The Elder Scrolls 6 Release Date, Gameplay, Location & More 2024
The Elder Scrolls (TES) is one of the most popular and long-running role-playing game franchises in history. First launched in 1994, the fantasy series has captivated gamers for nearly 30 years across 5 mainline titles and numerous spin-offs.
With the launch of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim in 2011, the franchise reached new heights of critical and commercial success. Skyrim is widely considered one of the greatest RPGs ever made and has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
However, it has now been over a decade since the last mainline Elder Scrolls game was released. Understandably, fans are desperate for information on the next installment in the series, The Elder Scrolls 6.
While official details remain scarce, there have been plenty of leaks, rumors, and speculation about what TES6 might have in store. In this article, we’ll break down everything we know so far about The Elder Scrolls 6’s potential release date, setting, gameplay, platforms, and more.
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When Will The Elder Scrolls 6 Release?
The big question on every Elder Scrolls fan’s mind: is when will TES6 come out?
Unfortunately, Bethesda has not officially announced a release date or even a release window yet. The game was first teased during Bethesda’s E3 2018 presentation with a short clip of the mountains and coastline of what was presumably TES6’s setting.
This announcement confirmed the game is in development but is still likely years away. In early 2022, Xbox boss Phil Spencer suggested TES6 is still in the design phase and is coming after their space RPG Starfield, which is slated for 2023.
Most industry insiders expect The Elder Scrolls 6 release date will fall sometime in 2024 or 2025. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has likely also slowed down development progress.
Bethesda’s parent company, Microsoft, will surely want to space out its major releases. 2024 would make sense as it would be 3 years after Starfield.
But fans should temper their expectations – with a game as massive as TES6, delays could push the launch into 2026 or even later.
What Platforms Will TES6 Release On?
When it does finally arrive, The Elder Scrolls 6 will certainly launch on Xbox Series X/S and PC – Bethesda and Microsoft have affirmed it will be exclusive to Xbox and PC platforms.
It remains to be seen whether TES6 will be released on previous generation Xbox One consoles as well due to their huge install base.
The game will not be coming to PlayStation 5 as Microsoft now owns Bethesda. This is a major blow to PS5 owners who will miss out on one of the most hyped upcoming games.
What is The Elder Scrolls 6’s Setting?
Each mainline Elder Scrolls game takes place in a different region of the fantasy continent of Tamriel. Fans have extensively theorized about where TES6 might be set based on the brief E3 2018 teaser.
The prevalent rumor is that The Elder Scrolls 6 will be primarily set in the High Rock region, home of the Bretons. This is based on the rocky, rugged cliffs shown in the announcement.
High Rock is in northwest Tamriel and borders Skyrim. The medieval culture and fractured political state of High Rock could make for an interesting backdrop.
Many also speculate that TES6 will include Hammerfell, a province neighboring High Rock with a desert landscape inspired by North African and Middle Eastern cultures.
The Illiac Bay separates High Rock and Hammerfell, so both provinces may feature together as the setting – similar to Skyrim and Morrowind in TES5.
Ultimately, Bethesda has yet to officially confirm the TES6 location, so the High Rock/Hammerfell setting remains speculative for now.
What New Gameplay Features Will TES6 Have?
Technology and game design have evolved tremendously since Skyrim first launched. Fans are excited to see what kinds of new gameplay features and mechanics Bethesda introduces in The Elder Scrolls 6.
We can expect updated graphics and visuals powered by the newer Creation Engine 2 technology. TES6 should look leaps and bounds better than even the remastered “Anniversary Edition” of Skyrim.
Advanced AI, deeper RPG mechanics, expanded character creation options – these are all likely to be improved or overhauled compared to Skyrim’s systems. The same goes for magic, the perk tree, crafting, etc.
Many fans hope Bethesda expands TES6’s world to include more NPCs, dialogue, quests, and content density. Skyrim’s world, while huge, felt quite empty and repetitive at times.
New creatures, monsters, and expanded character classes also offer plenty of design space for Bethesda’s creative team.
Incorporating multiplayer or co-op in some form may also be on the table, as Bethesda experimented with this in Fallout 76. However, TES6 will surely still be a primarily single-player epic RPG.
What Story Details Are Known?
Virtually nothing is confirmed about The Elder Scrolls 6’s actual story or narrative thus far. That said, TES lore experts have some educated theories and predictions.
Geographically, a High Rock/Hammerfell setting indicates the main plot could tie into:
- The Second Aldmeri Dominion – the fascist elven faction defeated in Skyrim, which has holdings in those provinces
- The tribal Redguard culture of Hammerfell
- Breton political infighting and The Reach region
A time skip from Skyrim also seems likely, as most previous Elder Scrolls titles were set hundreds of years apart.
The Thalmor’s invasion of Tamriel could be a central conflict, continuing the events of Skyrim. Your player character may again take the role of a prophesied hero defending the world from existential threat.
It’s all speculation for now, but TES6 surely won’t lack for epic stakes and classic fantasy adventure.
What is The Elder Scrolls 6’s Official Title?
Bethesda has not revealed the official subtitle for TES6 – some fans even jokingly refer to it as “Skyrim 2” for now.
Location-related names like Redfall, High Rock, or Hammerfell have been suggested as likely contenders based on the leaked setting rumors.
However, Bethesda may opt for a more abstract, symbolic title like Skyrim or Oblivion.
The Elder Scrolls 6: Dominion is one possible name fitting the speculated focus on elven factions and politics.
But again – Bethesda has given no hints about the actual full title of the next core Elder Scrolls game. We’ll have to wait for an official announcement down the road.
Will TES6 Connect to Other Bethesda Games?
Bethesda has a huge, interconnected world across its franchises. Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and newer IPs like Starfield co-exist in the same “universe” to some extent.
