The Elder Scrolls 6 is "still a long way off" according to Bethesda Head Todd Howard. Read on to learn more about the latest updates on the game’s development and a look back on 10 years of Fallout 4.
The Elder Scrolls VI and Other Bethesda Titles In Development
Might Get Shadow-Dropped
The Elder Scrolls VI is "still a long way off" and could be shadow-dropped in the future, according to Bethesda Games Studios Executive Producer and Director Todd Howard. Speaking with GQ on November 10, Howard shared some insights on the current development of the next installment of the Elder Scrolls series.
The game was first announced during E3 2018, where it was revealed that it was in pre-production. Since then, information about its development have been scarce, and fans have longed to know more about the highly anticipated sequel to The Elder Scrolls series.
Off the bat, Howard emphasized that The Elder Scrolls VI is still far off. "I’m preaching patience. I don’t want fans to feel anxious," he stated. However, Howard noted that The Elder Scrolls 6 is the "everyday thing" for them right now.
The director said that the series has been too long now and that it was good for the audience to have a break from it, which is why they shifted their focus to Starfield. "We needed a creative reset," he stated.
Howard also shared their recent development with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, where winning fans of the charity auction will be included as NPCs in The Elder Scrolls VI. He stated, "We spent an hour-and-a-half or so for them to tell us about their character, talk about the game, about why they love The Elder Scrolls, what they want to see from a new one… I think we’re aligned."
Furthermore, Howard envisioned the game to be shadow-dropped, which was what the team did for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion back in April 2025. "You might say that was a test run. It worked out well," he said.
Looking Back on 10 Years of Fallout 4
Aside from The Elder Scrolls VI’s development, Howard also spoke about his experience working on Fallout 4 through the years. For him, the biggest highlight in developing Fallout 4 was the time he spent with his team and the challenges they had to overcome.
He stated, "Going from Oblivion to Fallout 3 to Skyrim to Fallout 4 – each one bigger than the last, each winning Game of the Year; I never took that for granted. Whenever I think about the projects, I picture the groups. Years and years of your lives together – it’s a bonding experience. But I had been going really hard for a long time. I took a sabbatical after Fallout 4 for like three months. I hadn't had a break in 20 years."
Howard said the team worked like "mad dogs" on Fallout 4, and it became a bit of an obsession for them. He added, "You get to a point in life where you spend more time in the fantasy world than with real people. So you’re like, ‘Maybe I should go touch some grass.’"
Bethesda just released a 10th Anniversary edition of Fallout 4, and a Switch 2 version is also coming out in 2026. While the studio stated during Fallout Day 2025 that "even more" Fallout will come, The Elder Scrolls fans need not worry, as Howard previously said to IGN in 2021 that The Elder Scrolls VI is their priority first before the eventual Fallout 5.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is currently in development and is expected to release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. To stay up to date with the latest information about the game, check out our article below.
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Todd Howard on 10 years of Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls 6: 'We needed a creative reset'
Todd Howard on Skyrim's Legacy, Elder Scrolls 6, Starfield, and More! — IGN Unfiltered #61
