"Just Pretend It Doesn't Exist": Todd Howard Addresses The Elder Scrolls 6 Announcement Fatigue

Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard has voiced his exhaustion regarding the constant inquiries about The Elder Scrolls 6, suggesting that the gaming public would be better off pretending the title was never announced.

In a recent interview centered around the upcoming updates for Starfield, Howard admitted he would prefer if the highly anticipated RPG simply faded from public consciousness for the time being. When the topic arose, his advice was blunt: “Just pretend we didn’t announce it. Doesn’t exist. No one’s heard a word.”

The Philosophy of Announcements

Howard’s comments stem from a broader discussion on the timing of marketing campaigns. He explained that his ideal scenario involves compressing the timeline between a game's reveal and its release. He noted that he prefers not to discuss projects until players are ready to press play, ensuring that excitement translates immediately into accessibility.

However, Howard acknowledged that business realities often dictate otherwise. The decision to announce The Elder Scrolls 6 nearly eight years ago was driven by a need to reassure fans regarding the studio's future direction, particularly following the multiplayer focus of Fallout 76.

"When you're going to do something new, everyone's going to ask, 'What about Elder Scrolls 6? What about a single player game?' And we did it that way, but it's not my preference."

He described the struggle of balancing fan expectations with development timelines. While the studio is actively working on numerous projects, Howard emphasized that finding the right moment to share information is a constant challenge.

A Long Road Ahead

Despite the game being announced in 2018, actual details remain scarce. Howard previously confirmed that the title is currently playable in early stages but remains "a long way off." The gap between the announcement and release has now exceeded the time between The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and the sequel's teaser.

For now, Bethesda is focusing its efforts on supporting Starfield and The Elder Scrolls Online, leaving fans of the mainline single-player series to wait for substantive updates in the future.