Bethesda Confirms The Elder Scrolls VI Is Still in Development and Moving Forward
Bethesda has once again addressed the long and closely watched development of The Elder Scrolls VI, offering reassurance rather than revelations. In a recent conversation, the studio confirmed that the project remains firmly in active development, reinforcing that despite the prolonged silence, the next mainline entry in the iconic RPG franchise is still very much alive.
In a new interview with Game Informer, three senior Bethesda figures provided insight into the current state of the project. Studio director Angela Browder, director and executive producer Todd Howard, and studio design director Emil Pagliarulo all spoke candidly about progress, timelines, and expectations. While no release window was mentioned, all three echoed the same underlying message. Development is ongoing and progressing well.
Todd Howard set the tone early, stating simply that The Elder Scrolls VI is progressing really well. He emphasized that the majority of Bethesda Game Studios is now focused on the project, while also explaining that the studio is accustomed to overlapping development cycles. According to Howard, long pre production phases are a deliberate strategy to ensure confidence in creative direction before full scale production ramps up. He acknowledged that the process is slow, even from the developer perspective, but stressed that it is one the team wants to get right.
Emil Pagliarulo offered the most direct and unfiltered reassurance. In response to persistent community concern, he summed up the situation plainly by saying that the game is going. Pagliarulo expanded on this by addressing the pressure fans place on development timelines, explaining that Bethesda does not impose the same urgency internally. He pointed to recent high profile delays across the industry as evidence that large scale games require not only time to build, but time to polish and stabilize. In his view, players ultimately benefit more from patience than from rushed releases that fail to meet expectations.
Angela Browder highlighted how advances in hardware and technology have positively influenced the project since development began. She described The Elder Scrolls VI as an expansive and exciting set of possibilities, noting that modern tools and systems have opened doors that were not available when early work on the game first started. From a developer standpoint, she expressed enthusiasm about what lies ahead as the team continues to shape the future of the franchise.
From an industry perspective, Bethesda’s measured approach is understandable. Large scale open world RPGs demand extensive iteration, and the studio’s recent history has shown the risks of both overexposure and inflated expectations. While patience may lead to a stronger final product, the prolonged gap between announcement and release has undeniably intensified scrutiny. The longer the game exists only as an early teaser in the public consciousness, the more volatile its eventual launch could become.
For players, reassurance that development is moving forward may offer some comfort, but it does little to ease the wait. As The Elder Scrolls VI continues to mature behind closed doors, Bethesda now faces the challenge of managing expectations shaped by years of anticipation, a challenge that will only grow until the studio is ready to show what this next chapter truly looks like.
Do you think Bethesda’s slow and deliberate approach will pay off for The Elder Scrolls VI, or has the early announcement raised expectations too high to satisfy? Join the discussion below.
