According to Bethesda Head Todd Howard, The Elder Scrolls 6 is "still a long way off." Continue reading for the latest updates on the game’s development and a retrospective look at ten years of Fallout 4.
The Elder Scrolls VI and Other Bethesda Titles In Development
Potential Shadow Drop Ahead
Bethesda Games Studios Executive Producer and Director Todd Howard reveals that The Elder Scrolls VI is "still a long way off" but could potentially be shadow-dropped in the future. In an interview with GQ on November 10, Howard provided insights into the current development status of the next installment in the highly anticipated series.
First announced at E3 2018 as being in pre-production, details about The Elder Scrolls VI’s progress have been sparse, leaving fans eager for news on this long-awaited sequel.
Howard emphasizes that the game is still far from release. "I’m preaching patience," he says. "I don’t want fans to feel anxious." Despite this, he confirms that The Elder Scrolls VI remains their primary focus: it’s the "everyday thing" for the studio right now.
The director notes that the series has been running too long and that a break was beneficial for both the audience and the developers, prompting them to shift attention temporarily to Starfield. "We needed a creative reset," he explains.
Howard also highlights the studio’s collaboration with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, where winners of a charity auction will appear as NPCs in The Elder Scrolls VI. "We spent an hour-and-a-half or so for them to tell us about their character, talk about the game, about why they love The Elder Scrolls, what they want to see from a new one… I think we’re aligned," he shares.
Additionally, Howard envisions a shadow-drop release strategy similar to that used for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion in April 2025. "You might say that was a test run. It worked out well," he remarks.
A Decade of Fallout 4
Beyond The Elder Scrolls VI, Howard reflects on his journey developing Fallout 4 over the years. He identifies the time spent with his team and overcoming challenges as the biggest highlights of that project.
"Going from Oblivion to Fallout 3 to Skyrim to Fallout 4 – each one bigger than the last, each winning Game of the Year; I never took that for granted," Howard says. "Whenever I think about the projects, I picture the groups. Years and years of your lives together – it’s a bonding experience. But I had been going really hard for a long time. I took a sabbatical after Fallout 4 for like three months. I hadn't had a break in 20 years."
Howard describes the team’s work on Fallout 4 as working like "mad dogs," turning it into something of an obsession. He adds, "You get to a point in life where you spend more time in the fantasy world than with real people. So you’re like, ‘Maybe I should go touch some grass.’"
Bethesda recently released a 10th Anniversary edition of Fallout 4, and a Switch 2 version is scheduled for 2026. Although the studio announced during Fallout Day 2025 that "even more" Fallout content is coming, fans can rest assured that The Elder Scrolls VI remains the top priority before any eventual Fallout 5 release, as Howard previously told IGN in 2021.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is currently under development and is slated for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the latest updates, refer to our article below.
