So,,, why not use a newer engine perhaps? Just sayin'. I mean, there engine still uses dx9, so.. Bethesda? Use a new engine? You crack me up. :P What do you mean? Maybe because they have to keep up with the mind-blowing power of the Xbox.... It's a new engine, Bethesda was using iD's (Quake) engine on their previous games. And why dx9? because it's easier to produce and handle games with it. It has less bugs and problems. And the majority of the computers around the world doesn't have DX10 or DX11 on their computers. Bethesda wants everyone to play their game.