Over half a decade ago, Bethesda Softworks announced the next entry in the critically acclaimed Elder Scrolls series, Elder Scrolls 6. Despite the brief teaser released, it nonetheless stoked fans’ excitement for years. However, Bethesda has not released other teasers or trailers, which worries many fans. However, Bethesda’s developers have made several broad, even contradictory, announcements regarding the release date. Several other games can also be used as a reference. Here is a breakdown of the long-anticipated Elder Scrolls 6’s current release schedule.
When the Teaser Saw Release
One must look back at when the teaser was released to gauge how long fans will have to wait until Elder Scrolls 6. The original teaser, depicting only an overview of a landscape, was first delivered at E3 in 2018. This announcement came at the height of Online’s popularity. During the meeting, the developers confirmed it would be released after Starfield, which would lay its groundwork.
For reference, Skyrim began development shortly after Oblivion and was announced by Todd Howard a year before its release. A recent example would be the trailer for GTA 6, which amassed 200 million views. However, the game itself was scheduled for release two years afterward. As such, Bethesda should work to maintain that same hype for 6 to succeed.
Making Estimates for Elder Scrolls 6
Even without a proper trailer or release date, there are several other ways that eager fans can estimate when Elder Scrolls 6 will see its release. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said last year that the game was “at least five years away.” For context, this announcement came amid Bethesda’s purchase by Microsoft and the ensuing legal battle. Additionally, they confirmed the game would only be released on devices with the Xbox Game Pass, excluding PlayStation.
However, a leaked Microsoft court document explaining the larger company’s plans was another hint that fans would get to a proper release date estimate. According to the report, The Elder Scrolls 6 would not be released until “2026 or later,” somewhat earlier than Phil’s estimate. However, given the lack of a formal announcement, this number is nonetheless subject to change, for better or worse.
Elder Scrolls 6 was teased much earlier before its release than other games, on average. For perspective, Death Stranding and Elden Ring received proper teasers roughly three years before release. A similar example to 6 was Cyberpunk 2077, which had a cinematic teaser released nearly eight years before its official release date. However, that game ended up being mired in development hell and delays and had many skeptics when it finally saw the light of day.
The Dangers of Development Hell
While many projects take a reasonably long time to produce, there are other ways in which a project could be held back. The worst of these is the dreaded limbo of “development hell.” This refers to when a project is trapped in production due to delays, creative debates, changing staff, and other troubles with development. This status is not out of the question, given how long it’s been since the game received a proper trailer.
While creators should always take the time necessary to bring a project to fruition, taking too long can be just as bad, if not worse. Consoles and trends can change, and too many proverbial cooks in the kitchen can lead to conflicting visions. Some examples from gaming include Cyberpunk, the disappointing Final Fantasy XV, Daikatana, and the infamous Duke Nukem Forever. Given the success of Skyrim and Online, Bethesda has a tough act to follow for both. Furthermore, many interviews with Todd Howard and other executives imply that this game could be one of the most significant fantasy projects ever. Hopefully, the creative choices from the developers will “just work” in the end.
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