The Elder Scrolls VI Is Bethesda Game Studios' Primary Development Focus, Todd Howard Confirms

Todd Howard, head of Bethesda Game Studios, has provided an update on the studio's current development priorities, emphasizing that The Elder Scrolls VI is now the primary focus for the team. In a note published Friday, Howard detailed the studio's ongoing work on its major franchises, including Starfield, Fallout, and the highly anticipated Elder Scrolls sequel.

"The Elder Scrolls VI is our primary development focus today, with the majority of our team currently working on the next chapter of the franchise," Howard stated. He acknowledged the long wait for the sequel, noting that players continue to explore Skyrim, released 15 years ago. The game was first officially announced at E3 2018, but details regarding a release date or even a trailer remain scarce. Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty recently commented that the game "looks amazing, and it's coming along well."

Bethesda is investing in its technology, with teams now developing both The Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout 5 on Creation Engine 3. This shared platform, built since Starfield's launch, is designed to enable simultaneous support for multiple projects with new tools, rendering capabilities, and systems.

While Starfield, Fallout 76, and The Elder Scrolls Online will continue to receive new content, and several new Fallout projects are in development, including Fallout 5, the primary single-player Elder Scrolls game has taken precedence. Bethesda will also "partner closely" with ZeniMax Online Studios on the future of the Elder Scrolls franchise. This alignment follows recent organizational shifts and layoffs at ZeniMax, which included the departure of studio leadership.

Howard assured that new content for The Elder Scrolls Online will continue despite layoffs affecting ZeniMax and Bethesda Game Studios. These assurances come amid broader workforce reductions across Microsoft's gaming division. Bethesda's stated goal is to bring its teams closer together to create stronger foundations for future projects and deliver enhanced player experiences across its beloved RPG franchises.