Timeline
A searchable, filterable chronological record of every meaningful TES6 development signal.
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2026
2025
2023
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2026
Howard jokes fans should pretend TES6 was never announced
Todd Howard humorously suggested fans should pretend Bethesda never announced The Elder Scrolls VI at all, openly acknowledging how early the original reveal occurred. The comments reinforced the growing industry narrative that Bethesda likely revealed TES6 primarily to reassure fans after years without a new Elder Scrolls title.
Howard reiterates majority of studio is on TES6
Todd Howard again confirmed that most of Bethesda Game Studios was actively focused on TES6 development and said the team was very happy with progress. However, he cautioned that the project would still take time and remained far from launch.
Reports claim TES6 is using Creation Engine 3
Coverage summarizing Todd Howard interview comments stated that The Elder Scrolls VI would utilize the next iteration of Bethesda's internal engine technology, commonly referred to in reporting as Creation Engine 3. The reporting suggested another significant technical leap beyond Starfield's Creation Engine 2 foundation.
2025
Howard says TES6 is progressing really well
Todd Howard stated that development on The Elder Scrolls VI was "progressing really well" and confirmed that the majority of Bethesda Game Studios was now working on the project. This represented one of the strongest official indicators yet that TES6 had transitioned into Bethesda's primary internal production focus after Starfield.
Todd Howard says TES6 is still a long way off
In an interview with GQ, Todd Howard acknowledged that fans had waited a very long time for a new Elder Scrolls game and stated that TES6 was still "a long way off." The comments reinforced that the project remained years from release despite Bethesda now focusing more heavily on it internally.
Howard discusses modern Bethesda reveal philosophy
Howard explained that he increasingly prefers shorter marketing windows between reveal and launch and joked about an ideal scenario where games could simply appear close to release. The comments led many fans to speculate that Bethesda regretted announcing TES6 as early as 2018.
Bethesda surprise releases Oblivion Remastered
Bethesda officially revealed and immediately released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on April 22, 2025 for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PlayStation 5. Developed alongside Virtuos, the remaster rebuilt Oblivion using Unreal Engine 5 visuals while modernizing gameplay systems, UI, animations, audio, and progression mechanics. The surprise "shadow drop" became one of Bethesda's biggest launches in years and reignited massive interest in The Elder Scrolls franchise overall. Within the TES6 community, the release dramatically increased discussion around Bethesda's future Elder Scrolls plans, modernized engine capabilities, remake/remaster strategy, and whether the company was preparing to reintroduce The Elder Scrolls VI publicly in the coming years. Many fans also viewed the launch as evidence that Bethesda was actively rebuilding Elder Scrolls momentum ahead of TES6.
Bethesda launches TES6 character creation charity auction
Bethesda announced a Make-A-Wish charity initiative allowing one fan to collaborate directly with Bethesda Game Studios to create a character that would appear in The Elder Scrolls VI. The announcement became one of the few direct official references to TES6 made by Bethesda since the original reveal.
2023
2022
2021
Howard discusses TES6 technology ambitions
Howard explained that Creation Engine 2 — the technology base developed for Starfield — would also serve as a foundation for TES6, but that the team still needed additional technological advancements specifically for Elder Scrolls VI. The comments suggested TES6's scope and systems were influencing Bethesda's long-term engine roadmap.
Todd Howard says TES6 is still in design phase
Todd Howard stated that The Elder Scrolls VI should still be thought of as being in a design phase. He explained Bethesda was evaluating long-term technology goals and ensuring the engine could support the scale and ambitions of the project. The comments confirmed TES6 was still extremely early internally despite being announced three years earlier.
2020
2019
2018
Bethesda confirms TES6 is in pre-production
Following the reveal trailer, Bethesda clarified that The Elder Scrolls VI was only in pre-production at the time of announcement. This confirmed the project was still in an early conceptual and planning stage rather than active full production. The wording immediately tempered expectations for a near-term release and established that Starfield remained the studio's primary focus.
Starfield confirmed as Bethesda's priority before TES6
Bethesda's E3 presentation and follow-up messaging established the studio's long-term RPG roadmap: Starfield first, then The Elder Scrolls VI. This became one of the most important contextual details around TES6 development timing, as it implied the game was still many years away despite its announcement.
TES6 officially announced at E3 2018
Bethesda Game Studios officially revealed The Elder Scrolls VI during the company's E3 2018 showcase with a short cinematic teaser showing a mountainous coastal region. No subtitle, setting, platforms, release window, or gameplay details were provided. The reveal primarily served to confirm the project's existence after years of speculation following Skyrim's release in 2011. Bethesda simultaneously positioned Starfield as the studio's next major RPG before TES6.