Bethesda Game Studios faced intense internal pressure to abandon its proprietary technology in favor of Unreal Engine 5 during the development of Starfield, but ultimately chose to stick with the Creation Engine to preserve the studio’s vital modding ecosystem.
Internal Pressure for a Tech Shift
According to Heather Cerlan, a former Bethesda artist and current CEO of NEARstudios, the allure of Unreal Engine 5’s cutting-edge features—specifically Nanite and Lumen—created a significant buzz within the development team. In a recent interview on the Kiwi Talkz podcast, Cerlan revealed that many developers questioned why the studio didn’t simply pivot to Epic Games’ engine, especially given the timeframe before Starfield’s release.
The Power of the Modding Community
While Unreal Engine 5 offered enticing visual and performance capabilities, Bethesda’s commitment to its own framework, the Creation Engine 2, remained steadfast. Cerlan explained that the primary motivation for keeping the proprietary engine was its unparalleled support for modding. The studio recognized that the massive, dedicated community built around these specific tools is a cornerstone of the long-term success of Bethesda titles.
Alienating the modders who have sustained the longevity of hits like Skyrim, Oblivion, and the Fallout series would have been a strategic error. By maintaining their own engine, Bethesda ensures that players can continue to modify, expand, and breathe new life into their games for years to come.
Borrowing Without Abandoning
Though Bethesda chose not to switch engines, the studio is not operating in a vacuum. Todd Howard previously noted that Bethesda has been actively studying and incorporating workflows from Unreal Engine into their own development process. By observing how other engines handle editor-based tasks, Bethesda aims to modernize its internal systems while keeping the core functionality that serves their specific design needs.
Looking ahead, the studio has confirmed that The Elder Scrolls 6 will utilize the Creation Engine 3. While the industry continues to evolve, Bethesda appears committed to its current path, prioritizing the flexibility of its own tools over a complete platform migration.
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