The Elder Scrolls 6 is reportedly still at least two years away from release, continuing a long wait for fans since its initial announcement over eight years ago. This timeline comes from Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, who discussed the game during a recent Q&A that also touched upon significant recent layoffs and studio changes at Xbox.
Bethesda boss Jill Braff indicated in an internal email that the company will focus on its most prominent franchises, including The Elder Scrolls, following the recent staff reductions. However, reports suggest that layoffs have also affected staff at Bethesda Game Studios who are working on The Elder Scrolls 6. This situation raises questions about the development pace and whether Xbox can accelerate production without sacrificing quality or impacting the team further.
Todd Howard formally announced The Elder Scrolls 6 at Bethesda's E3 press conference in June 2018 with a brief CGI trailer. Since then, concrete details and gameplay have been scarce, fueling fan concern about the long development cycle for the successor to Skyrim. Howard himself has previously urged fans to "pretend Bethesda hadn't announced it" and admitted he regretted revealing the game so early.
Howard most recently stated in November that the game is "still a long way off," even teasing a potential shadow drop. In February, he reiterated that "it's gonna be a while yet," but also confirmed that "the majority of the studio is on the game and some of our partners," and that the title is playable internally, having recently passed a significant milestone. Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty echoed this sentiment in a Variety interview, suggesting that when The Elder Scrolls 6 is finally shown, its release will likely follow soon after. Booty also offered reassurance, having seen the game in development and noting that "it’s coming along well."