The Elder Scrolls VI is not coming anytime soon-fans may have to wait until 2028 or even 2029 before Bethesda’s next huge RPG finally lands. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier recently estimated during a Q&A that the game still has ”at least two or three years” before release, dashing hopes for a 2024 or 2025 launch.
Announced way back at E3 2018, The Elder Scrolls VI has yet to receive any gameplay footage or a proper trailer from Bethesda. The studio officially ramped up full development only in mid-2023-but that hasn’t sped up the timeline much. Back in late 2025, Bethesda lead Todd Howard already admitted the game’s release was still ”a long way off.”
Jason Schreier’s release timeline echoes previous reports from Windows Central, which also suggested fans should expect another one to two years of waiting. Now, that window has stretched further. This delay marks one of the longest gaps in the series’ history: Skyrim launched in November 2011, meaning nearly 17 years could pass before fans get their hands on the sixth entry.
Howard’s recent advice to fans to ”pretend the game doesn’t exist” sounds more understandable given these delays. Still, Xbox insiders have reportedly seen the game in a playable state. Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, mentioned being impressed after reviewing a build. The Elder Scrolls VI is being developed on an upgraded version of Bethesda’s Creation Engine-the same technology that powered their recent space RPG, Starfield.
This extended wait isn’t just frustrating for players-it also complicates Microsoft’s plans. Skyrim has sold over 60 million copies, making it one of the best-selling RPGs ever. The next chapter is expected to be a major release for Xbox, not just another Bethesda game. While no firm release date is on the horizon, 2028-2029 now looks far more likely than any near-term launch or preview.
For fans and industry watchers alike, the big questions remain: Will Bethesda’s upgraded engine deliver a worthy successor after nearly two decades? And can Microsoft leverage this marquee RPG to compete with Sony and others in the next console generation? Until then, patience will be the hardest quest to complete.