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The Elder Scrolls VI

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The Elder Scrolls VI
DeveloperBethesda Game Studios
PublisherBethesda Softworks
ProducerTodd Howard
SeriesThe Elder Scrolls
EngineCreation Engine 3
Platforms
GenreAction role-playing
ModeSingle-player

The Elder Scrolls VI (working title) is an upcoming action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It will be the sixth main installment in The Elder Scrolls series, following 2011's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

The project is led by game director Todd Howard, reprising his duties from previous games in the series, as well as other games developed by Bethesda Game Studios. The Elder Scrolls VI is using the new Creation Engine 3.[1] The game entered pre-production by 2018, formally being announced during Bethesda's E3 2018 conference. The game entered active production in 2023 following Starfield's launch.

Development

[edit]

Background

[edit]

In June 2016, Todd Howard, director and executive producer at Bethesda Game Studios, confirmed the developer's intent to make a new entry in The Elder Scrolls series, describing the game's status as "kind of the elephant in the room", while asserting that "It's good to tell our fans in these moments, yes, of course we are [making The Elder Scrolls VI]." He cautioned expectations in regards to the game's progress by warning that it was a ways off and would take a lot of time to complete before its eventual launch.[2] According to Kurt Kuhlmann, a Bethesda veteran who served as a co-lead designer on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Bethesda's next project after Fallout 4 shipped in November 2015 was originally intended to be The Elder Scrolls VI before the studio pivoted to Fallout 76 (2018) and Starfield (2023).[3] It was Howard who insisted that "No, we're doing Starfield" when most at Bethesda were seeking to commence work on The Elder Scrolls VI.[4] Kuhlmann said that Starfield "became this extremely long project compared to other ones" that extended time between Elder Scrolls series entries.[3]

In October 2018, ZeniMax Online Studios producer Matt Firor stated that The Elder Scrolls VI was still a long way off, noting that it would follow Starfield in Bethesda Game Studios' release schedule.[5] In May 2020, Bethesda Softworks' Pete Hines similarly stated that the game remained years away and that further details would not be shared until after Starfield.[6]

In March 2019, Bethesda announced that YouTuber Shirley Curry ("Skyrim Grandma") would appear as a non-player character in The Elder Scrolls VI, following a fan petition advocating her inclusion in the game.[7][8]

When the acquisition of ZeniMax Media by Microsoft completed in March 2021, Bethesda Softworks' various development studios, including Bethesda Game Studios, became part of Microsoft's internal Xbox Game Studios.[9] Xbox CEO Phil Spencer clarified the status of Bethesda's relationship with Xbox going forward, remarking that while they would honor existing contractual obligations as well as continue to support ongoing titles on other platforms, the majority of future titles from the publisher would ship solely on "platforms where Xbox Game Pass exists", and that the potential for benefitting Xbox customers with exclusive content was the primary motivator for the two parties forming a partnership.[10]

In a 2021 interview, Todd Howard confirmed that it was in the design phase, and that the game's technology would build on the groundwork established by Starfield, which is the first game from Bethesda Game Studios to be powered by their proprietary engine Creation Engine 2.[11] Howard anticipated that the game would "arrive some fifteen to seventeen years after Skyrim".[12]

Production

[edit]

In August 2023, Todd Howard described his intent behind The Elder Scrolls VI as wanting to make "the ultimate fantasy-world simulator", and that there were many directions to take with that goal due to the time passed since Skyrim's release.[13] The game entered active production later that month following the completion of Starfield's development.[14][15][16]

On March 25, 2024, Bethesda Game Studios celebrated the 30th anniversary of The Elder Scrolls, stating that The Elder Scrolls VI is still in development and early builds are already being played.[17] In a November 2025 interview with GQ, Howard stated that The Elder Scrolls VI had become the studio's primary development priority.[18]

In a 2026 interview, former Bethesda developer Kurt Kuhlmann stated that the development team had reached an early internal consensus on the setting of The Elder Scrolls VI during the Fallout 4 development period, though he did not disclose the location and noted that no story work had been undertaken at that time.[19]

On February 18, 2026, Todd Howard stated in an interview with Kinda Funny Games that The Elder Scrolls VI is being developed as a "classic Bethesda" role-playing game, comparable to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. He confirmed that the game runs on Creation Engine 3 and that development has passed a major internal milestone, though no release window was announced.[1][20] As part of Xbox's mass layoffs in July, there were over 50 job losses at Bethesda Game Studios that reportedly shattered morale at the studio and would delay development of The Elder Scrolls VI to an earliest release year of 2028 due to a loss of talent.[21][22]

