The Xbox Games Showcase has come and gone, and once again, The Elder Scrolls VI was nowhere to be seen. Yes, Bethesda's Todd Howard occasionally reassures fans that development is ongoing, but the hard truth is that the game was announced eight years ago on June 10, 2018, with a teaser trailer, and we haven't seen anything since. The wait between the announcement of The Elder Scrolls VI and now is actually longer than the gap between Skyrim's release and the sequel's announcement. We don't even know the game's official title or its setting in the fantasy world. GTA 6 fans complaining about a lack of info don't know how lucky they are!
As expected, Elder Scrolls fans expressed disappointment after last week's Xbox showcase. Some had hoped for at least a mention of the upcoming title. Bethesda did show up with updates for Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls Online, as usual, but nothing on TES VI. As the saying goes, it's the hope that kills you.
The situation has reached a point where fans are reflecting on how much their lives have changed since Skyrim's release, and they're starting to worry about when they'll actually play The Elder Scrolls VI (2027? 2028? 2029?). Redditor funny_bunny33 said, "I was pregnant with my oldest son when Skyrim was released on my birthday. He just celebrated his 14th birthday. I can't wait to give him this as a graduation present."
Some have even compared the wait to the carrion Emperor sitting on the Golden Throne in Warhammer 40k's grimdark future. "It's uncomfortable how many years have passed and how old I am now. I've lived through my teens and now my 20s. Heading into my 30s and it still hasn't come. How much longer Bethesda, gonna be in a nappy at this rate," said Branman1234.
"At this point it is more likely we will get the announcement of Skyrim for PS6 before TES VI," joked another fan. "It’s actually bonkers, and frankly a stupid business decision, to wait 15 (probably 20 years) to follow up on one of the most popular game franchises of all time," another added.
The last time Todd Howard spoke about The Elder Scrolls VI was in March 2026, when he joked that we should pretend Bethesda never announced it. This is a recurring theme; in February, Howard admitted—once again—that he would have preferred not to announce the game so early.
Howard has warned eager fans as recently as last November that the game is "still a long way off" and even teased that he might shadow drop it. He reiterated in February that "it's gonna be a while yet," and confirmed, "We're able to play it, we're about to pass a big milestone internally, the majority of the studio is on the game and some of our partners."
But Howard also claims this waiting is necessary for the game to be great. "What do fans really want?" he said in December last year. "Do they want a game that comes out before it should and doesn’t meet their expectations? Or do they want the turkey that is in the oven for long enough to be delicious when it finally comes out of the oven, you know? That’s what I think people are going to want. So, we’re going to take our time and as long as it needs to be great."
Here's everything announced at Xbox Games Showcase 2026, if you fancy reading about loads of video games that aren't The Elder Scrolls VI.
