I'm gonna be honest:
This is a categorical disaster.
Why is it a disaster?:
For multiple reasons, but I have seen the same criticism (even from people who love the game).
If one aspect of a video game as art/entertainment is to offer escapism through some fantasy is selling, and your game's fantasy is basically undermined by your lackluster technology
.....Huston, we have a problem.
Starfield gets a massive hit in the nuts when is trying to sell space exploration with
unparalleled freedom and what you get instead is 16x The Loading Screens
the last bit should tell Xbox and Bethesda that they simply can't continue using that engine or set of "
tools". The industry has left the "Bethesda Magic" in the past and now, as a first party studio for Xbox; expectations are going get even bigger.
They are fucked, because it doesn't matter what decision they make NOW, their next game is not going to meet the expectations people want and the xbox brand needs.
Brand new engine from scratch, Switch to Unreal or keep updating this old shit.
each decision has its pros and cons but at the rate game dev is taking....we are taking about 12 years until we see a meaningful and substantial improvement in Bethesda tech. that's fucking scary.