As fans eagerly await new details about Elder Scrolls 6, Todd Howard has shed some light on what to expect, and it appears that the long development time might be well justified.
During a recent appearance on Lex Fridman’s podcast, Howard, Bethesda’s Game Director, broke his silence—albeit without diving into granular specifics. He discussed the game’s longevity, stressing that players should expect a game designed to last at least a decade. “Skyrim is 11 years old and still our most-played game. We see people continuing to play it 10 years from now,” Howard explained. “So, with that in mind, we’re designing The Elder Scrolls VI to last a decade, maybe even two.”
Fans have been keeping a keen eye on the game’s development, especially given that the first reveal was made five years ago. Yet, the consensus seems to be that a prolonged development cycle is a good sign, indicating a commitment to quality and detail. Unlike some other high-profile game developers, Bethesda has at least been partially transparent, offering some solace to its community.
Adding to the pool of available information, Bruce Nesmith, an ex-Bethesda employee, recently disclosed the intended progression system for The Elder Scrolls VI. It appears the system will draw heavily from Skyrim, providing players with a familiar yet organically evolving levelling-up experience.
Rumors have also circulated that The Elder Scrolls VI is expected to be a “major upgrade” over Starfield, Bethesda’s other highly-anticipated title. While these claims are still awaiting validation, they add another layer of excitement to an already highly anticipated release.
All in all, the information drip may be slow, but what has been revealed offers a glimpse into what could be a ground-breaking title in the RPG genre. Although the game is still several years away from gracing our screens, the existing information suggests that it will likely be worth the wait.