“I found that very funny”: Skyrim’s Radiant AI Had a Bug Which Had Even Todd Howard Stumped

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has long been known for its expansive open world filled with stories, quests, and various encounters. However, what players often forget is that, upon its release, it was a buggy mess capable of turning a serious quest into a hilarious or bizarre experience. This charm kept players coming back for more.

The game has shown that bugs don’t stop players from enjoying a good game. | Image Credit: Bethesda Game Studios

However, one such glitch was so bizarre and hilarious that it shocked even the visionary behind the game, Todd Howard. In an interview, he shared that even he couldn’t help but laugh. The bug in question? Chickens were filing crime reports. Yes, you read that correctly, chickens took it upon themselves to get rid of crime.

Howard revealed an unexpected Skyrim glitch

The AI system of the game unexpectedly allowed chickens to report crimes. | Image Credit: Bethesda Game Studios.

While bugs are a common occurrence in any large-scale open-world game, Skyrim has become especially infamous for its quirky glitches, which range from NPCs getting stuck in strange positions to entire villages suddenly exploding into chaos.

However, in an interview, Howard shared that there was one that had even left him stumped and amused.

But this was a bug – lately we realised that chickens were reporting crimes. I found that very funny. That was just last week: “Why are we getting caught?” “Oh, the chickens are reporting the crimes!”

This glitch came to life due to an unintended bug within the game’s intricate AI systems. In Skyrim, the Radiant Story system is designed to react dynamically to the player’s actions, ensuring that the game feels fresh with each new playthrough.

So, according to the actions happening in-game, like someone being kidnapped or a fight breaking out, the system adapts to create new stories on the fly. However, in this case, the chickens apparently got a bit too involved in the drama, seemingly alerting authorities to in-game crimes.

Howard further emphasized that while the chickens’ crime-fighting role wasn’t intentional at all, it added a unique layer to the game’s chaotic world. It highlighted that even the most serious open-world games can sometimes take unexpected turns into absurd hilarious moments.

The unique magic of Skyrim: bugs and all

The game’s bug adds a charm to the game. | Image Credit: Bethesda Game Studios

Even with its occasional glitches and countless bugs, Skyrim’s charm lies in its unpredictability. The game’s appeal goes beyond its polished mechanics or vast world-building, it’s rooted in its ability to embrace the chaos that emerges from bugs and unexpected interactions.

Whether it’s chickens accidentally reporting crimes or an NPC popping up on your wedding night, these glitches become part of the game’s unique charm. It’s this ever-evolving nature, from purposeful design to unexpected bugs, that keeps the game an endlessly entertaining experience for players.

However, not all the love for the game comes from the bugs. The game offers an immersive open-world built with care and possesses some of the most intricate and beloved characters in the gaming world.

In the end, Skyrim may be a game filled with oddities, but in many ways, it’s the bugs that make the journey through Tamriel even more memorable.