(Image credit: Bethesda)
Joel Burgess, formerly a level designer and contributor to Bethesda’s famous titles like Fallout 3, 4, and 76, as well as Skyrim, now heads a new studio called Soft Rains. Many anticipate that this studio, comprising talents from Ubisoft and Capybara Games, might be working on a ‘little Skyrim’. However, Burgess clarifies their inaugural first-person sci-fi game is distinct, though it aims for the same creative impact found in Bethesda’s renowned RPG.
In an interview with GamesRadar+ during GDC 2025, Burgess shared, “The most gratifying work for me was creating environments of varying scales. We want everyone to leave their thumbprints on the clay of the game.” Reflecting on Skyrim’s peak team size of around 95 to 100 people, he remarked, “Stuff got built because somebody cared about building it“—a principle Soft Rains implements fervently.
He continued, “In Skyrim, we proceeded knowing it was a substantial game. We ensured that individuals had the opportunity to make a notable difference if they could leverage the tools and foster the right collaborations.” Collaborating at Capybara on smaller projects, Burgess realized that team size isn’t definitive for creativity, but rather the shared goal and synergy among team members.
Burgess articulated that while massive teams can present challenges requiring ‘a sociology degree to solve,’ it offers a unique dynamic. However, his comfort lies in knowing team members’ strengths and growth areas, fostering collaboration that presents challenges and facilitates growth. “The nature, style, or scope of the game inherently dictates the ideal team size,” he says.
He continues, “Although the game we are currently developing has evolved in mechanics, features, and scope from our initial vision two years ago, it remains true to our original sci-fi intentions, allowing every team member to leave their mark.” Another veteran of Skyrim believes that even if The Elder Scrolls 6 excels, developers may still face unwarranted harassment.
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