Former Skyrim developer explains early 2018 reveal of The Elder Scrolls 6 despite long wait

A former Bethesda developer has offered insight into why The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced in 2018, despite the role-playing game still being years away from release.

Nate Purkeypile, who served as lead artist on Skyrim and worked on multiple Fallout titles, addressed the issue in comments to Esports Insider. He said the early reveal was likely driven by the need to reassure fans during a long gap between major Elder Scrolls releases, particularly as Bethesda prepared to unveil Starfield at the same E3 conference.

“My assumption was always that we were announcing Starfield, and it had been so long already since Skyrim that we needed to make sure people were not just p***ed at us,” Purkeypile said. He added that revealing a game so far in advance comes at a cost, noting that trailers are expensive to produce.

Bethesda announced both Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 during its E3 2018 presentation. Starfield was eventually released five years later, while The Elder Scrolls 6 remains without a confirmed launch window as of 2026.

Bethesda director Todd Howard has repeatedly stated that the game is still a long way off, and some reports have suggested a possible release as late as 2028.

Purkeypile also commented on Bethesda’s current development approach, suggesting the studio is now more willing to accept delays in order to meet expectations. He said this represented a shift from earlier internal pressures to release games on tighter schedules.

“I think there is less economic pressure to just get Elder Scrolls VI out on a date, but there is more economic pressure to actually make sure it’s good,” he said. “That’s healthy so long as they’re also honest with the team about that.”

While acknowledging the lengthy wait facing players, Purkeypile indicated that extended development could ultimately benefit both the studio and its audience.

His comments come amid continued fan speculation, with each public statement or social media post from Bethesda closely examined for potential clues about the game’s progress.