Next-Gen Graphics Overhaul
Grand Theft Auto 5’s continuing legacy has reaffirmed the fact that it isn’t a game that can be seen through to completion in just a few days. The single-player demands a substantial amount of time, and commitment from the player, and the much-loved Grand Theft Auto Online component is a mainstay in so many people’s gaming rotations since it was released not long after the main game in October 2013. The remastered edition that was announced for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S was more like a refresher than a new experience allowing existing players, as well as new ones, the chance to explore Los Santos with a range of visual improvements, and performance upgrades.
Though it is perhaps more flagrant in its release of Skyrim, Bethesda has adopted a similar approach. The fifth entry in the Elder Scrolls series is as good as it ever was in 2022, and small refinements have resulted in the Anniversary Edition, widely believed to be the definitive way to play the much-loved title. Despite many glaring differences, the two games bear a few critical similarities, not least the overwhelming amount of time it takes to experience everything.
Release Date Breathing Room
It’s hard to imagine that the Anniversary Edition is going to be too many new players’ first experience in the world of Skyrim. There’s every chance that for most it will serve as a reintroduction rather than an all-new game, and after initially releasing over a decade ago, it may be the perfect time for returning players to dive back in. As is evident from the game’s opening hours, the journey is a lengthy one, and the release of Grand Theft Auto 5 on next-gen systems being delayed to five months after Skyrim’s rerelease provides the perfect buffer between the two. Open world fatigue is hard to overcome, so balancing two of the most expansive, in-depth, and lore-rich playgrounds in gaming would have been a near-impossible feat, and both are simply so good that putting either down after a few hours would have been a tragedy.
The streets of Los Santos, and the halls of Dragonsreach are immensely different in presentation, but each is littered with memorable characters, gorgeous visuals, and the capacity for so many memorable moments to occur. There’s no mistaking Lester Crest for Daedric Lord Sam Guevenne, but meeting each in games that bear so many mechanical similarities is going to make the interactions feel far less impactful. Both Skyrim, and Grand Theft Auto are huge quests to undertake, and some players will require a game or two before gleefully jumping into the next if anything just to ensure the player doesn’t get burned out on the open-world formula too quickly.
Grand Theft Auto’s Crushing Sales
While The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has gone on to sell over 30 million copies across the plethora of versions released since, the numbers are easily passed by Grand Theft Auto 5 having shifted over 155 million units as of November 2021. It’s hard to imagine a game being more of a cultural phenomenon than Skyrim, but the numbers simply don’t lie, and the truth is Grand Theft Auto 5 has a far larger install base, even though it released about two years later. The news of GTA’s delay allowed for Skyrim to emerge from its colossal shadow and provides Bethesda five more months before players switch Solitude for Los Santos.
Each game may very well satisfy a different demographic, as those who find enjoyment in the Grand Theft Auto series’ scathing social commentary may not be the same people who appreciate the wonderment of high-fantasy, and rich medieval-inspired world-building. However, both are so popular regardless of their setting, writing, or presentation that they stand out often in spite of what they both bring to the table. Both Grand Theft Auto 5 and Skyrim’s immense quality were appreciated by gamers of all persuasions, but the numbers indicate more flocked to the harsh streets of Grand Theft Auto 5.
Grand Theft Auto’s Gorgeous Graphics
Having been released far later in the PS3 and Xbox 360’s life cycle, the graphical fidelity of Grand Theft Auto 5’s first iteration put Skyrim’s somewhat aged aesthetics under closer scrutiny. Skyrim, while known for its stunning art design, is a dated product, offering some truly spectacular presentation if the player can wade through the blocky textures, and inconsistent frame rate. Grand Theft Auto 5 has aged wonderfully, however, with each new rerelease proving that the graphics of the original are far more likely to stay fresher for longer.
With The Elder Scrolls 6 having been revealed at E3 in 2018, though, the future is looking as bright as ever for Bethesda’s beloved franchise and, like Skyrim before it, the sixth installment will surely also look to set the new standard of visuals in an open world. Time will tell if Rockstar can recapture the stunning aesthetics of titles like Red Dead Redemption 2.
One’s Delay is Another’s Blessing
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is one of the few industry-defining games of the last century. In any other comparison, Bethesda’s crowning achievement would be the game to avoid releasing on the same day as. Of course, both franchises have their weaknesses, as was recently evident with the unstable state of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition. Regardless, with Skyrim and Grand Theft Auto 5, each game offers countless hours of enjoyment, and the gaming space is far better off with them both performing at their very best. If a five-month delay allows them to do that, then gamers can rest easy knowing that Rockstar’s decision to delay its next-generation upgrade was a blessing in disguise.
Grand Theft Auto 5’s rerelease is set to launch on March 15, 2022 for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
