Elder Scrolls 6 is in the works and while it’ll likely be quite a long time before we see it arrive, it’s easily one of the most exciting upcoming Bethesda games in the pipeline. We have no doubt that the developers have got their best fantasists working hard at the Tamriel-mills since Elder Scrolls 6’s announcement back in 2018. But they’re not sharing any precious nuggets of info, not yet. It’s a busy time for the studio which is currently focused on its first new IP in 25 years with Starfield which is set to release in 2023. We also know that Bethesda has plans for Fallout 5, which Todd Howard said is set to come after Elder Scrolls 6. With their hands delved into plenty of other projects for the time being we’re not expecting much more information about the highly anticipated installment anytime soon. We know for sure that The Elder Scrolls 6 is Bethesda’s next project following Starfield’s release, so hopefully, we don’t have too long to wait before we see a proper reveal trailer. In the interim take a look at all the rumors being spun and what we do know about the upcoming release to date.
What is the release date for Elder Scrolls 6?
Long story short, don’t hold your breath, you will be waiting a while. We know that Starfield, launching in 2023 after its delay, is going to be finished before Elder Scrolls 6. In June 2022, Todd Howard described Elder Scrolls 6 as being in “pre-production.” Despite being announced at Bethesda’s E3 2018 conference, little more than a logo was revealed and, more than four years later, we still have few solid details about the next Elder Scrolls game. We don’t even have a subtitle or a release year. So hunker down, it’s going to be a long haul.
Where will Elder Scrolls 6 take place?
With so little information, Elder Scrolls fans have taken to picking apart anything Elder Scrolls related to find clues, starting with the original teaser trailer from 2018. Todd Howard suggested that clues do indeed exist, saying the teaser contains “hints at where it’s set.” The community has run with that. Todd Howard himself has confirmed that The Elder Scrolls 6’s location has already been decided, and that this decision was made a while ago. Thanks to a New Year’s Twitter post by Bethesda at the very end of 2020, Hammerfell is looking the most likely destination. The post contained a map of Skyrim with the words “transcribe the past and map the future”. Eagle-eyed fans quickly pointed out that the location of the candles on the image may contain a clue. One is placed directly on Skyrim, one on a book holding the map down, and another beyond Skyrim’s borders in the southwest, right by the label for Hammerfell. Hammerfell is home to the Redguard people and its Alik’r Desert could line up with the rocky, arid environment shown in the original teaser trailer. High Rock is also another popular theory. The original teaser trailer shows rocks and appears to be high. TES geography changes quite a bit over time, and High Rock has already been covered by the early games. So have Hammerfell, Morrowind, Cyrodiil, and Skyrim. Adding to the speculation, the Starfield trailer from E3 2021 included a possible Elder Scrolls teaser. A very small scratch on the interior of a spaceship looks suspiciously like a drawing of a landmass that looks suspiciously like Tamriel’s Illiac Bay, which sits between High Rock and Hammerfell. It’s a very tiny detail that could be nothing, but it sure is a distinct shape. The speculation is ongoing but it wouldn’t be surprising if these are the locations gamers are set to navigate when Elder Scrolls 6 is finally released.
What platforms will Elder Scrolls 6 be on?
The platforms for The Elder Scrolls 6 haven’t been confirmed yet but, given Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda’s parent company ZeniMax Media, releases on PC, and Xbox Series S|X are almost a certainty. A PS5 release is much less certain, however, as Microsoft may opt to make the new Elder Scrolls game an Xbox exclusive. Recent reports suggest it’s planned to be an Xbox exclusive, and since Starfield was announced as an Xbox and PC exclusive at E3 2021, it seems likely Elder Scrolls 6 will follow the same path. Similarly, releases on Xbox One and PS4 seem extremely unlikely, as Starfield shows Bethesda’s moving on from last-gen hardware. Despite this, Todd Howard has said “it’s hard to imagine” not bringing The Elder Scrolls 6 to multiple platforms. What we do know, however, is that The Elder Scrolls 6 will be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one.
What are we likely to see from Elder Scrolls 6?
Fans of the Elder Scrolls franchise are undoubtedly excited about the next game in the series, and many have a wish list of potential features as long as this list of fast withdrawal casinos for the game. The game is years away from release and we are sure to hear plenty of new features until then about what will be included but there are certainly some things long-time fans will want more than others. A feature that we’re fairly certain will be included in the game to some degree is house building or town creation. Skyrim introduced the idea of designing and maintaining a homestead with its Hearthfire DLC, which Fallout 4 expanded upon with the introduction of its settlement mechanic and the Elder Scrolls online built upon again with its Homestead DLC. From a story perspective, it is reasonable to suggest there could be a shift in approach. Being aware of the differences between Skyrim and Fallout’s approaches to storytelling and the fact that both have positives and negatives suggests that the next Elder Scrolls title could strike some kind of balance between giving the player completely free reign and telling a story around their character. Something we don’t expect to see, though, is multiplayer. Skyrim certainly doesn’t suffer from a lack of multiplayer and it wouldn’t really make all that much sense to incorporate any online multiplayer gameplay with the Elder Scrolls Online still rolling along. There is also an expectation for the combat to be updated along with the updated capabilities of new consoles. Everyone knows and loves the animations delivered from Oblivion, Skyrim and Fallout, but seeing them on an Xbox Series X or PS5 or high-end PCs would be nothing short of embarrassing. To this end, we expect to see a far more fluid combat experience and, considering how powerful the new consoles are purporting to be, a richly detailed open world to explore. Whatever we get there’s no doubt that gamers will be lining up to grab their copy on release day.
