2022 will be a big year for fans of Bethesda thanks toStarfield.The upcoming sci-fi RPG is an all-new IP from Bethesda, and while fans have seen very little of the game so far, its concept and teasers from Bethesda make the game sound like it has a lot of promise. However, many Bethesda fans long for another RPG’s release:The Elder Scrolls 6.Skyrimrecently celebrated its 10th birthday, meaning more than a decade has passed sinceThe Elder Scrollsgot another core game. AlthoughThe Elder Scrolls 6has been confirmed in development for many years, it has yet to see the light of day.
To be specific, nearly 1,500 days have passed sinceThe Elder Scrolls 6made its debut at E3 2018. While Bethesda has released a couple important details about the game over the years, it’s generally a mystery; fans don’t even knowwhere the newElder Scrollstitle will take place. Considering discussion about its place in the Microsoft RPG release schedule, it also doesn’t sound like fans will hear aboutThe Elder Scrolls 6for a long time. While the game is bound to succeed regardless of its release date, thanks to the franchise’s notoriety and Bethesda’s prowess, the wait forThe Elder Scrolls 6is unbelievably long.
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The Elder Scrolls 6 So Far
WhenThe Elder Scrolls 6was first announced, Bethesda made it clear that the game wasn’t anywhere near release.The E3 2018 teaser trailerdidn’t hint at even a vague release window or provide any specifics about the game’s contents. At the time,The Elder Scrolls 6was still in pre-production, meaning Bethesda didn’t even have anything to show at the time. Nevertheless, the announcement was great news.Skyrimhad dominatedThe Elder Scrollsfor many years already, and fans were ready for something new.
Since then, Bethesda has revealed a few interesting things aboutThe Elder Scrolls 6. For instance,The Elder Scrolls 6shares its development engine, the Creation Engine 2, withStarfield,meaning the technical details ofStarfieldcould set some standards for Bethesda’s next big game. Bethesda game director and executive producer Todd Howard has also revealed thatThe Elder Scrolls 6uses procedural generationto some extent, potentially helping Bethesda create a vast map and lots of environmental details. Unsurprisingly,The Elder Scrolls 6is poised to be a day one title for Xbox Game Pass as well, and it may be Xbox exclusive in general thanks to Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda.
Beyond scarce details like these, much of the information surroundingThe Elder Scrolls 6has to do with rumors and speculation. For instance, fans have spent years trying to decipher the setting ofThe Elder Scrolls 6,studying the game’s teaser trailer closely and looking for clues in trailers forStarfield.It certainly seems possible that Bethesda hashinted atThe Elder Scrolls 6’s setting inStarfieldtrailers, but nothing concrete has emerged just yet. Bethesda has done a good job of keeping the lid onTES6’s secrets so far.
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In spite of how long it’s been sinceThe Elder Scrolls 6was revealed, it doesn’t sound like the game is getting close to release just yet. Not only isStarfieldslated to release first, but Xbox head Phil Spencer has stated thatPlayground Games’Fablerebootwill release beforeThe Elder Scrolls 6.Since there’s no confirmed release date forFableeither, aside from rumors that it could launch next year, that meansThe Elder Scrolls 6’s fate is a total mystery for now too.
The Elder Scrolls 6is likely to succeed no matter how long it takes to launch. With more than 30 million copies sold,Skyrimis one of the best-selling video games to date, meaning Bethesda has a broad base of fans who are eager to see where the franchise goes next. Bethesda is clearly aware of that, sinceit revealedThe Elder Scrolls 6earlyto assureSkyrimfans that the franchise’s future was bright. Bethesda has shown no concerns about waning interest due to the long wait for the game, and that confidence ought to serve if well in the long run.
Still, when standing so far from the game’s release, it’s hard to say for sure ifThe Elder Scrolls 6will be worth the wait. Very few games make fans wait the better part of a decade for their release, and those that do are under a tremendous amount of pressure to live up to expectations and make fans' patience worthwhile.The troubled legacy ofCyberpunk 2077is a strong example of the risks that come with announcing a game so early and creating such a long wait for a demanded game. Bethesda may feel confident aboutThe Elder Scrolls 6for now, but the final result is what matters.
Bethesda’s Possible Next Steps
Considering how much time has passed sinceTES6was announced and how little has been revealed since then, it’s very hard to predict what Bethesda will tease or announce next. EvenwhenStarfieldreleases in November, Bethesda definitely won’t pivot intoElder Scrollsnews right away. Instead, it’s bound to spend months or even years touting its accomplishments inStarfieldand potentially releasing updates and DLC for the sci-fi game. One leaker has suggested thatThe Elder Scrolls 6is a 2026 title, and if that’s the case, it’ll probably be at least another two years before Bethesda starts releasing proper trailers.
AlthoughStarfield’s release means newTES6reveals are far away,Starfielddoes provide some general hope that Bethesda will discuss the game in creative ways outside of trailers.Concept art forStarfieldhas been plentiful in the last several months, and videos of Todd Howard discussingStarfieldwith other developers shed a lot of light on the game’s core concepts, design principles, and so on. These behind-the-scenes looks atStarfieldhave been a great way of building interest in the game, so hopefullyThe Elder Scrolls 6will get a similar treatment someday ahead of its eventual release. Even if the game remains a mystery on the whole, Bethesda could support it on its journey by giving fans just a taste of its contents.
The Elder Scrolls 6is in development for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
