How Bethesda Should Make The Elder Scrolls VI
9. Borrow Elements From Fallout 4's Companion System
Although venturing into the world of Tamriel is an absorbing experience for the most part, there are things that shatter the sense of immersion, such as the hollow companions system.
The majority Skyrim's followers are almost lifeless, boasting all the personality of a pack mule or an attack dog, and this is something the Elder Scrolls' post-apocalyptic cousin Fallout has been putting to shame.
Fallout 4 took a quality over quantity approach with its companions, giving players only a handful, but making sure they impacted on the game in meaningful ways. They have their own personalities, backstories, likes and dislikes, and the potential to form a fleshed-out relationship with the protagonist over time.
This is something Bethesda should carry over into the Elder Scrolls VI by cutting down the number of followers, but making sure each one of them is capable of changing the course of the adventure if the player recruits them.
Fallout 4 is a very different experience when played with Nick Valentine by your side rather than Piper, providing you tackled the side quests they bring to the table and invested in your relationship with them, and the supporting characters should be no different in the next Elder Scrolls.