20 Video Games With Cut Content That Change EVERYTHING

Despite how mind-bogglingly gigantic The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is, it could've been even bigger. 

At one point, the Dragonborn can get involved with a Civil War between the Imperial Legion and the Stormcloaks. As memorable as this mission is, the Civil War was intended to be significantly more complex.

The player was supposed to actively participate in major battles, with the war effort visibly affecting Skyrim’s cities, forts, and population. Instead of the mostly static skirmishes we see in the released game, the war would unfold in phases, with territory changing hands, depending on quests and battles won or lost.

In the finished product, the Civil War culminates with the opposing faction being defeated. However, cut content suggests alternate fates for key NPCs, depending on who won, making the players' decisions more impactful. There’s evidence the Dragonborn could've raised troops and influenced battles beyond the scripted quests, making the war feel organic.

As fascinating as this idea was, it might've been too performance-heavy for consoles. Alternatively, the developers may have wanted to prioritise the central story between the Dragonborn and Alduin, encouraging them to revise the Civl War into a side-quest instead of a war simulator.