It seems like a lifetime ago when Bethesda first announced Elder Scrolls 6. The studio confirmed the next game in the popular and critically-praised Elder Scrolls series was on its way at E3 2018, and since then fans have not heard much else. The world and the video game community have changed immeasurably since that first announcement, with the pandemic and new console generation to contend with, and players are starting to wonder when they'll get a better look at The Elder Scrolls 6.
The previous game in the series, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, was a massive success, and the next entry has a lot to live up to. This may be why Bethesda is taking its sweet time with The Elder Scrolls 6, but it also has its epic sci-fi RPG and brand-new IP Starfield to launch first. Fans knew that development on The Elder Scrolls 6 wouldn't properly be underway until teams working on Starfield are finished, and with news of Starfield's delay, The Elder Scrolls 6 just seems to be moving further away. Despite delays in development schedules, 2023 would be the perfect time to provide players with more details about the fantasy series' next installment.
The Elder Scrolls 6: Release Date Speculation
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Even though it's been four years since The Elder Scrolls 6's announcement, it doesn't feel like the game is any closer. The only hint that players have had about its release date is that it will be sometime after Starfield's, but with that moved back into 2023, The Elder Scrolls 6 is now even further away. Xbox boss Phil Spencer confirmed that The Elder Scrolls 6 will release after Playground Games' upcoming Fable as well, and considering how little is known about that title and its state of development, that could potentially put Bethesda's game back several years.
There has been some speculation around The Elder Scrolls 6 releasing anywhere in the 2024 to 2026 window, but that hardly narrows it down. By some reports, the game is still very much in the pre-production phase, at least until Bethesda can move its focus from Starfield to The Elder Scrolls 6 to help get things moving. Judging by development cycles for previous Elder Scrolls games, The Elder Scrolls 6 could take up to six years to make, which would hint at a 2024 window. However, The Elder Scrolls 6 will have to be an ambitious game given the fan expectation, so it could take even longer to realize Bethesda's vision.
Likelihood Of An Impending The Elder Scrolls 6 Announcement
Release date aside, most fans just want to see a little more of The Elder Scrolls 6, and are eager for any news that Bethesda can provide. It's unlikely that they'll have their wish granted at the upcoming Xbox and Bethesda Showcase next month, as this will undoubtedly focus on games like Starfield instead. Moreover, Bethesda has previously said that there won't be any official news about The Elder Scrolls 6 until after Starfield has been released. With Starfield slipping back into 2023, this means no Elder Scrolls news this year.
However, that doesn't rule out an update for The Elder Scrolls 6 next year. Bethesda may want to focus on Starfield — its first original IP in two and a half decades — but it's no secret that fans are desperate for more Elder Scrolls news. If the Nvidia Leak is correct, as it has been in some instances, then The Elder Scrolls 6 may be released in 2024 after all. If this is the case, 2023 is the right time to show off the game and do a deeper dive into what the next The Elder Scrolls adventure entails.
Even if The Elder Scrolls 6's release is a little later than 2024, that doesn't mean that the developer won't have anything to show. It may not be extended glimpses of gameplay or in-depth looks at The Elder Scrolls 6 in action, but it just makes sense for some kind of news to reach players in 2023. Bethesda needs to allay fan fears and assure gamers that while work on the game may not be nearing an end, The Elder Scrolls 6 is starting to take shape.
With some slightly less than ideal releases in recent years like Fallout 76, Bethesda may have its work cut out trying to win back fans to some of its major franchises. While Skyrim was an incredible success, and remains relevant to this day thanks to an active modding community, Bethesda can't just rely on the goodwill generated from its previous releases. Starfield shows a lot of promise, but the studio can't forget its foundational franchises, as well as the fans that made them popular.
The Shape Of Elder Scrolls 6 So Far
Details are incredibly scarce around the upcoming installment of the Elder Scrolls series. With such an expansive world to set it in and detailed lore to pull from, the possibilities are fairly endless for The Elder Scrolls 6. Apart from an initial teaser when the game was first revealed, fans haven't seen anything else of The Elder Scrolls 6 since, leading to a fair few rumors and speculation regarding where the game will be set and what the narrative might entail. However, there is a strong indication among the community that The Elder Scrolls 6 will take place in Hammerfell — a region close to Skyrim and home to the Redguards.
Other than its rumored setting, players don't really know anything else about the game. There are plenty of theories, though. Some gamers have speculated that dragons will be an unlikely addition, despite their prominence in Skyrim. Leaks have also helped to provide some context and apparent content for the game, but these remain unsubstantiated. One recent leak was shared on Twitter by user SkullziTV, and detailed the factions, political systems, and marriages that players can partake in, showcasing more of a focus on societal systems and political maneuvering.
Despite these crumbs of information, The Elder Scrolls 6 remains an elusive mystery. Bethesda needs to think about how it can repay the patience of fans and start to get the game once more at the forefront of the conversation, or else risk it falling by the wayside as more prominent titles take its place.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is in development.