I'm not advocating for a Morrowind remaster, but rather for Bethesda to issue a substantial financial donation to the OpenMW development team.
Savaging the Past, Remastering the Future: A Reckoning with Morrowind
Bethesda's remaster of Oblivion has set a new bar for financial success, leaving us pondering its next big money-spinner. Rumors swirl around Fallout 3, but what if we dare to aim higher? New Vegas? Skyrim? Or even the pièce de résistance of their glorious legacy: Morrowind?
The Morroboomers are imagined, eager and nostalgic for the OG experience, and who could blame them? 75% of my unforgettable personality is bound up in Morrowind's enigmatic allure. I share their ardor for any developments concerning its future.
However, the Oblivion remaster shines a light on an essential reality: the generational divide. Oblivion, Fallout 3, and their ilk crafted a sense that their updates made perfect sense. Morrowind, with its dense, dirty DNA from sprite-based ancestors like Arena and Daggerfall, demands a more radical remaster.
You can polish Morrowind with UE5 and tweak its problematic leveling system, but what results emerges as something not entirely foreign to Bethesda's current output; it's just filled with more middle-market chit-chat about mudcrabs in the Market District. Time moves forward, and so must we.
Enter OpenMW: an open-source reimplementation of Morrowind's engine, with versions running on everything from your PC to your telephone. It's long overdue for Bethesda's recognition and backing.
Embracing the Past: OpenMW
OpenMW, now in version 0.48, allows players to run vanilla Morrowind with minimal fuss across numerous platforms[2]. The 16-year-old project thrives on community support, with regular updates[1][3]. The latest version is compatible with the latest Tamriel Rebuilt mod, adding fresh content[1][3].
The modding community is active, with competitions like the 2025 Morrowind May Modathon encouraging new mods[5]. Despite challenges such as ensuring compatibility with various mods, the community remains engaged in discussions aimed at extending and improving the project[4].
Navigating the Present: Bethesda's Role
Bethesda has yet to announce any plans regarding OpenMW, but increased recognition or support from the studio could potentially accelerate the project's progress and integration with more modern systems[2]. While it's not expected that the studio would release Morrowind exactly as it was, a collaboration with the OpenMW community could preserve the game's esoteric charm.
Looking to Tomorrow: Morrowind Reborn
The challenge ahead for OpenMW is to strike a balance between preserving the game's unique identity and adapting it to modern tastes. By embracing its roots and working with the community, Bethesda could breathe new life into Morrowind, harking back to a time when greater challenges fostered a stronger sense of achievement.
But that's not great marketing material: a game where you might literally miss a hit or be lost in the mud trying to follow vague quest directions. On the surface, it may not appeal to contemporary gamers, but therein lies the magic of Morrowind: its indifference to your struggles infusing each victory with a hard-earned sweetness.
Joshua Wolens
Joshua Wolens' first memory involves playing Quake 2 on the family computer far too young to do so. His affinity for games and passion for all things gaming have cemented themselves deep within his psyche ever since. His work has graced the pages of Vice, Fanbyte, and the Financial Times. He's willing to play anything, with his deepest passions lying within CRPGs, immersive sims, and games whose ambition overshadows their budget. He thinks you're all far too harsh on Deus Ex: Invisible War.
BTW, open-source software rules!
Sources:[1] https://www.openmw.org/[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenMW[3] https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Tamriel_Rebuilt[4] https://www.reddit.com/r/openmw/comments/t89yim/switching_from_tsw_to_openmw_and_running_into_an/[5] https://morrowind.nexusmods.com/mods/modauthors/morroboom
Fans of Morrowind eagerly await any updates regarding its future, as the game holds a special place in their hearts. The latest version of OpenMW, an open-source reimplementation of Morrowind's engine, allows players to run the game on various platforms and is compatible with the latest Tamriel Rebuilt mod. However, for Morrowind to truly be reborn, a collaboration between the OpenMW community and Bethesda may be necessary to strike a balance between preserving the game's unique identity and adapting it to modern tastes.
