The wait for Elder Scrolls 6 just got longer. Reece Reilly, better known as Kiwi Talkz, posted on social media this week that fans shouldn’t expect the next mainline Elder Scrolls game until 2028 at the absolute earliest, with 2029 being the more probable launch window. The claim comes from someone who’s interviewed over 150 game developers and has built a reputation for Bethesda-focused content, though he emphasized this represents personal analysis combined with information gathered from industry contacts rather than an official announcement.
The Math That Hurts
If Elder Scrolls 6 launches after 2028, the gap between the fifth and sixth games will exceed the total time it took Bethesda to release the first five entries combined. Skyrim came out on November 11, 2011, which means a 2029 release would mark an 18-year gap between mainline entries. For perspective, The Elder Scrolls Arena debuted in 1994, and Skyrim arrived in 2011, spanning just 17 years across five complete games.
That timeline seems absurd until you consider what happened at Bethesda over the past decade. The studio spent years on Fallout 4, released in 2015. Then came the messy development and launch of Fallout 76 in 2018. Starfield consumed most of the studio’s attention from 2018 through its September 2023 release, with the Shattered Space expansion following in September 2024. Only after Starfield shipped did the majority of Bethesda Game Studios pivot fully to Elder Scrolls 6 development.
What Todd Howard Is Saying
Bethesda director Todd Howard recently told Game Informer that Elder Scrolls 6 development is progressing really well, with the majority of the studio now working on the project. He acknowledged everyone wishes the process could move faster but stressed the team wants to get it right. Howard has previously expressed regret about announcing the game so early back at E3 2018, admitting the reveal was largely a response to fan pressure and helped with recruiting developers to the project.
According to reports from July 2025, Elder Scrolls 6 reached an internal milestone described as quite playable, meaning core mechanics and systems are functional enough to run through gameplay loops. However, playable doesn’t mean finished. Games routinely spend years in playable states while developers refine content, balance systems, fix bugs, optimize performance, and polish every aspect to shippable quality. The playable milestone likely represents the end of the prototype phase and the beginning of full production, which historically takes Bethesda three to four years minimum for games of this scope.
Why Bethesda Won’t Commit
Kiwi Talkz noted that Bethesda refuses to provide even a rough release window because they don’t want to set expectations they might miss. The Starfield experience likely reinforced this caution. Despite years of development and significant hype, Starfield launched to mixed reception, with many fans disappointed by various design choices and technical issues. Bethesda can’t afford a similar reception for Elder Scrolls 6, a franchise with exponentially higher expectations and cultural significance.
The Impossible Expectations Problem
Bruce Nesmith, lead designer on Skyrim, told Kiwi Talkz in a September 2024 interview that Elder Scrolls 6 faces almost impossible expectations to meet. Fans want the game to be perfect, and anything less than a 95-plus on Metacritic will feel like failure to many. Marketing departments understand this creates a no-win scenario where even an excellent game could be perceived as disappointing simply because it’s not the transcendent masterpiece people have spent over a decade imagining.
The 14 years since Skyrim have given fans endless time to build fantasy versions of Elder Scrolls 6 in their minds. No real game can compete with an idealized concept refined through years of wishful thinking. Bethesda knows this, which partly explains their extreme caution with information and reluctance to show anything substantial. The longer the silence continues, the worse the expectations problem becomes, creating a vicious cycle where delay breeds hype which breeds pressure which breeds more delay.
Where Will It Take Place
Bethesda hasn’t confirmed the setting, but fan theories overwhelmingly point to either High Rock, Hammerfell, or both regions combined. The original teaser trailer from 2018 showed rocky, arid terrain that matches Hammerfell’s Alik’r Desert. High Rock shares a border with Hammerfell and features medieval fantasy environments with political intrigue between noble houses. Combining both provinces would create a massive playable area with diverse biomes, from desert badlands to mystical forests and coastal cities.
Former Bethesda lore master Kurt Kuhlmann mentioned in an interview with Kiwi Talkz that Elder Scrolls 7 won’t use Black Marsh or Elsweyr, which indirectly narrows options for Elder Scrolls 6. If Bethesda is already thinking about TES 7’s setting, it suggests they have TES 6’s location locked down. The Hammerfell theory gained additional traction from a questline in Skyrim involving Redguard warriors and political tensions in Hammerfell, which many interpreted as setup for the next game.
Platform Questions Remain
Xbox head Phil Spencer has stated the platforms for Elder Scrolls 6 aren’t yet decided because the game’s release is so far away. Microsoft is working on next-generation Xbox hardware potentially launching in 2028, which means Elder Scrolls 6 could be a flagship title for that new console generation. What we do know is the game will be exclusive to Xbox and PC, skipping PlayStation entirely following Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Elder Scrolls 6 be released?
According to Kiwi Talkz, the earliest possible release is 2028, with 2029 being more probable. Bethesda has not confirmed any release window officially. Some earlier leaks suggested 2027, but those timelines now appear too optimistic.
Why is Elder Scrolls 6 taking so long?
Bethesda prioritized other projects including Fallout 4, Fallout 76, and Starfield before shifting full development resources to Elder Scrolls 6. The game only entered full production after Starfield’s DLC released in 2024. Additionally, Bethesda’s perfectionist approach and the massive expectations for the game have contributed to extended development time.
Where will Elder Scrolls 6 take place?
The setting hasn’t been officially confirmed, but overwhelming evidence and fan speculation point to Hammerfell, High Rock, or a combination of both provinces. The 2018 teaser trailer showed terrain consistent with Hammerfell’s desert regions.
Will Elder Scrolls 6 come to PlayStation?
No. Following Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda, Elder Scrolls 6 will be exclusive to Xbox consoles and PC. It will not release on PlayStation platforms.
Who is Kiwi Talkz and is he reliable?
Reece Reilly, known as Kiwi Talkz, is a content creator who has interviewed over 150 video game developers, with particular focus on Bethesda and Valve. While he has industry connections and insider information, his claims represent informed speculation rather than official statements. His track record includes accurate predictions but also some misses.
What is the current development status?
As of December 2025, Todd Howard confirmed the majority of Bethesda Game Studios is working on Elder Scrolls 6 and development is progressing well. Reports from July 2025 indicated the game reached a playable state internally, meaning core systems are functional though far from finished.
Will Elder Scrolls 6 use the Creation Engine?
Yes, Elder Scrolls 6 will use Bethesda’s Creation Engine 2, the same technology that powered Starfield. Bethesda has stated they plan to refine and improve the engine based on lessons learned from Starfield’s development.
Could Elder Scrolls 6 be delayed even further?
Absolutely. Game development timelines are notoriously unpredictable, especially for projects of this scope and ambition. Bethesda has shown willingness to delay games when necessary, and they’re under enormous pressure to deliver a masterpiece that justifies the long wait.
The Reality Check
Elder Scrolls fans have endured an excruciating wait, watching Skyrim get ported to every platform imaginable while the sequel remains in development purgatory. A 2028 or 2029 release means at least three more years of Anniversary Editions, meme posts about waiting, and speculative videos dissecting every tiny hint Bethesda drops. The good news is development is finally fully underway with the bulk of the studio dedicated to the project. The bad news is even under ideal conditions, creating a game worthy of the Elder Scrolls legacy takes years. Bethesda learned from Starfield that rushing to meet artificial deadlines produces compromised results. Whether that translates to Elder Scrolls 6 being the generational masterpiece fans demand remains an open question. What’s certain is we won’t get answers anytime soon. Clear your calendar for 2029 and hope Bethesda proves the wait was worth it.