The Elder Scrolls VI Update: Bethesda's Todd Howard Urges Patience Ahead of Nintendo Switch 2 Era

The Elder Scrolls VI Update: Bethesda's Todd Howard Urges Patience Ahead of Nintendo Switch 2 Era It has been seven years since Bethesda made waves at E3 2018 with the official announcement of The Elder Scrolls VI, sending shockwaves across the gaming community and igniting speculation about the future direction of one of the industry's most acclaimed RPG franchises.

In the time since that early reveal, the annual E3 convention has been discontinued, and Bethesda has shifted focus to releasing other major titles, such as the space epic Starfield and the online multiplayer experience Fallout 76.

Despite widespread anticipation, development on The Elder Scrolls VI continues at a careful pace, with Bethesda's focus currently centered on other projects and support for existing titles. Bethesda Game Studios Executive Producer Todd Howard recently spoke with GQ, discussing the studio’s approach to major releases as the 10th anniversary of Fallout 4 approaches.

Howard provided a clear update regarding the status of The Elder Scrolls VI, emphasizing that the title is still not close to completion.

In his remarks translated for clarity, Howard stated, “We’re still some distance away from release.

I want to remind our community to be patient, and not to feel anxious about the ongoing wait.” Addressing the much-discussed early announcement of The Elder Scrolls VI, Howard reflected on industry practices regarding game reveals and the pressures often felt to meet shareholder and fan expectations.

He explained, “My ideal would be to announce a project and have it available soon after.

In a perfect scenario—which I’m not confirming for this title—the aim would be to avoid an extended gap between announcement and launch.

One day, we’d like the game to simply appear.” This approach, known as a "shadow drop," has grown in popularity across the industry, including recent examples where games such as Oblivion Remastered were launched with minimal advance notice during Microsoft events.

When asked if such tactics were intentional, Howard acknowledged that previous surprise launches served as experimental test runs and had been well received. As the industry speculates on future platform support, Bethesda is continuing to invest in the Fallout franchise.

The upcoming Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition is scheduled to arrive on the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, alongside ongoing updates for Fallout 76.

While The Elder Scrolls VI’s platform lineup remains unconfirmed, Howard’s comments suggest a forward-looking approach, potentially aligning with the next generation of consoles, including successors to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Switch 2. This measured strategy highlights Bethesda’s commitment both to quality and fan communication.

With major titles spanning the Fallout and Elder Scrolls universes, as well as notable enhanced re-releases of classics like Doom and Doom II, Bethesda continues to make significant contributions to the evolving gaming landscape.

As for The Elder Scrolls VI, avid fans are encouraged to follow Bethesda’s advice: patience is key as the legendary series prepares to enter a new era on the next wave of gaming hardware.

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