For a long time now, in nearly all Bethesda games, I've experienced the strangest glitch that doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere else on the net.

My local map correctly maps out the places I've been to, but then sometimes as I walk around, another part of my already explored map suddenly turns into large black "unexplored" squares. I can go there again and reexplore it, but then another part of the map will turn into a black square. Very frustrating to say the least!!

This bug has stayed with me over three different computers (completely different hardware and OS setups), and has now "transitioned" from the Fallout series, where it started, to Skyrim as well. I am at a complete loss as to what is causing it, and would be eternally grateful for a solution.

-M

Its not a bug, the game doesn't store local map data by design. It would further inflate the size of the save file, which is a major cause of crashes with the game at the current time.

I find that hard to believe. In Oblivion the local map was saved just fine, and why would it remove bits of the map in a seemingly random pattern?? Makes no sense. Not to mention the fact that only a few players seem to be experiencing this behavior at all.

Try saving, exiting the game, firing it back up, and reloading..... it's a temp glitch I do believe. Oblivion used to do that too.

I am having the same problem, it effectively means I cannot tell where I've already been on Local map, the black squares will appear while still being in the same area and moving maybe 100meters from an area I just discovered, and then a big black square will appear indicating undiscovered area! - this is very frustrating since I love exploring! - It definetly seems to be a bug since part of my map is remembered fine, unless one of those black squares suddanly appears! logging in and out doesn't fix it either!

I think everyone has had this behaviour from the beginning; they just didn't post it. That's my case.

my boyfriend is playing the game aswell, and has never had the problem, so was wondering if I could fix it somehow!

I've noticed this phenomenon ever since I started playing Skyrim a few months ago.
Eventually the map fills in properly. Nuisance, but not a game-breaker.

What do you mean by "Eventually the map fills in properly."? That it reverts to being fully explored after some time, or that you need to re-explore the same area a certain number of times before it stays permanently explored?
No, the game is still playable of course, but it basically renders the local map more or less useless, at least for me.

I don't know, I just know later on when I looked at the map, when I had been there before, I was not seeing the black squares prob.


The map is more useful when in dungeons, for determining the passages you need to take to get to a desired location/direction. Esp when the area is not so linear, and has multiple paths to take; or when the passage seems hidden to you, you may not be able to make out the entrance except when you look at the map. I have found places this way that I missed the 1st time through. This is more like what you should use the map for.


One place this is particularly true is Tolvald's cave. You should get nearly 282 Glowing Mushrooms (ref: UESPWiki) from this dangerous Falmer-filled labyrinth. If you have <200 you have not been in all of it yet. It is 3 cells ("Zones") deep, if you only seen two of them you missed the nearly hidden entrance to the passage to "Tolvald's crossing." Look on the map in Tolvald's gap for it.

I was also successful at using the map to make sure I found all the areas within Blackreach. Don't google this area, nor look it up on the UESPWiki, it would be too much of a spoiler for anybody. You will enjoy it proper only if you are surprised by it.


BTW, bring a pick axe when you enter Mzinchaleft.

Also, the map is for finding specific house doors in towns.

Skyrim is the best single-player game ever crafted for home computers. Don't let a few minor shortcomings ruin the experience for you.

I know. I will still play the game. I just feel that in 10 or so years, Bethesda could have managed to squash this bug...

Yeah, ain't it funny (odd) how some things never change?

I have never encountered this bug in Skyrim. I wonder if it has to do with the fact that I run on medium graphics settings? Just a thought.