Elder Scrolls 6 Fans Get Creative: Using Official Character Competition to Predict Release Date – IGN Insights

Elder Scrolls 6 fans are feeling a bit anxious. Much like those eagerly awaiting Grand Theft Auto 6, they crave news but are left wanting. The excitement in the community is palpable, especially with just a character creation contest to discuss.

This week, Bethesda revealed a new initiative: fans can bid to create a character who will appear as an NPC in The Elder Scrolls 6.

Bethesda shared, “For years, we’ve partnered with Make-A-Wish to support children facing tough challenges. This year, we’re excited to give one person the chance to work with us to create a character for The Elder Scrolls 6. All funds raised go to Make-A-Wish.”

While this project is for a good cause, it also sparks curiosity about the game’s development status. Fans are drawing parallels between this initiative and one Bethesda held for Starfield, using it to speculate about the release timeline for The Elder Scrolls 6.

A Reddit user named ‘FartingSlowly’ noted that the character creation post for Starfield appeared two and a half years before its release in September 2023. By that logic, people are suggesting Elder Scrolls 6 might land on September 27, 2027.

FartingSlowly quickly added a disclaimer: “This isn’t a solid measure for release dates. It’s fun speculation based on Bethesda’s actions. But hey, it’s a refreshing change in the speculation game.”

Not everyone is convinced that this date is reliable. Some fans remember that Starfield’s competition was announced when it was set to release in November 2022. Does that mean we might see The Elder Scrolls 6 as early as November 2026?

It’s been a while since the initial announcement of The Elder Scrolls 6. In fact, as of January, the announcement became as old as Skyrim was when Elder Scrolls 6 was first revealed.

Bethesda confirmed that The Elder Scrolls 6 entered “early development” in August 2023, with “early builds” appearing in March 2024. As we mark the six-year anniversary of the announcement, the anticipation continues to grow.

Most estimates suggest a release could occur in 2028 at the earliest, likely on next-generation consoles and PC. If this happens, it will be an impressive 17 years since Skyrim launched. While we wait, there’s plenty to ponder about everything we know about The Elder Scrolls 6.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @wyp100 or reach him at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.