Grand Theft Auto 6 is gearing up for a release later this year, closing a 12-year gap since its predecessor hit the shelves. Meanwhile, fans of The Elder Scrolls series are still left waiting, as it’s been 14 long years since the last installment. As game development timelines continue to stretch and the pressure mounts on developers, it raises important questions about the impact on both the creators and their beloved franchises.
The extended development periods aren’t new for Bethesda, though. Back in 2011, the five-year gap between Oblivion and Skyrim was considered long, as most development cycles then averaged around two or three years. However, the lengthened wait for The Elder Scrolls 6 stands out even more glaringly, especially when compared to the lengthy but slightly shorter wait for GTA 6.
Rockstar’s next big release is anticipated to make a splash in 2025, with rumors swirling about a potential $100 price tag. They’re known for shaking things up in the gaming industry, causing other publishers to rethink their release schedules to avoid direct competition. That said, Bethesda might not have to worry about direct clashes with Rockstar’s timeline.
As for The Elder Scrolls 6, Bethesda remains tight-lipped. A teaser emerged in 2018, a hefty seven years after Skyrim’s debut. Yet since then, the silence has been deafening, with fans speculating a release no sooner than 2026. Even these guesses might err on the side of optimism given the lack of updates from Bethesda.
The studio hasn’t been idle, though. Since 2015, they’ve rolled out Fallout 4, re-released Skyrim as a Special Edition, launched Fallout 76 in 2018, and most recently, unveiled Starfield in 2023. Despite these efforts, one can’t help but notice a concerning trend of increasingly prolonged development cycles.
Spin-offs and re-releases inevitably draw resources away from the main series developments, further lengthening release intervals. For instance, there were only two years between Oblivion and Fallout 3, but that stretched to four from Skyrim to Fallout 4, and eight more before Starfield, along with the detour for Fallout 76.
Bethesda’s considerable size allows multiple projects to run concurrently, but it’s believed The Elder Scrolls 6 likely only entered full production once Starfield had wrapped up. Yet, delays in Starfield’s launch may have inadvertently shifted focus away from TES 6. Starfield’s contentious release also prompted a re-evaluation of Bethesda’s design approach, possibly impacting TES 6’s timeline.
The wait creates a bit of a catch-22. The sooner Bethesda can release TES 6, the shorter the wait, but additional development time could enhance the final product. Yet as more time passes, so do the expectations from fans. Whatever the future holds, it’s clear that substantial work is required for The Elder Scrolls 6 to surpass the now-legendary Skyrim, which has only grown in stature over the years.
