Bethesda Softworks recently announced a unique opportunity for fans to become part of the highly anticipated game, The Elder Scrolls 6.
On February 17, the publisher revealed that gamers could collaborate with Bethesda Game Studios to design a non-playable character (NPC) in the upcoming title.
This initiative is part of a charity auction organized by "Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic," with the highest bid currently surpassing $48,750.
The Elder Scrolls 6 was officially announced in 2018, nearly seven years ago. At the time, Bethesda made it clear that the game was still in early development and would launch only after Starfield, which was released in September 2023.
Later, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer stated during a 2023 legal battle between Microsoft and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that The Elder Scrolls 6 was still over five years away from release. This would place the earliest possible launch window in 2028.
The legal proceedings also revealed internal Microsoft emails discussing exclusivity plans for Bethesda titles. These emails suggested that Microsoft intended to keep major Bethesda games, including Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6, exclusive to Xbox.
Essentially, the absence of news regarding a Skyrim sequel resulted in increasing pressure on the company. Bruce Nesmith, Skyrim's lead designer, provided insights in a MinnMax interview, explaining that Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls 6 earlier than planned to alleviate fan frustrations.
Nesmith also mentioned that Bethesda’s director, Todd Howard, generally prefers shorter marketing cycles, where a game is announced about six months before its release. This approach was notably used for Fallout 4. However, due to the overwhelming demand for news about The Elder Scrolls 6, Bethesda felt compelled to break this tradition.
Howard himself acknowledged in a 2018 interview with GQ that he might have handled the game’s announcement differently. He suggested that a more casual reveal could have been preferable.
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