Starfield is Bethesda’s big new release, but now that it’s finally out in the wild, some have already turned their attention to any upcoming news about The Elder Scrolls VI. While some have always assumed the game was well on its way, we now know to expect it in two to three years at the earliest.
For The Verge, as part of the ongoing FTC vs. Regarding Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft released a document to the court containing a chart illustrating its approach to publishing Bethesda games since the publisher’s purchase. It lists every title released under the Microsoft banner with details such as release window and target platforms.
The Elder Scrolls VI section confirms two big things. First, it definitely won’t be coming to PlayStation (which was an assumption based on previous statements from Xbox boss Phil Spencer) and is listed as an Xbox and PC launch. Second, the game has no specific release window, but is expected to arrive in 2026 or later.
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However, according to AxiosStephen Totilo, Spencer stated during his testimony that TES VI was at least five years away and that the platforms were “technically TBD”.
From Microsoft’s responses in FTC vs. Microsoft. Elder Scrolls VI listed here as Xbox and PC and release 2026 or later.
During testimony at the hearing, Xbox’s Phil Spencer went on to say that the game is at least five years away and the platforms are technically TBD. pic.twitter.com/Kto9bE5U8C
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) September 18, 2023
The Elder Scrolls VI was first revealed during E3 2018. The game was not yet in production at the time of its announcement, and almost no details about the game have been released in the past five years. In 2021, Bethesda studio head Todd Howard provided an update The Telegraph stating that the game is still in the design stage and that it decided to announce it early to calm fears that the studio was abandoning single-player games in the wake of Fallout 76 and EA’s push for live service games at the time.
While it’s wise not to expect major news about The Elder Scrolls VI in the near future, it’s good (or disheartening) to have a better idea of when to start anticipating it. You can read our review of Bethesda’s latest release, Starfield, here. For those who want to look even further into the future, read how Todd Howard said Fallout 5 is coming after Elder Scrolls VI.
(Source: The Verge)