In August 2026, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma referred to the game as The Elder Scrolls VI: ******** after viewing a live playthrough, with Bethesda Game Studios subsequently repeating the eight asterisks, prompting speculation that the game could be titled The Elder Scrolls VI: Sentinel.[23][24][25]

Release

[edit]

The game was formally announced during Bethesda's conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2018 event on June 10 that year, where Todd Howard presented a short teaser trailer, and revealed that the project had started pre-production, with its launch scheduled to follow the releases of the studio's imminent games in development, Fallout 76 (2018) and Starfield (2023).[26][27]

In September 2020, Microsoft entered an agreement to acquire Bethesda Softworks' parent company, ZeniMax Media for US$7.5 billion, thereby receiving ownership of Bethesda's various development teams and franchises, including Bethesda Game Studios and The Elder Scrolls, as part of Microsoft Gaming.[28] Upon the completion of the ZeniMax acquisition, former Xbox CEO Phil Spencer stated that making future Bethesda games exclusive to their platforms was done to signify his commitment to bringing "the full complete package of what we have", a sentiment he shared for other franchises under the Xbox umbrella; he also said that the game will launch after the upcoming Fable game from Playground Games, which is currently scheduled for 2027.[12][29][30] Prior to Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax Media, the game was initially targeting a launch date during the 2024 fiscal year period.[31]

