Todd Howard discusses TES6 ambitions on Lex Fridman podcast

During a lengthy appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast, Todd Howard discussed Bethesda Game Studios' long-term ambitions for The Elder Scrolls VI and reflected on the immense cultural impact and longevity of Skyrim. Howard explained that Bethesda views future Elder Scrolls games as opportunities for players to "live another life in another world" and described the studio's broader goal of creating the "ultimate fantasy-world simulator." He also discussed the challenges of balancing deep RPG simulation systems with accessibility, Bethesda's continued commitment to modding communities, and the pressure surrounding TES6 expectations after Skyrim's success. While Howard did not reveal concrete gameplay details or setting information, the interview became one of the most important long-form discussions providing insight into Bethesda's philosophy and aspirations for The Elder Scrolls VI. A few short months after the original Starfield release date in Fall of 2022, Todd sat down for an interview with Lex for almost three hours. In this segment of that interview, Todd gave insight into the development process of an Elder Scrolls game, even describing details about pre-production on TES6. Mentions: • Lunchtime discussions about the world/setting • Bethesda always overlapping development — by the time they reach release on the current game, they already have concept art and are working on music/score • They have had/known the beginning of the game "for a long time" • As soon as the prior game is released, they begin prototyping initial spaces and a first playable (small slice of the game), including samples of dialog and combat • Once a larger, playable chunk is complete, they bring on the rest of the crew for "full production" (1–2 years) • Final 6 months to 1 year of a game: everything is done, but needs "glue" along with ironing out game features and cohesiveness — by then, animations and art are typically already solid