Why The Elder Scrolls 6 Should Retire Jiub Once and for All

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After a long hiatus since the last main series installment, The Elder Scrolls 6 faces an arduous task in tackling countless storylines, fan speculations, and fresh occurrences. Throughout its journey, it’s likely to incorporate numerous callbacks to earlier games, as well as hidden gems – the kind of elements that have sustained the community throughout these years.

For years, Easter eggs have been a common element in video games, such as the mythical Herobrine in Minecraft or the flying saucer in GTA 5. Just like The Elder Scrolls series, they’ve included jokes about sweetrolls and Fishy Sticks. However, one specific Easter egg from previous games might not be suitable for inclusion in The Elder Scrolls 6.

Jiub Does Not Need to Make an Appearance in The Elder Scrolls 6

In essence, while adding Jiub from Morrowind to Skyrim does offer a hint of continuity, it’s more seen as an interesting fact rather than a true Easter egg by some fans within the community. Compared to many other TES characters, both major and minor, who only appear in one game yet have left a greater impression, Jiub’s repeated appearances are starting to seem less organic or fitting.

Among the numerous references that Bethesda weaves into their games, the tale of Jiub’s sorrowful existence and demise has surfaced in some peculiar spots. In the game Morrowind, he is the initial character players interact with, although his importance often goes unnoticed. Mention of Jiub appears briefly in Oblivion, hidden within ambient dialogue by radiant characters. However, when it came to creating Skyrim, Bethesda chose to reintroduce him as an NPC once more, complete with a dedicated quest line.

In a nutshell, Jiub’s appearances in Skyrim’s Dawnguard expansion might seem disjointed and confusing for those who aren’t deeply invested in the game’s lore. The transition from one appearance to a casual mention, then a prolonged quest within the Soul Cairn—a location often criticized by players—makes for an underwhelming Easter egg. Despite his ongoing struggles across games, these references may not be significant enough to warrant such a detailed tribute.

Jiub’s Inclusion in the Next Elder Scrolls Game Could Create a Larger Bethesda Problem

Apart from Jiub, considering his addition raises a complex issue for Bethesda. By 2025, it will be 14 years since the release of Skyrim, and Bethesda is already preoccupied with moving forward in the timeline. Given the extensive lore of The Elder Scrolls: Online that has been established over this period, it would be unrealistic to expect them to continue every minor detail or plot point. If Jiub is incorporated, it might establish an unwanted precedent for Bethesda to tackle each small detail that has surfaced in the past.

Ma’iq the Liar is a popular recurring character who always manages to make appearances interesting yet mysterious, without overstaying his welcome. Fans have been speculating about him for years, and the less we know about him, the more theories abound. Unlike Ma’iq, Jiub has a known history, so his appearance in TES 6 might seem unusual, as there may not be many directions left for his character to develop.

Since TES 6’s release is taking a considerable amount of time, Bethesda might feel compelled to address numerous unresolved issues, but it would be inappropriate for them to include Jiub among those. If they decide to bring him back in the next installment, though, it presents an ideal chance to give him a fitting send-off and free him from his eternal torment. It’s high time that the series advanced and allowed poor Jiub to find peace at last.

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2025-04-06 15:35