We may see some crossover Easter eggs or references in TES6. For example, the technology of the ancient Dwemer civilization bears similarities to Fallout.
Some fans want even deeper connections between Bethesda’s different properties. Could TES6 hint at the future of Tamriel thousands of years later in a post-apocalyptic Fallout scenario?
More likely, though, any connections or shared universe elements will stay subtle. The Elder Scrolls 6 will be crafted first and foremost as a standalone epic fantasy RPG.
What News is there on TES6 Development?
With several years likely remaining until release, news and updates on The Elder Scrolls 6 have been very minimal so far. Here are a few key tidbits though:
- Bethesda stated in 2020 that active development was underway in a “design phase”
- Todd Howard is serving as director once again – he helmed Skyrim and previous Elder Scrolls titles
- Longtime series composer Jeremy Soule may not return due to controversy – his iconic score defined Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim.
- The terrain generation technology used in Starfield will also shape TES6’s world.
- Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda was good news for TES6’s budget and resources.
Most concrete details are being kept secret for now. But as the prospective launch nears, Bethesda is sure to start releasing more official updates and footage – likely starting in 2023.
For now, it’s speculation and waiting as Elder Scrolls fans have grown accustomed to after so many years without a major new entry.
What are Fans’ Hopes for TES6 Features?
While the details remain mostly under wraps, Elder Scrolls communities have already compiled extensive wishlists of features they hope to see in TES6, including:
- Larger cities – Skyrim’s towns often felt small and sparse compared to the scale implied in lore
- Local co-op – playing the full RPG experience with 1 or 2 friends
- Expanded spell crafting – more magic customization options and enhancements
- New weapons – spears, halberds, crossbows, etc to diversify combat
- Deeper creature interactions – complex AI ecosystems between monsters, animals, etc
- Dynamic weather – genuine storms, downpours, and blizzard effects
- No multiplayer requirements – TES should stay focused as a narrative single-player journey
- Quality over quantity – hand-crafted detail over proc-gen content and padding
- Return of levitation magic – fans miss being able to freely levitate from prior games
- Next-gen photorealism – TES has always pushed graphics, so TES6 should be no different
- Break the level cap – or at least dramatically increase it from Skyrim
- More weapon/armor styles – especially from other cultures like Akaviri or Dwemer
Bethesda is famous for listening to player feedback – so if TES6 incorporates even some of these popular requests, it will be an amazing experience.
Will Mods be Available for TES6?
One of Skyrim’s most popular features on PC is its extensive mod support which allows fans to customize virtually every aspect of the game.
Mods range from enhanced textures and new quests to gameplay overhauls, additional monsters, entirely new lands, and more.
Mod support has become an expected staple of Bethesda RPGs – there are even mods for console versions of Skyrim now too.
It is almost guaranteed that The Elder Scrolls 6 will be designed with modding in mind once again when it launches on PC.
Modding may be limited or disabled on Xbox/Microsoft platforms initially for stability and security reasons. But once things are smoothed out, Bethesda will surely enable user freedom and creativity via TES6 mod support on all platforms.
Mods exponentially increase Bethesda RPGs’ replay value and longevity. TES6 offering mod support is great news for all players eager to make the game their own.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Will Be a Defining RPG of its Generation
As one of gaming’s most acclaimed and best-selling franchises, the expectations for The Elder Scrolls 6 are sky-high. It will undoubtedly be a defining RPG experience of its generation.
For now, TES loyalists must continue waiting patiently for more concrete details to emerge as the prospective 2024-2026 release window approaches.
But based on Bethesda’s pedigree and the evolution of technology over the past decade, TES6 is sure to be the fantasy RPG millions of fans have been dreaming of since 2011’s Skyrim. Tamriel awaits!
Frequently Asked Questions About The Elder Scrolls 6
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about TES6:
Q: What will TES6’s combat be like?
A: We can expect upgraded melee, magic, ranged combat, and enemy AI. New weapons and finishing moves are likely. But the core first-person real-time combat will stay similar to Skyrim’s.
Q: Will TES6 be an Xbox exclusive?
A: Yes, Microsoft has affirmed that The Elder Scrolls 6 will only be released on Xbox and PC platforms. It will not be available on PlayStation.
Q: Can I pre-order TES6 yet?
A: No, The Elder Scrolls 6 is still a few years away from release and isn’t available for pre-order yet. Expect pre-orders to open sometime in 2023 or 2024.
Q: Will TES6 have multiplayer?
A: Maybe some form of optional co-op, but TES6 will still be a primarily single-player RPG experience – do not expect an MMO or competitive multiplayer.
Q: Will dragons return in TES6?
A: Very likely. Dragons are iconic to the Elder Scrolls franchise and important in the lore. New dragon types seem probable.
Q: Will TES6 be on PS4 and Xbox One?
A: Maybe, but as a next-gen title releasing in the 2020s, TES6 will likely be exclusive to PC, Xbox Series X/S, and perhaps Xbox One.
Q: What engine will TES6 use?
A: Bethesda’s Creation Engine 2, which is being built for Starfield. It will bring greatly improved graphics, rendering, lighting, animations, and mod support.
In Conclusion
The Elder Scrolls 6 will be one of the most monumental RPG events of the decade when it finally emerges from the ether. Tamriel’s vast domains have never felt more ripe for exploration.
Bethesda would be wise to take their time perfecting this sequel during the long development. If TES6 lives up to its potential, it could drive the genre to new heights and define open-world gaming for the next generation.
For now, let the epic adventures that await in High Rock, Hammerfell, or wherever TES6 takes us next fill your imagination. Glory awaits! But patience for now…
This article is speculative and based on unconfirmed leaks and rumors. All details about The Elder Scrolls 6 are subject to change pending Bethesda’s official announcements.
