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Skyrim Still Draws Tens of Thousands as Lead Designer Explains Why

He credits a player-driven open world that embraces quirks over strict polish.

Overview

  • Bruce Nesmith told the FRVR podcast he is "eternally shocked" by the 2011 RPG's longevity and ongoing player interest.
  • SteamDB figures reported by PC Gamer show the Special Edition attracting over 24,000 concurrent Steam players recently.
  • Nesmith said the team let players chart their own course without putting content off limits, creating a distinctly freeform experience.
  • He argued that accepting unpredictable "quirky" behavior—rather than smoothing every rough edge—helped preserve the game's memorable moments.
  • Re-releases across platforms and a prolific modding scene continue to refresh Skyrim, with Todd Howard historically highlighting strong engagement in internal meetings.