Todd Howard Confirms The Elder Scrolls 6 is Still in Development Despite Year-Long Silence

As the Elder Scrolls series’ die-hard fans are celebrating today’s unveiling of the Oblivion Remake with utmost enthusiasm, there’s a nugget of news for those who are eagerly looking ahead. Todd Howard took a moment from the fanfare to remind us that The Elder Scrolls 6 is still very much a project in the works. That’s right—he actually said they’re working on it!

Just before diving into the treasure trove of Oblivion Remaster news and footage, Howard dropped this little gem: “Obviously we’re working on the 6th chapter here.”

This might seem like a modest tidbit, but it’s the most substantial update about The Elder Scrolls 6 we’ve had since March 2024. Back then, Bethesda let slip that early versions of ES6 were out for testers to get their hands on. There was even a hint that the game is enjoyable—an encouraging sign, don’t you think?

Before that, back in October 2023, a former Skyrim designer warned us to temper our anticipation, saying there wouldn’t be any new updates on ES6 until about six months prior to its release. Just a month earlier, Phil Spencer had optimistically pegged its release as being about five years away, although, truth be told, that seemed a bit of a stretch even then. Now, nearly two years on from his comment, we’re still left mostly in the dark.

It’s striking, really, how Bethesda has been so tight-lipped, offering almost no concrete updates for years. It was as far back as August 2023 when they officially confirmed that development had begun, a solid five years post-announcement at E3. It might sound a bit bold, but it’s not out of line to wonder if they might have jumped the gun on announcing the game.

But in all seriousness, the faintest hint of progress on Elder Scrolls 6 is something to appreciate. It’s been ages—it feels like I was just a student when the game was first teased, and now here I am, dealing with adult responsibilities like bills and swiping through dating apps. I have faith that Bethesda, being top-tier in the RPG realm, will deliver something remarkable. In the meantime, how about throwing us a bone, like some concept art? We’ve got about as much proof of this game’s existence as Liam Neeson did of his daughter being alive in Taken.

So, drop a comment below about how you’re feeling these days. And, just for fun, take a guess at how much student loan debt I’ll have racked up by the time Elder Scrolls 6 finally drops!