Elder Scrolls 6 - What We Know So Far

Bethesda unveiled The Elder Scrolls 6 during E3 2018, almost seven years after the release of Skyrim, the fifth installment in the beloved fantasy franchise. Loyal inhabitants of Tamriel have soldiered on ever since, waiting with bated breath for more news about the future of the franchise. Details about the next entry remain scarce but here is everything we've managed to piece together so far, ranging from official commentary to educated predictions about what you can expect from The Elder Scrolls 6 and when you might finally get your hands on it.

While the existence of The Elder Scrolls 6 has been confirmed, it looks like we've got a long wait on our hands. In July 2018, Bethesda's senior vice-president of PR and marketing told The Guardian that "The Elder Scrolls 6 is still two games away from Bethesda Game Studio." Todd Howard, the director of Bethesda Game Studio, supported this statement, advising that "everyone should be very patient. It's gonna take a while for what we have in mind to come out." 

Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls 6 alongside Starfield, their new single-player RPG that takes place in a sci-fi setting. During the conference, Howard described Starfield as a "next-gen" title, divulging that parts of it were playable; however, The Elder Scrolls 6 was "not in that way yet." Bethesda has also stated that Starfield will release first and that multiple teams across several locations are currently working on the futuristic jaunt. When the focus switches to The Elder Scrolls 6, Howard predicted that it would require a lot of people and the involvement of every BGS studio to create what they have in mind. With Starfield in active developement and support for Fallout 76 and Elder Scrolls Online still a priority, it will likely be years before the next numbered Elder Scrolls game releases.

Bethesda released a 36-second announcement teaser at E3 2018, confirming the existence of The Elder Scrolls 6. The game was notably absent from E3 2019 and Gamescom 2019 and Todd Howard revealed to IGN that it would likely be awhile before fans got their first look at the title's gameplay. "I will say this, I like when you really see the game to when it's out to be as short as people will let me." This matches the strategy used for previous Bethesda games, such as Fallout 4 and Fallout 76.

Bethesda has revealed little about The Elder Scrolls 6 setting. The E3 2018 trailer provided a glimpse of a rocky landscape, glittering coastline, and what appears to be the ruins of a fort or castle overlooking a crater. Recent Elder Scrolls destinations include Morrowind, Cyrodiil, Skyrim and the Summerset Isles, likely removing them from the list of possibilities. Despite the limited information, several fan theories have sprung up about the game's possible location, with Hammerfell, the homeland of the Redguards, distinguishing itself as the frontrunner.

The Elder Scrolls 6 likely won't reinvent the wheel when it comes to the races players will have to choose from. Skyrim did not add any new options, sticking with the classic lineup of elves (High, Wood, Dark), humans (Breton, Imperial, Nord, Redguard), Argonians, Khajit, and Orsimer. There's a small chance that Sea Elves may join the roster, as they're now playable in The Elder Scrolls Online; however, you shouldn't get your hopes up.

Like its predecessors, The Elder Scrolls 6 likely won't be limited to a single platform, allowing both PC and console players to get in on the action. As Bethesda has described Starfield as a next-generation title and the next Elder Scrolls entry is slated to launch after the sci-fi game, console users can safely expect to play The Elder Scrolls 6 on the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Scarlett. A remastered version of Skyrim was later released for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation VR, adding those platforms to the list of possibilities. Google Stadia could also enter the mix following its release.