Todd Howard Admits The Elder Scrolls VI Is “Still a Long Way Off” — Teases Possible Shadow Drop

Bethesda Game Studios first revealed The Elder Scrolls VI at E3 2018, but executive producer and game director Todd Howard told GQ the project remains “still a long way off.” In a recent interview he also suggested that, when the studio is ready, they could release the game with little to no advance notice.

GQ points to Bethesda’s surprise release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered in April 2025 as an example, and asked whether the studio might repeat that approach for TES VI. Howard called the Oblivion drop “a test run” that “worked out well,” implying a stealth-style launch could be on the table someday.

That said, Howard reiterated that a full release remains distant—over seven years after the initial announcement—so any potential shadow-drop is not imminent. Bethesda currently has “hundreds” of team members working across the Fallout franchise, including Fallout 76 and other projects, while TES VI continues to be an ongoing focus.

While we wait for additional details, you can explore theories about the game’s setting, read Bethesda’s most recent TES VI update, and revisit Game Informer’s review of Starfield for context:

• TES VI location theories
• Latest TES VI update (March 2024)
• Game Informer’s Starfield review

Source: GQ

When do you think Bethesda will release The Elder Scrolls VI? Share your thoughts in the comments below.