Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier has cast doubt on a 2028 release for The Elder Scrolls 6, stating the game is still at least two to three years away. During a live Q&A on Bloomberg, as reported by X user Idle Sloth, Schreier indicated that while a 2028 launch remains possible, a 2029 or later release is more likely. The game was first announced in 2018, meaning a post-2028 release would mark over a decade since its reveal and at least 17 years after the last mainline entry, Skyrim.
Bethesda Layoffs Compound Delays
The development timeline has been further complicated by recent layoffs at Bethesda Game Studios. According to the Bethesda Game Studios Union account on Bluesky, the studio lost 'dozens of programmers, artists, designers, and testers' as part of cuts earlier this week. The union noted that many of those affected had worked at the studio for decades. The exact number of job losses remains unclear, but other Xbox studios such as Obsidian and id Software have also seen significant reductions, with id Software reportedly losing 50% of its staff.
Xbox CEO's Vision for Key Franchises
Reports indicate that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is seeking to accelerate development on major franchises including Halo, The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout. However, it is uncertain what measures she can take to speed up The Elder Scrolls 6, especially given the recent workforce reductions. Bethesda is also working on Fallout 5, which is even further off, and a rumoured remaster of Fallout 3, similar to The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, though neither has been officially confirmed.
