Skyrim's longevity shocked Bethesda devs as the RPG was thriving "still, ten years later" thanks to its unique open world: "By all rights, a year later, some other game should have eclipsed it"

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim screenshot showing the an armored man wielding a shield in front of a raging dragon, holding back against the creature's fiery breath.

Veteran Bethesda Game Studios developer Bruce Nesmith, who worked on RPG genre gems like Skyrim, is surprised by the fifth Elder Scrolls entry's longevity – but he also knows why it's so special among other similar titles.

Speaking during a recent FRVR podcast, Nesmith says Skyrim's seemingly eternal lifespan – which is undeniable, judging by its current stats on SteamDB (keep in mind the game first launched in 2011, with various ports and new editions dropping since) – always comes as a bit of a surprise. "I'm eternally shocked by that. By all rights, a year later, some other game should have eclipsed it," admits Nesmith.