Skyrim gameplay trailer proves Bethesda’s still got the epic touch (video)

The first trailer featuring actual gameplay for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim finally landed this morning, and it’s sure to make the wait for the game’s fall release as unbearable for gamers as it is for investors.

Skyrim is the fifth entry in Bethesda Softwork’s flagship Elder Scrolls series, and it looks to continue the series’ penchant for majestic open environments and swordplay. And yes, there be dragons.

Excitement for the game is palpable from gamers, who have waited five long years since the release of the last official Elder Scrolls game, Oblivion. On Twitter this morning, it was hard to look at my feed of followers without finding countless people gushing over Skyrim.

Investors too must be pleased by the fan response: Bethesda’s parent company ZeniMax Media landed $150 million in private equity funding from Providence Equity Partners in October last year. And that’s on top of a previous $300 million investment the firm made in October 2007. Judging from the fan response, investors are likely confident that Skyrim will be another bestselling (and award-winning) title like its predecessor Oblivion. That game received review scores in the mid-90s across all platforms, according to the review aggregator Metacritic. Oblivion also won Game of the Year from G4 and Spike TV in 2006.

Skyrim pits the player as the last surviving Dovahkiin (Dragonborn) who must save the land of Skyrim following the death of its king, and the rise of the God-turned-dragon Alduin who wishes to destroy the world. Yup, just another day in dragon country.

Skyrim will be released on November 11, 2011 (11/11/11) on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Windows PCs.

Check out the trailer below:

Via Game Informer