In June 2023, Phil Spencer provided an update on the game's release timing at a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hearing concerning Microsoft's acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, stating that the title was still estimated to be "five plus years away" from launch, and that any target platforms were undecided at that particular stage.[32] Leaked internal documents submitted to the FTC from the trial period revealed the game was anticipated to launch in 2026 at the earliest for Windows and as an Xbox console exclusive.[33][34][note 1] During a July 2026 Q&A session at Bloomberg News, journalist Jason Schreier stated that The Elder Scrolls VI was still estimated to be at least two years away from release, suggesting a launch no earlier than 2028.[35] Separately, IGN reported that more than 50 employees at Bethesda Game Studios had been laid off as part of Microsoft's restructuring of its Xbox division, with current and former staff expressing concerns that the layoffs could negatively affect the game's development through delays, increased crunch, and the loss of experienced developers.[21]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Due to the prolonged release, IGN said in 2023 that "According to the leak, this mysterious next generation of Xbox is tentatively planned to hit shelves in 2028. With The Elder Scrolls 6 said to be at least five years away, there's a good chance Bethesda will launch the sequel on this new Xbox platform."[34]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 Zwiezen, Zack (February 18, 2026). "Elder Scrolls 6 Is Powered By New Version Of Creation Engine". Kotaku. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  2. ↑ Chalk, Andy (June 14, 2016). "The Elder Scrolls 6 is in development, Todd Howard confirms". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Horti, Samuel (January 15, 2026). "Bethesda's former Elder Scrolls loremaster on why he left, Starfield's 'communication breakdowns', and how he wanted The Elder Scrolls 6 'to be The Empire Strikes Back'". PC Gamer. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
  4. ↑ Wood, Austin (September 8, 2026). ""Most people wanted" to make The Elder Scrolls 6 after Fallout 4, says Skyrim co-lead, but then Todd Howard said "No, we're doing Starfield"". GamesRadar+. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  5. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (January 7, 2019). "Elder Scrolls 6 Is A Long Way Off, Might Not Launch Until Next Generation Of Consoles". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  6. ↑ Croft, Liam (May 11, 2020). "The Elder Scrolls 6 News and Details Are Still Years Away". Push Square. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  7. ↑ Livingston, Christopher (March 29, 2019). "Skyrim Grandma Shirley Curry will be in The Elder Scrolls 6". PC Gamer.
  8. ↑ Santangelo, Nick (November 26, 2018). "Fans Petition to Immortalize Skyrim-Playing Grandma in Elder Scrolls 6". IGN. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  9. ↑ Spencer, Phil (March 9, 2021). "Officially Welcoming Bethesda to Team Xbox". Xbox Wire. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  10. ↑ Holt, Kris (September 20, 2022). "Xbox chief says the Bethesda deal will deliver 'great exclusive games'". Engadget. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  11. ↑ Strickland, Derek (June 30, 2023). "Starfield's new Creation Engine took 'so long to do,' Bethesda's Todd Howard happy with results". TweakTown. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  12. 1 2 White, Sam (November 15, 2021). "How Xbox outgrew the console: inside Phil Spencer's multi-billion dollar gamble". British GQ. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  13. ↑ Lyles, Taylor (August 24, 2023). "In Hindsight, Todd Howard Probably Would Have Announced Elder Scrolls 6 'More Casually'". IGN. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  14. ↑ Dinsdale, Ryan (August 30, 2023). "The Elder Scrolls 6 Officially in Early Development, but Don't Expect to Hear About It Soon". IGN. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  15. ↑ Chalk, Andy (August 30, 2023). "The Elder Scrolls 6 is out of 'pre-production' but Pete Hines says it will be 'years' before we start hearing about it". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  16. ↑ Matas, Fran G. (August 29, 2023). "Pete Hines de Bethesda nos descubre todas las claves de Starfield". Vandal (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  17. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (March 25, 2024). "As The Elder Scrolls Turns 30, Bethesda Issues Brief The Elder Scrolls 6 Update". IGN. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  18. ↑ White, Sam (November 10, 2025). "Todd Howard on 10 years of Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls 6: 'We needed a creative reset'". British GQ. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  19. ↑ Brown, Fraser (January 28, 2026). "Bethesda's former Elder Scrolls loremaster won't tell us where The Elder Scrolls 6 is set, but the team originally agreed on it way back in the Fallout 4 days". PC Gamer. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  20. ↑ Kinda Funny Games (February 18, 2026). Todd Howard Returns! - Kinda Funny Gamescast. YouTube. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  21. 1 2 Phillips, Tom (July 9, 2026). "The Elder Scrolls 6 Will Suffer Because of Xbox Layoffs, Bethesda Staff Say, Fearing Delays, Crunch, and Generational Talent Being Replaced by Contractors". IGN. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  22. ↑ Peppiatt, Dom (July 9, 2026). "Even The Elder Scrolls 6 is affected by Xbox layoffs, say Bethesda employees, as "key" people are let go and morale bottoms out". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  23. ↑ Fenlon, Wes (August 12, 2026). "Xbox's CEO teased that she's seen The Elder Scrolls 6, so now we have to guess what it's called". PC Gamer. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  24. ↑ Bailey, Dustin (August 13, 2026). "The Elder Scrolls 6: Sentinel could be the title of Bethesda's next RPG according to a solid fan theory that dates back to a Starfield teaser". GamesRadar+. Retrieved August 13, 2026. The Sentinel theory was based partly on an employee number displayed during character creation in Starfield, 190514-2009140512, which fans interpreted by separating it into two-digit numbers corresponding to letters of the alphabet, producing "SENTINEL". Sentinel is a city and kingdom in Hammerfell, a region previously speculated as a possible setting for The Elder Scrolls VI.
  25. ↑ Koselke, Anna (August 12, 2026). "Elder Scrolls 6 setting theory backed by ex-Bethesda dev as fans try to decipher Xbox CEO's teaser". GamesRadar+. Retrieved August 13, 2026. Former Bethesda writer and designer Michael Kirkbride further fuelled the speculation by responding "Yep" to a fan proposing Sentinel as the title.
  26. ↑ "The Future of Bethesda Game Studios". Bethesda. June 10, 2018. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  27. ↑ O'Connor, James (June 11, 2018). "Elder Scrolls 6 is in 'pre-production', while Starfield is in a playable state". VG247. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  28. ↑ Bass, Dina; Schreier, Jason (September 21, 2020). "Microsoft to Buy Bethesda for $7.5 Billion to Boost Xbox". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  29. ↑ Peters, Jay (November 15, 2021). "Phil Spencer basically confirms The Elder Scrolls VI is an Xbox exclusive". The Verge. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  30. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (February 25, 2025). "Fable Delayed to 2026, Microsoft Reveals Brand New Pre-Alpha Gameplay". IGN. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  31. ↑ Peters, Jay (September 19, 2023). "Microsoft documents leak new Bethesda games, including an Oblivion remaster". The Verge. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  32. ↑ Plant, Logan (June 23, 2023). "The Elder Scrolls 6 Still 'Five+ Years Away', PlayStation Version Undecided". IGN. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  33. ↑ Taylor, Mollie (September 19, 2023). "The Elder Scrolls 6 is at least 3 years away, probably more, and there's bad news for PlayStation fans". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  34. 1 2 Williams, Callum (December 19, 2023). "The Elder Scrolls 6: Everything We Know About the Upcoming Bethesda RPG". IGN. Archived from the original on December 24, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  35. ↑ Koepp, Brent (July 7, 2026). "The Elder Scrolls 6 Is Reportedly Still 2 to 3 Years Away From Release". Vice. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
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