Skyrim is forever. And forever will continue as Bethesda Game Studios brings the classic RPG to Nintendo Switch 2. But Skyrim’s immortality isn’t the result of the many re-releases it’s had (though it certainly helps). It‘s not even because its long-awaited sequel, The Elder Scrolls VI, still seems as far away as it did when it was announced in 2018. Skyrim has remained relevant because of its unmistakable sense of place.
There are hundreds of YouTube and Soundcloud playlists focused squarely on recreating the cozy feeling people get when exploring the frigid wilds of Tamriel’s northern province. Bethesda Art Director Matt Carofano says he and his team didn’t anticipate the degree to which Skyrim’s lonely, wintry world would be embraced. However, looking back at the game’s development, he understands the perfect storm of circumstances that helped them create one of the most popular single-player games of all time.
