Another Xbox Games Showcase, another no-show from The Elder Scrolls VI. Yes, we know it’s in development — Bethesda chief Todd Howard pops up to reassure fans every now and then. But the unescapable fact is this is a game that was announced eight years ago, on June 10, 2018, with a teaser trailer and we’ve not seen anything of it since. It also means that the wait between the announcement of The Elder Scrolls VI and now is longer than the wait between the release of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and the announcement of The Elder Scrolls VI itself. We don’t even know the name of the game, or where in the fantasy world it’s set. Information-starved GTA 6 fans don’t know how good they’ve got it!
As you’d expect, The Elder Scrolls fans have reacted with disappointment to last week’s Xbox Games Showcase. Some had dared to hope for at least a mention of the upcoming game. Of course, Bethesda turned up with updates for Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls Online, as it always does, but no word on The Elder Scrolls VI. It’s the hope that kills you, as they say.
It’s gotten to the point now where some are realizing just how much their lives have changed since Skyrim’s release, and they’re starting to worry about when they’ll actually play The Elder Scrolls VI (2027? 2028? 2029?). “I was pregnant with my oldest son when Skyrim was released on my birthday,” redditor funny_bunny33 said. “He just celebrated his 14th birthday. I can’t wait to give him this as a graduation present.”
Some have even equated the wait for The Elder Scrolls VI to the carrion Emperor’s status sat on the Golden Throne in the grimdark far future of the 41st millennium. “It’s uncomfortable how many years have passed and how old I am now. I’ve lived through my teens and now my 20s. Heading into my 30s and it still hasn’t come. How much longer Bethesda, gonna be in a nappy at this rate,” said Branman1234.
“At this point it is more likely we will get the announcement of Skyrim for PS6 before TES VI,” joked another. “It’s actually bonkers, and frankly a stupid business decision, to wait 15 (probably 20 years) to follow up on one of the most popular game franchises of all time,” another said.
The last time Todd Howard talked about The Elder Scrolls VI was in March 2026, when he joked that we should all pretend Bethesda hadn’t announced it. This is a recurring theme; in February, Howard admitted — once again — that he would have preferred not to have announced the game so early.
Howard has warned eager fans as recently as last November that the game is “still a long way off” and has even teased that he may just shadow drop it. He reiterated in February that “it’s gonna be a while yet,” and confirmed that, “We’re able to play it, we’re about to pass a big milestone internally, the majority of the studio is on the game and some of our partners.”
But Howard has also claimed all this waiting is necessary for the game to be great.
“What do fans really want?” he said in December of last year. “Do they want a game that comes out before it should and doesn’t meet their expectations? Or do they want the turkey that is in the oven for long enough to be delicious when it finally comes out of the oven, you know? That’s what I think people are going to want. So, we’re going to take our time and as long as it needs to be great.”
Here’s everything announced at Xbox Games Showcase 2026, if you fancy reading about loads of video games that aren’t The Elder Scrolls VI.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
