The Elder Scrolls 6 release date prediction, trailers, and more

Want to know The Elder Scrolls 6 release date? After over a decade of exploring Skyrim’s massive RPG world, players are looking forward to the next game. It’s no easy feat to follow up on one of gaming’s most celebrated titles. Bethesda didn’t show us much after the game’s announcement trailer.

With Starfield’s release date nearing, it’s no surprise that RPG fans are looking to its 100+ star systems for a grand adventure. We still don’t know which consoles the studio at Bethesda is considering for the next Elder Scrolls game. But once Starfield is out, The Elder Scrolls 6 might just be the next genre-defining game.

The Elder Scrolls 6 release date

We expect The Elder Scrolls 6 to arrive in 2028. This news comes straight from Xbox head Phil Spencer as he takes on the FTC in court on behalf of Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard acquisition. He stated that TES 6 is ‘so far out’ and ‘five-plus years away.’ And while another lawyer stated a 2026 release window, this might be an error. Microsoft’s lawyer didn’t give an official confirmation either.

Bethesda game director Todd Howard had stated that the game was still in the design phase. This is supported by the pre-production description that an HR manager used to describe his involvement in the game on Linkedin. In 2020, Bethesda’s senior vice president Pete Hines said that ‘if you’re coming at me for details now and not years from now, I’m failing to properly manage your expectations.’ Let’s hope that we don’t have to speculate for too long with respect to The Elder Scrolls 6 release date.

The Elder Scrolls 6 platforms

We currently don’t know which platforms The Elder Scrolls 6 will release on. The long development time might mean that The Elder Scrolls 6 might even be a launch title for the next generation of Xbox hardware. Going beyond the power of the Xbox Series X might enable unrivalled fidelity and new game mechanics. This might also be why Phil Spencer was not able to mention which platforms TES 6 is scheduled to release on. It remains to be seen if the game released on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles.

Phil Spencer’s statement during Microsoft’s 20th anniversary celebration for the original Xbox makes that sound unlikely. He said, ‘in order to be on Xbox, I want us to be able to bring the full complete package of what we have. And that would be true when I think about Elder Scrolls 6.’ A PC release is highly likely, though.

The Elder Scrolls 6 trailers

The Elder Scrolls 6 announcement trailer didn’t have a lot of information. But eagle-eyed fans debated over the possibility of two locations: High Rock and Hammerfell. This was because the trailer showcased mountains, a coastline, and a dry landscape.

Considering the scope of previous The Elder Scrolls entries, expect multiple regions with their own side quests and lore. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw an entire continent like how The Elder Scrolls Online works.

Expect more trailers from Bethesda and Microsoft over time. We’ll update this page with all the latest information.

The Elder Scrolls 6 setting

High Rock and Hammerfell are the expected locations for the setting of The Elder Scrolls 6. Some fans speculate that the game might take place in Hammerfell, a location that previous Elder Scrolls games have explored. Players figured this out based on the clue of candles on a map posted on an official tweet. Game director Todd Howard revealed in an interview that the trailer lets you eliminate some possible location options. This further lends credibility to these fan rumours.

Fans meticulously compared this tweet with the Tamriel maps of previous The Elder Scrolls titles. They found that while the borders of Cyrodiil and High Rock are shown, Hammerfell is more prominent in the Skyrim map present in the tweet. But Reddit fans were quick to spot an outline of the High Rock map within a cockpit in a Starfield trailer. Both locations could feature in the upcoming game.

A reported internal Bethesda memo from 2014 warns employees from using the terms Fallout Nuka World, Elder Scrolls VI, and Project Greenheart. This suggests that the new game might be set in Valenwood but the other two locations seem more likely. Black Marsh and Esweyr were popular options but the latter has been explored by The Elder Scrolls Online in 2019. And the trailer didn’t show us any marshlands.

Home to the Redguards, Hammerfell is a great location for The Elder Scrolls 6. But I’m hoping the devs also consider leaving Tamriel for the continent of Akavir, home of the Snow Demons of Kamal and the vampiric Tsaesci. Expect plenty of factions with their own beliefs, side quests, and story arcs.

The Elder Scrolls 6 races

If we consider that High Rock or Hammerfell are the potential locations for the next The Elder Scrolls game, don’t expect new races. The Elder Scrolls 6 will most likely explore Tamriel’s existing set of races. We also know that beloved YouTuber Skyrim Grandma will appear in The Elder Scrolls 6.

While The Elder Scrolls Online did unveil the Maormers, or Sea Elves, they don’t live in Tamriel. They occupy a continent south of the Summerset Isles called Pyandonea. I wouldn’t expect them to show up in The Elder Scrolls 6.

Is The Elder Scrolls 6 multiplayer?

Elder Scrolls Online takes a different approach to Tamriel’s conflicts as a multiplayer game. Considering the previous mainline games, we expect the next The Elder Scrolls 6 will stick to its single-player game roots.

After delivering solid games across the Fallout franchise, we hope the Elder Scrolls sequel to be no different. It should at least compete with the best moments of Skyrim, Oblivion, and Morrowind. A combat overhaul is long overdue as well.

The Elder Scrolls 6 gameplay

We haven’t seen any gameplay of The Elder Scrolls 6 yet. But I would be surprised if Bethesda didn’t revamp the skill trees and combat from its predecessors. With more spells and perks, the sequel would offer more exciting combat. Newer hardware would also enable bigger worlds with more things to do.

This would mean more variety across the regions’ inhabitants, flora, and fauna. Larger, more detailed cities could be filled with vendors, side quests, and mysteries. This might sound like we’re expecting more of Skyrim, but that isn’t necessary a bad thing.

The Elder Scrolls 6 mods

Expect The Elder Scrolls 6 from Bethesda to support mods. Considering that their earlier titles have enjoyed a boost in longevity thanks to mods, I expect no different this time around. And with the devs calling The Elder Scrolls 6 a ‘decade game,’ mods will help the game sustain its user base.

‘People are going to play the next Elder Scrolls game for a decade, two decades,’ stated director Todd Howard in an interview. New weapons, outfits, and quests from creators could support the game long past its story expansions.

The Elder Scrolls 6 PC requirements

We are currently unaware of The Elder Scrolls 6 minimum and recommended requirements. The game is a while away so expect the game’s requirements to be pretty steep. A GPU from a few generations ago might not cut it. But if the game supports the current Xbox Series X|S consoles, there might be hope for desktop and laptop users with fairly recent builds.

Will The Elder Scrolls 6 be on Game Pass?

The Elder Scrolls 6 will be available on day one on Game Pass. Microsoft’s commitment to release its studios’ games on the subscription service is commendable. This ensures that millions of players will be able to return to the world of Tamriel with a Game Pass subscription on Xbox consoles and PCs.

Expect plenty of Tamriel politics, twisting storylines with player agency, and beautiful environments to explore in The Elder Scrolls 6. Considering that most of the teams at Bethesda studios are prepping for Starfield’s release date this September by fine-tuning its cities, The Elder Scrolls 6 is definitely a few years away.