Emil Pagliarulo, Bethesda’s lead designer for The Elder Scrolls VI, recently remarked that the decision to delay GTA VI was “the most prudent move Rockstar could have made.”
According to Pagliarulo, projects of this gargantuan scale require far more than just standard development time; they demand a meticulous phase of polishing and exhaustive bug-squashing to meet player expectations.
“What do fans truly want: a title rushed to market that falls short of their hopes, or a ‘slow-cooked turkey’ that is perfectly prepared and satisfying when it finally arrives?”
He pointed out that industry examples like the initial releases of Cyberpunk 2077 and Fallout: New Vegas demonstrate how a premature launch can inflict lasting damage on a studio’s reputation. Games of this caliber are intended to endure for decades; Skyrim, for instance, is still receiving new ports nearly 14 years after its debut.
Pagliarulo reaffirmed that prioritizing quality over a hasty release remains the core philosophy for The Elder Scrolls VI:
“We are committed to taking as much time as necessary to ensure the game is truly phenomenal.”
Source: iXBT.games