Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard has revealed that The Elder Scrolls 6 will mark a return to the studio’s traditional game design style, deviating from the creative detours seen in recent titles.
“We do have a certain style that we like and that our fans like that we want to get better and better at,” Howard said in an interview with KindaFunny. He described recent games like Starfield and Fallout 76 as “a little bit of a creative detour from that classic Elder Scrolls, Fallout, a Skyrim or a Fallout 3 or a Fallout 4, Oblivion, where you’re exploring a world in a certain way.” Howard emphasized that with The Elder Scrolls 6, the studio is coming back to the classic style that they know very well.
The game will utilize a new version of the studio’s proprietary technology, Creation Engine 3, which is an upgrade from Creation Engine 2 that powered Starfield. This new engine will not only support The Elder Scrolls 6 but also future Bethesda titles, indicating a significant technological advancement.
Howard also provided insight into the development team, noting that the majority of the staff who worked on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are still at the studio. They have been joined by new hires who bring experience from other development studios, ensuring a blend of veteran talent and fresh perspectives.
The Elder Scrolls 6 was first announced in 2018, and the time since then has exceeded the gap between the release of Skyrim and the announcement of its sequel. Howard admitted that he would have preferred not to announce the game so early, suggesting that the premature announcement may have raised unrealistic expectations.
Despite the lengthy development period, Howard reported that significant progress has been made. He stated that the majority of the studio is now working on The Elder Scrolls 6 and that the team is “about to pass a big milestone internally.” The game is currently playable internally, but Howard emphasized that it is “still a long way off” and “gonna be a while yet,” cautioning against expecting a near-term release.
Howard defended the extended development timeline by comparing it to cooking, asking, “Do they want a game that comes out before it should and doesn’t meet their expectations? Or do they want the turkey that is in the oven for long enough to be delicious when it finally comes out of the oven, you know? That’s what I think people are going to want.” He emphasized that the studio is committed to taking the necessary time to ensure the game meets their standards.
Howard also hinted at the possibility of a shadow drop for the game rather than a traditional lengthy marketing campaign, a concept he has teased previously. This approach could potentially surprise fans with a sudden release, generating significant buzz without the typical pre-release hype.
