The Elder Scrolls VI: Every Rumour & Confirmed Detail So Far

During an interview, Todd Howard said that Bethesda are looking at how they can better tell a story in an open world, with an eye to bringing new ways to tell a story into the next game. While that's not clear what those may be, some of the bigger games that have come out since Skyrim may give us some ideas.

The Dark Souls series allowed players to access the lore of the series via item descriptions mixed with details in the environments. A mention of an adversary that eventually destroyed them in the description of a knight's armour may pair well with a crater in the throne room of the king those knights served, letting players in on a story that wasn't plainly told.

Then there's the Red Dead Redemption 2 which gave one of the most realistic worlds in video game history. Handled much as the radio stations in their Grand Theft Auto series, the camp was filled with personalities who each had dozens of interactions with each other and the player.

Taking reference from these two games alone would change the ways players learn about the world and make exploration much more rewarding.