Skyrim Player Notices Small Lockpicking Detail After 13 Years (2024)

A Skyrim player online has pointed out a unique detail about lockpicking in the game after 13 years, and it could make the minigame much easier for many other gamers. With some of the more difficult locks, Skyrim's lockpicking can be quite tedious, but using this detail should help.

Almost 13 years since the game was originally released, it's fascinating to see what gamers are still finding in Skyrim. From hidden locations to new nuances in the game's mechanics, it seems as though there's always something fresh to discover in Bethesda's 2011 RPG. Just recently, another Skyrim player discovered an amazing detail in the College of Winterhold, showing how even one of the game's most iconic locations still has new things to find. This feeling of discovery is a big part of the reason Skyrim retains a massive player base so long after its initial launch.

Redditor Ashemodragon pointed out that while lockpicking in Skyrim, players can listen to the noise made when failing and the lockpick breaks. The noise is different, depending on how close the player is to the correct position, meaning they're able to adjust their lockpick position more accurately next time they attempt the lock. It makes sense that most players wouldn't notice this, even 13 years after Skyrim's release. On the surface, it appears to be a throwaway sound, but it's cool that it turns out to be a useful audio cue that players can use.

Skyrim Lockpicking Audio Detail

Other players in the thread pointed out that Ashemodragon's discovery was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to tricks to improve lockpicking in Skyrim. One player described lockpicking as "straight-up a listening puzzle," claiming that the right area of the lock makes a specific type of ratle sound. This means that any player can open a Master lock with just a simple lockpick, as long as they know what sound to listen out for. Another user pointed out that using a controller with vibration on produced the same effect, vibrating where the player should be attempting to open the lock. It's fascinating to see the deceptive level of depth in what seems such a simple minigame on the surface.

Realistically, it's going to be a few years yet before Skyrim's sequel, The Elder Scrolls 6, is released. Bethesda is still working on post-launch content for Starfield alongside the next Elder Scrolls game, and with modern development cycles, the studio won't be looking to rush out the next iteration of one of its flagship franchises. Despite being one of the upcoming RPGs people are most excited for, Bethesda remains quiet on concrete news about The Elder Scrolls 6. Hopefully, it's able to become more forthcoming about the title soon enough.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim is the fifth major game in the Elder Scrolls series. Considered one of the greatest games ever made, it has been released on several generations of consoles. Since its initial release over a decade ago, Skyrim has become one of the bestselling video games of all time.

Franchise

The Elder Scrolls

System

Nintendo , PC , PlayStation , Xbox

Platform(s)

PC , PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation 5 , Nintendo Switch , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S

Released

November 11, 2011

Developer(s)

Bethesda Game Studios

Publisher(s)

Bethesda Softworks

Genre(s)

RPG , Action , Adventure

Engine

Creation Engine

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol

Expansions

Skyrim: Dragonborn , Skyrim: Hearthfire , Skyrim: Dawnguard

How Long To Beat

35 Hours

X|S Enhanced

Yes

File Size Xbox Series

29 GB (DECEMBER 2023)

Metascore

96

PS Plus Availability

Extra & Premium (Special Edition)