It’s been nearly 14 years since Skyrim first dropped, and now we’ve got a sliver of news about its long-awaited successor. According to Windows Central‘s Jez Corden on the latest XB2 podcast, The Elder Scrolls VI is in a “quite playable” state – though don’t get too excited just yet.
Corden offered no timeline, no screenshots, not even a whiff of when we might actually see it.
Despite rumors suggesting it might appear during this year’s Xbox Games Showcase, nothing surfaced. That playable state? Apparently not playable enough for a trailer. Corden himself admitted it’s tough getting any solid info out of Bethesda these days, so the real progress behind the scenes remains murky at best.
In the absence of official updates, fans are left speculating – and many are skeptical. Bethesda’s recent track record (looking at you, Starfield) hasn’t exactly inspired confidence. The once-untouchable studio is now seen by many as stumbling through bloated development cycles, with outdated engines and decisions that cater more to corporate trends than fans. Let’s not forget: even Skyrim survives today largely due to the relentless creativity of the modding community.
While TES VI may not be launching anytime soon – some expect a late 2027 or even a 2028 release, potentially as a launch title for next-gen consoles – there’s something to tide fans over. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is shaping up to be a nostalgic escape. Built with Unreal Engine 5 visuals layered over the original gameplay engine, it delivers the soul of the original with a fresh coat of pixels. For veterans of the series, it might just be the antidote to the long wait ahead.
Still, fans are divided. Many doubt TES VI can live up to the legend of its predecessors. In an era dominated by overhyped AAA releases, some argue the true gems now come from indie devs, while major studios get lost in their own legacies. For TES VI to become legendary, Bethesda will need more than just nostalgia – they’ll need to reinvent themselves.