The Elder Scrolls VI, Bethesda’s next main entry in their long-standing epic RPG series, was announced years ago, but we still know very little about it. Within that time, Bethesda's been acquired by Microsoft, creating a new dynamic for the popular RPG.
It's brought us some of the most popular RPG games in its genre, selling more than 50 million copies since first launching in 1994 with The Elder Scrolls: Arena. The latest entry, Skyrim, launched in 2011 to rave reviews and still sells well; so much that Bethesda has continued re-releasing it. Here's what we know about The Elder Scrolls VI.
Latest News
Summer Games Fest did not show Elder Scrolls.
This confirms that it is going to release well after Starfield.
Starfield has been delayed until 2023.
This also means that Elder Scrolls 6 is even further away, given that it isn't coming out until Starfield is finished and launched.
Phil Spencer suggests Elder Scrolls 6 will be an Xbox exclusive - November 16, 2021
Speaking in a new interview with GQ Xbox boss Phil Spencer has suggested that Elder Scrolls 6 is an Xbox exclusive.
When asked about the exclusivity of the game (with many PlayStation fans hoping it comes to PS5), Spencer replied: “It’s not about punishing any other platform, like I fundamentally believe all of the platforms can continue to grow. But in order to be on Xbox, I want us to be able to bring the full complete package of what we have. And that would be true when I think about Elder Scrolls 6. That would be true when I think about any of our franchises.”
It certainly reads as though Elder Scrolls 6 will not be coming to the PlayStation.
Phil Spencer Provides New Information About Elder Scrolls VI's Release Window - July 19, 2021
Speaking within an IGN Unlocked podcast on June 30, Phil Spencer was asked if Fable would release before the much-awaited Bethesda title, replying that Elder Scrolls 6 was "further out."
E3 Release Date Reveal? - June 11, 2021
On the latest episode of the Triple Click podcast well-known industry insider Jason Schreier suggested that Bethesda's upcoming sci-fi RPG, Starfield, will be the headline reveal at the upcoming Xbox/Bethesda conference. That makes sense, but it could also have ramifications for Elder Scrolls 6, too.
It was mentioned that Starfield has a release date of "Late 2022". Where that put's Elder Scrolls 6 is anybody's guess; but we're betting nowhere close.
Microsoft & Bethesda reference the exclusivity question - 12th March & June 20th
Speaking following the acquisition of Bethesda Game Studios, Xbox Boss Phil Spencer call attention to the question on everyone's mind - will Elder Scrolls VI be exclusive?
"If you’re an Xbox customer, the thing I want you to know is this is about delivering great exclusive games for you that ship on platforms where Game Pass exists, and that’s our goal."
While it is assumed that Elder Scrolls 6 will be exclusive, there has not been a definitive answer. Bethesda's own Todd Howard seemed to want to shy away from giving an answer when asked on June 20th 2021.
click to enlarge
+ 2Indiana Jones Affecting Elder Scrolls VI? - 13th January
The Indiana Jones game Bethesda announced today won't have an impact on the development of The Elder Scrolls VI, Bethesda marketing boss Pete Hines has confirmed.
Bethesda's Todd Howard will continue to focus primarily on directing Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI, despite being attached to the Indiana Jones game as Executive Producer.
Elder Scrolls Teases The Elder Scrolls VI? - 8th January
Bethesda has recently teased a map as part of a new year greeting. The map is of the region of Skyrim and features three lights. One is by “Province of Skyrim” caption for the map, also in the unmapped area of Hammerfell. Another is by the location of Solitude, the capital of Skyrim.
The final light is by a pile of coins, which were featured in the collector's edition of 2020’s Greymoor expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online. It seems like whatever is coming, it may not be long before we hear about it and its linked heavily to Skyrim.
click to enlarge + 2Release Date
The Elder Scrolls VI won’t be releasing anytime soon. Back in 2018, Todd Howard stood up on stage at E3, announced that development was in progress and released a short, undescriptive trailer.
Even though the game is in development, Howard previously announced Starfield, a new IP intended to be the next title released by Bethesda. He explained in an interview with IGN that we won’t see Elder Scrolls 6 before this new IP is out on shelves.
“We had done so many things, we were going Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Fallout… You have this Starfield game in your head, you sort of say, well, when? It can never be, you could say never. But look, we’re creatives, and it’s like we have to make this game, and this is the time. So Elder Scrolls 6 is going to have to wait a little bit. And plus, again, Elder Scrolls Online is doing so well, it’s so vibrant, that this is the time, both for us creatively and our audience”.
Where Will The Elder Scrolls VI Be Set?
The game's location is a very important topic. Tamriel, also known as The Arena, the continent on which the Elder Scrolls is set in, is made up of several nations each with their own cultures, customs and lore.
Fans have tried guessing the location based on the small teaser trailer which showed high mountain peaks, a medieval-looking castle and a coastline. That's left people believing we’ll head back to High Rock and potentially Hammerfell. There was also speculation this land looked like it was flattened by a giant tidal wave, hinting it could be the lost island of Yokuda.
Black Marsh is out of the question, as it’s considered uninhabitable for most of the races on the continent. However, locations can be retconned as Oblivion has shown us when it went from being described as a jungle in previous games to a more temperate climate in-game.
Todd Howard confirmed The Elder Scrolls VI's location has been decided by the team. However, none of that information has gone public yet.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Elder Scrolls and Hubs page.