The Elder Scrolls 6 was first revealed over five years ago with a 36-second announcement trailer. Since then, concrete news on the title has been scarce. Now that Bethesda has successfully launched Starfield, their first brand-new IP in 25 years, attention is turning to the next installment in the Elder Scrolls series. The new title will be building upon the immense success of its predecessor, Skyrim, and the MMO, The Elder Scrolls Online.
The hype for The Elder Scrolls 6 is massive. Few other IPs can generate such sustained anticipation with a simple trailer featuring rocky terrain and a title card. This year, the anticipation has grown even stronger with the success of other fantasy titles like Diablo 4 and Baldur’s Gate 3. Fans eagerly await a new trailer, though it seems we are still several years away from playing The Elder Scrolls 6.
Here’s what we know so far:
Release Date Speculation
Every fan is desperate for a concrete release date for The Elder Scrolls 6, but there’s been no official update since the announcement trailer. Any significant news about its timeline is likely still years away.
Since the 2018 trailer, Bethesda executives have insisted that The Elder Scrolls 6 wouldn’t be a priority until the launch of Starfield. Even that timeline shifted, with Starfield’s release date being pushed back several times before its eventual launch in September 2023.
In an August 2023 interview, Bethesda’s head of publishing, Pete Hines, confirmed that The Elder Scrolls 6 has moved out of pre-production and is now in early development. He emphasized that Starfield remains their current focus, implying that any substantial updates on The Elder Scrolls 6 are still a ways off.
Considering Bethesda’s development timeline for Starfield, which began in the latter half of 2017 and launched in late 2023, it’s safe to assume that The Elder Scrolls 6 won’t be nearing launch for another four or five years, at the very least.
Platforms
Following Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda in 2021, there’s a strong possibility that The Elder Scrolls 6 could be exclusive to Xbox consoles and PC, potentially leaving PS5 users out in the cold.
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has addressed exclusivity concerns regarding various IPs since the acquisitions of Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. He’s stated that exclusivity decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
While Call of Duty was initially a focus for exclusivity talks, Microsoft eventually decided to keep the franchise on Sony platforms, at least for the immediate future. The Elder Scrolls 6 presents a different scenario. It’s a well-established IP with a significant fanbase on PlayStation. However, it also marks the first new Elder Scrolls title in over a decade, creating immense hype. Exclusivity could potentially sway some PlayStation owners to switch to Xbox or PC.
Ultimately, it’s uncertain when the game will be released and what platforms will be active at that time. Spencer himself has acknowledged that the studio is not entirely sure what generation of consoles the game is being developed for.
Trailer
The only glimpse we have of the game is a barely 30-second announcement teaser released at E3 2018. This teaser, more of a title drop than a trailer, showcases a landscape and the game title accompanied by an orchestral soundtrack reminiscent of Skyrim’s.
Despite the brevity of the footage, hardcore Elder Scrolls fans have already dissected it, theorizing about the game’s setting within the world of Tamriel. The teaser appears to show a mountainous region. Based on the terrain, Morrowind, Skyrim, Cyrodiil, and Summerset Isles can be ruled out as potential settings, making High Rock, Hammerfell, Valenwood, Elsweyr, and Black Marsh the most likely contenders.
Black Marsh, Elsweyr, and Valenwood seem to have too low of a sea level to fit the trailer. The trailer also lacks the extensive mountain ranges that are characteristic of these regions. By elimination, Hammerfell or High Rock appear to be the most probable locations for The Elder Scrolls VI.
High Rock has only been mentioned by name in mainline Elder Scrolls games since Morrowind, though it appeared in Elder Scrolls Online. Similarly, Hammerfell has been a location in Elder Scrolls Online but was only mentioned by name in the mainline series since Morrowind.
If the game isn’t set in High Rock or Hammerfell, there’s a possibility that Bethesda might venture beyond Tamriel for The Elder Scrolls VI’s location. Akavir, the continent to the east of Tamriel, could provide a captivating setting. However, little is known about Akavir’s topography.
While Hammerfell or High Rock seem like the most likely locations based on the limited information, it’s worth noting that Bethesda is likely keeping fans guessing.
Gameplay
Gameplay has remained relatively consistent across the recent iterations of The Elder Scrolls games. If this trend continues, we can anticipate similar core mechanics in The Elder Scrolls 6.
Players will likely create a custom character and control them from either a first-person or third-person perspective, with the ability to switch between them. Players will be able to build their characters with a vast array of weapons and skills, from fists and blades to bows and magic.
Hopefully, Bethesda has some new ideas to enhance combat variety, but the core mechanics offer a solid foundation. We can expect a new version of the skills and leveling system. Although we can’t predict new additions, elements like lock-picking, speech, and smithing will probably return.
In terms of new gameplay systems, we could see a more robust relationship system between the player character and companions and other NPCs, allowing for more realistic and evolving interactions. Skyrim had a marriage system, but it was rather basic and limited.
Multiplayer
The Elder Scrolls Online is the only game in the series with any form of multiplayer. With the success of Elder Scrolls Online, we anticipate Bethesda to continue delivering dedicated single-player RPG experiences for the mainline numbered entries. Given that Bethesda is one of the few companies still committed to large, solo experiences, we hope this trend will continue for The Elder Scrolls VI.
DLC
It’s a safe bet that The Elder Scrolls 6 will have ample DLC to keep players adventuring for hundreds of hours. Since Fallout 3, Bethesda has supported its single-player RPGs with numerous DLC packs that add new areas, skills, classes, enemies, stories, side quests, and much more.
Even without concrete information about the game itself, it’s evident that DLC will be a part of The Elder Scrolls 6. We can expect a wealth of content to expand the game’s world and gameplay.
