Elder Scrolls 6 Won’t Arrive for Another Two Years, According to Sources

Xbox is facing challenges, and the gaming giant is reportedly looking to recover by focusing heavily on its most popular franchises. For Bethesda, this shift means there’s added pressure to deliver The Elder Scrolls 6, a title that was first announced eight years ago. But what does this renewed focus mean for the development timeline of this highly anticipated open-world RPG?

According to Jason Schreier, a prominent reporter covering the recent significant layoffs at Xbox, fans of The Elder Scrolls will need to be patient. In a live Q&A session, Schreier and fellow reporter Edward Ludlow discussed the details of Microsoft’s latest gaming reorganization. During this conversation, Schreier indicated that TES6 is “at least two or more years away” from completion.

If Bethesda can wrap up the sequel in a timely manner, it will have taken nearly a decade to develop The Elder Scrolls 6. Given the game’s prominence and the known issues within Xbox’s management, this timeline seems reasonable. For context, early development on Grand Theft Auto 6 began around 2014, with production ramping up in 2019. Similarly, Final Fantasy XV reportedly took about ten years to finish.

This extended development period, along with the substantial financial investment required, explains why fewer publishers are pursuing ambitious projects in recent console generations. With games like TES6, the stakes are incredibly high, where even strong sales may not fully cover the costs.

However, Bethesda still needs to complete the game. With the anticipation surrounding its next release, Bethesda is positioned for potential success within the Xbox umbrella. Not all of Microsoft’s gaming acquisitions share this fortune; for instance, Undead Labs, known for the State of Decay series, spent nearly a decade under Microsoft’s ownership without releasing a new title. While Bethesda did experience layoffs in July, these primarily impacted teams working on The Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76.

There is still hope for TES6, as Bethesda and Xbox frequently mention the game publicly. Although updates are scarce, it appears that development is making progress. The last we heard, TES6 was Bethesda’s primary focus, and the game was far enough along to undergo playtesting. While the build may not always be stable, CEO Todd Howard has stated that he and the team are deeply considering the game’s mechanics.

Unless Bethesda suddenly opts for an early access release, most fans assume the game is still a few years away. Nonetheless, it’s reassuring to receive confirmation, especially amid the uncertainty surrounding Xbox at this time.