issue is not unique to Bethesda. Engine problems have contributed to numerous delays at companies like EA (Frostbite Engine) and Bungie (Tiger Engine). Many fans advocate for a switch to Unreal, with some companies actually making the switch. However, as Purkeypile points out, such a transition is not a simple matter and may not be worthwhile for others.
Here's Bruce Nesmith, a former Starfield systems designer, echoing the sentiments:
"[The Creation Engine has evolved] to cater to the specific types of games that Bethesda creates...The Elder Scrolls, the Fallouts, Starfield...It's optimized for that particular category of game...That's the price to pay. That's the risk involved."
It appears that Bethesda has made a decision, at least for the immediate future, embracing the risks associated with the Creation Engine over the potential advantages of Unreal Engine. We are still awaiting an official date for the Elder Scrolls VI release, but the sizable gap since its 2018 announcement does not portray a picture of swift development. However, as Nesmith highlights, great games can be produced using Unreal Engine as well, while Creation has its share of success stories. But is the balancing act of laying down tracks while in a flaming train sustainable in the long term? It seems that Bethesda must weigh the pros and cons and make its decision accordingly.
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In light of the critique about Starfield's outdated visuals despite using Creation Engine 2, Nate Purkeypile, a former Lead Artist at Bethesda, suggests a potential shift to Unreal Engine 5 could make the development process less cumbersome and help Bethesda stay relevant, avoiding constant catch-up.
Moreover, Bruce Nesmith, a former systems designer for Starfield, agrees that the Creation Engine is well-suited for Bethesda's specific genre of games, but acknowledges the risks associated with staying with it, stating that the balancing act of developing a game while updating the engine might not be sustainable in the long term.
