The problem is Bethesda has been out Bethesda'd by other companies. They refuse to innovate. They refuse to use much better engines to save on cost, which leads to bugs, worse graphics, and poor world design such as cities that feel like small pit stops with 40 people hanging out, compared to AC games that are so huge filled with thousands of NPCs. Starfield is also so disted with all its fast traveling, nothing felt connected. I still find it fun, but can see why all the criticism. It's not just people want to hate it, actually everyone wants to love it, but Todd Howard over promises and under delivers.

"Disturbingly, I'll probably fork over the $30 for the Starfield Starborn expansion..."

Money talks and BS walks. You won't change, so why should they? This is the real travesty.

Why should they ever make a good game again? Until people speak with their wallets, Bethesda or any large company that used to be good, simply won't change. This is the fate of all large companies.

We're talking about a company that is so lazy it's ported Skyrim on every platform for the past decade and a half, while their main IP has sat in dust for 20+ years. Lazy is as lazy does, but since people eat Todd Howard's crap with a spoon anyway, I would argue Bethesda is doing everything right as a business. They don't need to make masterpieces anymore, just the status quo. Because... (fill in your quote above here).

When fallout 4 came out all the same arguments were made (literally go read the reviews). When fallout 76, same thing. Starfield, same thing. ES6 and all its ports for the next 30 years, same thing.

It's why Microsoft is paying Billions for these companies. Listen carefully, Sentiment = Guaranteed revenue. It's why the Movie industry is mainly remakes now and why the gaming industry is following suit. Why should it ever be any different when everyone is always going to fork their money out anyway? Once that changes, so will Bethesda.