Bethesda Confirms Elder Scrolls 6 Release Still Far Away

If you've been holding your breath for its arrival, you might want to take a deep breath – according to Bethesda's Todd Howard, we're still a long way off from stepping into another Tamriel.

Recently, Howard sat down for an interview with GQ magazine, where he touched upon various topics including the upcoming tenth anniversary of Fallout 4. Naturally, the conversation turned to the perpetually delayed Elder Scrolls successor. Howard himself emphasized the need for patience, directly addressing the palpable excitement and perhaps, some growing frustration, within the fanbase. He stressed, "I'm calling for everyone to be patient; I don't want fans to get anxious."

Adding a touch of personal connection to the situation, Howard mentioned a recent venture where he helped raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. As part of fulfilling a wish, he confirmed that Bethesda has indeed created a custom character for their supporters and even undertook a three-hour playtest of the game. This gives a small glimpse into the progress being made, but Howard was quick to clarify that this testing phase absolutely doesn't signal an imminent launch window. He elaborated, "This isn't indicative of an impending release." Furthermore, he hinted that if he had the final say on future Elder Scrolls release strategies, they might look quite different.

Howard expressed a preference for a more straightforward approach: announcing the game's readiness for release and then making it available immediately. He described his ideal scenario – not necessarily what will happen, he added – as a period of quiet development followed by a sudden, perhaps unannounced, arrival. This brings us neatly to the example of the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Anniversary Edition, which launched unexpectedly last April. When asked if a similar surprise release could be on the table for Elder Scrolls VI, Howard didn't shut the door on the idea. He framed it as a "test," noting that "it worked very well." So, while a surprise launch isn't confirmed, it certainly isn't ruled out based on past precedent.

So, what does this all mean for fans wondering just how long they'll have to wait? The answer remains elusive. Howard's comments underscore Bethesda's commitment to the project, but also highlight the significant development hurdles still ahead. The desire to avoid premature hype and ensure the game lives up to its massive potential likely plays a large role in the cautious approach. It feels like the industry giants understand the pressure, especially with a title carrying the Elder Scrolls legacy. Will the waiting period be measured in years or mere months? Only time, and hopefully more playtesting, will tell. The anticipation certainly isn't fading anytime soon, though.