Bethesda's Todd Howard has reiterated that The Elder Scrolls 6 is still a long way off, urging fans to remain patient in a recent GQ interview. The game, first teased at E3 2018, follows the 2011 release of Skyrim and comes after the studio's work on Starfield as a creative reset. Howard expressed a preference for surprise releases, hinting at a potential shadow drop similar to this year's Oblivion Remastered.
Development Status
In the interview marking the 10th anniversary of Fallout 4, Howard acknowledged the extended wait for The Elder Scrolls series, stating, "The Elder Scrolls has been too long, let's be clear." He explained that after Skyrim's 2011 launch, Bethesda pursued other projects, including Fallout 4 and Starfield, to provide a "creative reset" for the team. Now, The Elder Scrolls 6 is the studio's primary focus, described by Howard as the "everyday thing" with hundreds of developers involved alongside ongoing Fallout work.
Recent playtesting has been intensive, including a large session the day before the interview where the game was shown to Make-A-Wish donors honoring a friend. Howard emphasized, "Great games are played, not made. The screen doesn’t lie," highlighting the iterative process. Despite this progress, he stressed, "I'm preaching patience. I don't want fans to feel anxious," confirming no official release date exists and the title remains years away.
Shadow Drop Possibility
Howard expressed frustration with prolonged teasers, preferring to "just announce stuff and release it." His ideal scenario: after a period of silence, "one day, the game will just appear." He referenced the April 2025 shadow drop of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which quickly gained popularity on Steam, calling it "a test run" that "worked out well."
While a full shadow drop for The Elder Scrolls 6 seems unlikely given its scale and Microsoft's involvement, the success of the Oblivion remaster underscores enduring fan interest in the franchise.