Todd Howard: The Elder Scrolls 6 Still “A Long Way Off”
▼ Summary
– The Elder Scrolls 6 is still far from release but is now in active daily development according to Bethesda’s Todd Howard.
– Howard acknowledged the series has been away too long since Skyrim but wanted a creative reset with Starfield before continuing.
– No official release date or details exist yet, and Howard prefers to announce and release the game suddenly when ready.
– Bethesda tested this shadow drop approach successfully with the Oblivion remaster’s surprise April release.
– Despite current focus on Fallout projects, The Elder Scrolls 6 remains the primary daily development priority for the team.
Fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the legendary Elder Scrolls series will need to temper their expectations, as Bethesda’s Todd Howard has confirmed that The Elder Scrolls 6 remains “a long way off.” While development is now an everyday focus for the studio, Howard is urging patience, emphasizing that he doesn’t want the community to feel anxious about the prolonged wait.
In a recent interview, Howard explained that although hundreds of team members are currently dedicated to Fallout 76 and other projects, The Elder Scrolls 6 is the title he and others are working on consistently. He acknowledged the lengthy gap since the last mainline entry, Skyrim, which launched over a decade ago. Since then, Bethesda has shifted its attention to releasing Fallout 4 and, more recently, the ambitious space epic Starfield.
Howard admitted that the interval between Elder Scrolls titles has stretched longer than intended. He expressed a preference for taking creative breaks between major installments, rather than delivering predictable sequels. Still, he conceded that the series has been absent for too long. The decision to develop Starfield was partly a strategic one, a “creative reset” that allowed the team to explore new ideas before returning to Tamriel.
As for when fans might receive concrete updates, Howard hinted at a preference for surprise releases. He shared that his ideal scenario would involve announcing the game and launching it shortly thereafter, avoiding a lengthy marketing cycle. He pointed to the recent Oblivion remaster as a successful example of this approach, it was revealed and made available in April, quickly attracting a large player base on Steam.
That shadow-drop strategy proved effective, demonstrating both the enduring popularity of the franchise and the audience’s readiness for new content. While a specific release window for The Elder Scrolls 6 has yet to be shared, Howard’s comments suggest the team is committed to delivering a polished experience, even if it means keeping fans in the dark a little longer.
(Source: EuroGamer)
