The Elder Scrollsseries is an icon of gaming. It’s a series frequently criticized for the abundance of bugs in many of its popular entries, however its ability to remain at the center of discussions for years after the last original mainline release speaks to the series' dominance in its genre. Despite no reveal for the nextElder Scrollsgame coming at this year’s E3, the series remains as relevant as ever, and this may be partially due to an unusual reason.
The Elder Scrollsseries has gone strong since the release ofThe Elder Scrolls: Arenain 1994. Nearly a decade has passed since the release ofThe Elder Scrolls 5, but the game continues to earn new fans, with a recentPS5Skyrimmodallowing fans to play the game in a smooth 60 FPS. The series' continued relevance in an evolving gaming landscape may be due in large part to the success of the meme culture that surrounds it. It may seem likeElder Scrollsmemes are little more than silly jokes manufactured by the gaming community, but Bethesda Game Studios has repeatedly utilized these memes to great effect.
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The Elder Scrollsis notorious for Bethesda’s unique brand of bugs.Skyrim’sbugs at launchwere numerous, but they were met with appreciation by fans rather than condemnation. Instead of the game’s bugs standing as the mark of an unenjoyable game, they enhanced the experience for many by adding an element of unpredictability into each encounter. These bugs became memes shortly after release, and the memes inSkyrimelevated the game’s bugs to a point of value, as they allowed for a shared experience among the fanbase that transformed bugs from frustrating distractions to valuable Easter eggs.
The famous adage, “It’s not a bug, it’s a feature,” is commonly attributed toThe Elder Scrollsgames. Fans have welcomed bugs and clunky mechanics with open arms, commonly memeing them and excitedly hunting for more. Upon the release ofSkyrim, one exploit found by fans was the ability for the player to place a pot over an NPC shop owner’s head to avoid detection when stealing. While this could be seen as an immersion-breaking bug, fans enjoyed it, and it made a good source for memes. This signaled to Bethesda Game Studios that it should remain, and many years on the exploit can still be used.
Faultless game design is almost unattainable, as even the most highly regarded games play host to their share of less-than perfect mechanics and polish.The Elder Scrollsis no exception, with examples fromOblivion’s NPC dialogueto the frustration of having a mudcrab halt fast travel inSkyrim. In isolation, these aspects could be seen as detracting from the overall experience of the game, butThe Elder Scrolls’meme community transforms them into pillars of experience.Oblivion’s NPC dialogue typifies this phenomenon, as it has been so accurately parodied across the gaming community that fans would struggle to not see the humor in it. Much of the fun ofElder Scrollstitles lies in the recognition of classic memes within gameplay.
Over the last few years, Bethesda has come under its fair share of criticism. Much of this has stemmed from thelaunch ofFallout 76, and its persistence with the use of a game engine that’s been around since 2011. However, there have also been a lot of fans disgruntled by the absence of a sixth mainline installment into theElder Scrollsfranchise. This frustration looked set to come to a head during a conference in June 2018.
The Elder Scrolls 6has yet to receive a trailer showing off any gameplay or information, but frustration was at an all-time high three years ago. Much had been said about the many re-releases ofSkyrim, as while fans were happy to accept remastered versions of the game, many would be much happier to receive new content. Fans had picked up on the frequency ofSkyrimports and with little more than a cinematic trailer forThe Elder Scrolls 6planned, but Bethesda turned to memes to alleviate fans' anger, memeing its own tendency to portSkyrimonto every gaming device by announcingSkyrimfor Alexa the Samsung Smart Fridge.
This ended up being a clever deflection on Bethesda’s part. Acknowledgment ofThe Elder Scrollsmeme culture and of fans' frustrations gave many a feeling of being heard. Memes are highly valued byThe Elder Scrollscommunity, they act as the vessel through which fans can make themselves heard. Bethesda’s acknowledgment of this was a sign of better things to come, and the studio was able to successfully navigate around controversy due to its games' connection with meme culture.
The Elder Scrollsmemesare so ingrained in gaming culture that their existence continues to bring older games into the limelight. WhileOblivionmay seem dated compared to its modern-day counterparts, the continued popularity of its memes brings an ever-expanding audience of newer gamers to the world of Cyrodil. The 15-year-old game is a big player in the meme market, with its clunky dialogue providing great material for fans to work with. The memes turn dated mechanics like the dialogue system into expected features fans look for when they boot up the game.
The value ofolderElder Scrollsgamesas standalone experiences may have been largely diminished by time, but they remain an invaluable part of gaming culture. Likewise, memes are important toThe Elder Scrollsseries itself. Examples like the “Fishy Stick” meme have been regular features inElder Scrollsgames since their inception, hinting at the importance they hold to the franchise. Memes have long functioned as a communication line between fans and developer, with participation from the latter being important to the continued relevance ofThe Elder Scrolls.
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