The Elder Scrolls 6, announced eight years ago, is still at least two or more years away from completing development, according to reporting from Bloomberg. This comes as Microsoft reportedly looks to "double down" on its biggest franchises amid significant turmoil and layoffs at Xbox.
Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier shared the estimated timeline during a recent Q&A session discussing Microsoft's gaming reorganization. If Bethesda meets this new projection, The Elder Scrolls 6 could have a development cycle approaching a decade. For context, Grand Theft Auto 6 reportedly began early work around 2014 and ramped up production in 2019, while Final Fantasy XV is also said to have taken about ten years to complete. Such lengthy and costly development cycles are cited as a reason why fewer publishers attempt ambitious, large-scale projects in recent console generations.
Despite the long wait, there are indicators that development is progressing. Bethesda and Xbox have publicly acknowledged the game, and reports suggest it is Bethesda's main focus. While the current build is described as not always stable, CEO Todd Howard has indicated that the team is actively considering the game's mechanics. The studio itself underwent layoffs in July, but these primarily affected The Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76 teams, suggesting the core development of TES6 may be shielded from those cuts. However, the article notes that other Microsoft studios, such as Undead Labs, have experienced extended periods without shipping games under the company's stewardship, highlighting potential risks within the larger organization.