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The gaming industry has been around for nearly half a century. In that time, the RPG genre has been one of the most popular genres, but it has also been ever-evolving. These days, the genre has gone from big worlds and adventures driven by player choice to linear and restrictive experiences.
At least that’s whatElder Scrollscreator Ted Peterson feels anyway. TheDaggerfallcreator stands firm on the belief that true RPGs should prioritize freedom. While there are discussions to be had about fatigue among gamers,Baldur’s Gate 3winning Game of The Year is a perfect example of Peterson’s beliefs.
Elder Scrollscreator Ted Peterson doesn’t like the state of the RPG genre
Peterson recently shared his thoughts about the current standing of the industry in an interview withVideoGamer.TheElder Scrollsco-creator admitted his frustration with how limited RPGs have become lately. He criticized the genre’s tendency to make big worlds that ultimately limit player freedom.
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He pointed out that older games likeThe Elder Scrolls II:Daggerfallgave us players numerous ways to complete quests. And that is something newer RPGs often lack. Peterson finds it disheartening that newer games prioritize accessibility at the cost of depth. And it’s fair because it makes us feel like we have fewer choicesdespite being in seemingly huge worlds.
I’m glad that people are wanting to break away from that… I’ve seen games that have attempted it and were trying to break down the fence completely. For me, I’ll always go on the side of freedom.
Peterson’s criticism is not new, but it has become more relevant with the rise of more structured RPGs. In contrast,Baldur’s Gate 3recently proved that players still crave games where choices truly matter. Its success demonstrated that there is a large audience for RPGs with deep narrative branches and player agency.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the biggest success stories in a long time.• No in-game purchases• No Denuvo• Three years of polish and tweaking in Early Access• Insane amount of value and content for the price• 700K+ CCU on Steam• Over 2.5M units sold before launchpic.twitter.com/WcLyJP2WrT
Peterson acknowledges this shift and is hopeful that the success of Larian Studios’ game will inspire more developers to embrace non-linear storytelling. He sees his own upcoming project titledThe Wayward Realmsas a direct response to this demand.
Peterson is making his own RPG
Peterson’s upcoming game,The Wayward Realms, is apparently going to be more than just another open-world RPG. With this title, Peterson and his team want to introduce a new sub-genre that they call a “Grand RPG.” Every decision a player makes, from using specific skills to interacting with NPCs in different ways, should change the outcome of their story.
So much of our design discussions are, ‘Hey, how can you solve this quest with total, like, social talking to someone?’
Despite Peterson’s commitment to large-scale, choice-driven RPGs, there are discussions in the industry about whether players still have the patience for such games. FormerStarfieldquest designer Will Shen recently discussed the “resurgence of short games” andwhy there is a shift in player mentality.
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He pointed to the success of games likeMouthwashingand argued that many players no longer want to invest 100-plus hours into a single title. This shift in player habits is what raises questions about whether there is still room for the kind of RPGs Peterson envisions. Do you have an answer to that?
The industry is still trying to find the balance between creativity and accessibility even today, and we see more and more debates about what makes an RPG truly great. One game puts it in favor of one side, and another game shifts the balance, but which one is the real answer?
Daniel Royte
Gaming Writer
Articles Published :1370
As part of the FandomWire team, Daniel has followed the hero-shooter genre closely with a focus on titles like VALORANT, Apex Legends, and Marvel Rivals. You can also find him providing insight on the latest AAA titles from Elden Ring to GTA 6 and exploring the world of gacha games like Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves. With more than 1,000 articles under his belt, you’ll need to look no further for a unique insight into every situation.If he’s not looking for the latest video game news, you’ll find him cheering on Ferrari in the race tracks of Formula 1 or at the theatres for the latest MCU releases.
