Elder Scrolls 6 will be 'ultimate fantasy world simulator', Todd Howard teases

Bethesda may want us all focused on the upcoming Starfield release (feels like we’ve been saying that for years now), but that doesn’t mean it wants gamers to forget about The Elder Scrolls VI.

It was back in 2018 when we first heard about the next Elder Scrolls title, at the same time Starfield was announced. While the teaser definitely whetted a lot of appetites, out of the two games, it was the space-romping RPG that was further in development. Since that teaser, Bethesda’s Todd Howard has been quite honest about his regrets in prematurely revealling the game; “I probably would’ve announced it more casually,” he told GQ.

One day Elder Scrolls VI will arrive. Until then, there's the teaser trailer...!

However, despite reservations over whether Elder Scrolls VI's hand was played too early, Howard still very much knows the vision he has for the game. “We want it to fill that role of the ultimate fantasy world simulator. And there are different ways to accomplish that given the time that has passed.” Again, Howard’s message is as enigmatic as ever. Not that we mind a bit of intrigue, especially when promised the “ultimate fantasy world simulator" – if players are losing nights to Starfield, they’ll lose days and nights to this!

What isn’t quite so hush-hush is the technology behind the game itself; in an interview with The Telegraph, Howard said “The technology, Creation Engine 2, is sort of built for both [Starfield and Elder Scrolls VI].” He added, “It’s good to think of The Elder Scrolls VI as still being in a design [phase]… but we’re checking the tech: ‘Is this going to handle the things we want to do in that game?’. Every game will have some new suites of technology, so Elder Scrolls VI will have some additions on Creation Engine 2 that the game is going to require.”

All these little tidbits only make us want this game more, and while it’s a long way off, it’s one of those occasions where it’ll be worth the wait. It’s one of those cringe phrases that gets bandied about a lot, though, like so many well-worn sayings, it’s normally true. For now, we look to the stars, and the review embargo that’ll lift on 31 August, for Starfield to light the way.

Once the embargo ends, gamers only have to wait until 6 September for the game to officially launch for Xbox and PC.