Twelve years after Skyrim, RPG fans will have to take their troubles patiently before discovering the sequel.
Fortunately The Elder Scrolls Online exist. By excluding the MMORPG from the cult license, the world of Tamriel hasn’t seen any new content since Skyrim in 2011. Modders have been bringing role-playing games to life for twelve long years while the teams at ZeniMax Online Studios have been busy expanding the lore of the franchise through their massively multiplayer version.
Still, it’s not like we’ve never heard of The Elder Scrolls VI. The next major component was a surprise five years ago, during a conference at E3 2018. Fans could then rejoice in the formalization of a new episode. Only, no one imagined then that this announcement would only be window dressing. Here we are in 2023 and this sixth chapter is still missing. We finally had to wait for the rest of the hearings in the context of the takeover of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft to learn more about it, and the news is mixed.
A long development but a release on PlayStation?
While the Federal Trade Commission continues to grill Microsoft to better understand its exclusive intentions, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has had a few words to say about The Elder Scrolls VI. While Starfieldthe next big RPG from Bethesda is about to make its debut on PC and Xbox only, when will it be next Elder Scrolls?
Previously, Phil Spencer seemed convinced that the future of the franchise would take place on Xbox. He then told GQ in November 2021: “It’s not about punishing other platforms, but I really think that each platform should be able to continue to grow.”
Now that a privatization of Activision Blizzard licenses hangs over the video game industry following a comment from Pete Hines, director of publishing at Bethesda, Spencer is once again trying to show his credentials.
“I don’t think we’ve been clear on what platforms The Elder Scrolls VI will launch on. It’s hard for us to be sure right now.”
If this new Elder Scrolls does not become an exclusive, why would it be the case of the Activision Blizzard licenses? This is the funny strategy discussed by Phil Spencer. However, this RPG is not about to surface and no one can be sure of a potential lie by then.
Indeed, the CEO has also taken the liberty of revealing an exit window that will not please the players. The developers have been busy so far and will only be able to start work: “These are the same teams as Starfield, which comes out next September. We are therefore talking about a potential exit in five years or more.“Will we have the right to The Elder Scrolls VI on PlayStation 6 in 5 to 10 years? Only time will tell. For now, Bethesda will have to prove itself with Starfield on September 6.
