Even Bethesda Doesn’t Want Loading Screens

Bethesda Game Studios is known for its massive open-world RPGs like Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Starfield, but there’s been a common complaint players have voiced for years: endless loading screens. These screens, especially when going indoors, fast-traveling, or simply changing rooms, have become a signature of the series. However, according to former lead designer Bruce Nesmith, this is neither Bethesda’s choice nor the result of laziness.

Bethesda: Nobody Wants Loading Screens, But We Have To

Speaking to VideoGamer.com, Bruce Nesmith explained why these loading screens became inevitable, especially during his years on Skyrim and Oblivion. Nesmith, who left the studio during the development of Starfield, summarized the root of the problem by saying, “Bethesda games are so detailed and graphically intensive that it’s technically impossible to load all areas at once.”

Nesmith said that loading screens have been interpreted by some players as “old school” or “easy going,” but that the truth is, it’s all about hardware limitations. “If you want to deliver a truly open-world experience, you have to make some sacrifices. That’s usually the loading screens,” he said.

While some games today cleverly hide loading screens to provide a smoother experience, it’s still a huge technical challenge for studios like Bethesda that build large, detailed worlds. According to Nesmith, this problem may disappear when the technology improves enough, but for now, we have to live with this “inevitable evil.”

Although Bethesda has been ridiculed for loading screens, it’s now clear that the developers are not happy with this situation either. With this statement, players are also expected to better understand how the development team works within technical limits.

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