Videogames have long danced to the beat of their own drum, often bending the rules of logic and tradition. Iconic franchises such as Final Fantasy and Unreal Tournament have made a habit of disregarding the conventional numbering of sequels, while also embracing the artistic freedom that numbers can sometimes complicate. Recently, however, this playful disregard has extended to the realm of anniversaries, prompting a mix of bemusement and disbelief among fans.
Anniversary Antics
The trend was notably sparked by Nightdive Studios, which recently announced a remaster of System Shock 2 to celebrate its 25th anniversary—despite the fact that the game originally launched 26 years ago. This unconventional approach to marking milestones has now been echoed by Bethesda, which has taken a bold step by selling fragments of The Elder Scrolls Online servers as part of its 10th anniversary celebration. This announcement comes a full year after the actual anniversary, which took place in April of last year. One might wonder how a birthday can stretch over an entire year; even a five-year-old would likely shy away from such a claim.
Despite the unconventional timing, Bethesda is moving forward with its plans for a 10-year anniversary keepsake, as reported earlier this week by Kotaku. The keepsake, as described on Bethesda’s website, is intended for players seeking “something truly meaningful to commemorate over a decade of adventure with friends”—though technically, it’s one year over a decade. This initiative allows fans to possess “an actual physical piece of The Elder Scrolls Online history.”
In addition to the keepsake, players can look forward to a brand new storyline titled Seasons of the Worm Cult. Game director Rich Lambert shared insights earlier this month, stating, “This is a sequel to the base game storyline, ten years in the making.” As the gaming community watches these developments unfold, it becomes clear that the intersection of creativity and commerce continues to inspire both intrigue and a touch of skepticism in the world of video games.
