Elder Scrolls 6 Is Going to Shadow Drop & More Games Should Follow Its Lead

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It feels like a lot of highly anticipated games are being pushed back to 2026. Titles like Witchbrook, Showa American Story, and the initial release of Paralives have all been delayed, and GTA 6 has already been delayed twice this year. With so many disappointments, I’m actually thankful we haven’t heard much about Elder Scrolls 6 yet – less information means less to look forward to and potentially be disappointed about.

I’m not a huge fan of Grand Theft Auto, but it’s clear fans are really let down whenever its release date is delayed. I was a bit disappointed myself when Witchbrook announced it wouldn’t be coming out in Winter 2025 as planned. With so many games being announced with estimated release dates only to be pushed back, I get why Bethesda is being so secretive about The Elder Scrolls 6. Even though Todd Howard has said it’s still a ways off, I doubt we’ll get many details until right before it comes out. And frankly, I think that’s a good approach for more games.

Bethesda’s First Big Shadow Drop Worked, So Get Ready for More

Even with all the pre-release buzz, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered wasn’t actually announced until it unexpectedly appeared on storefronts. Players immediately rushed to buy it, even causing some initial confusion for the PlayStation Store, which took a while to register the game’s release. I experienced this firsthand, as I was one of the first to purchase the “new” Elder Scrolls as soon as it became available. This just proves that a developer like Bethesda can release a major game with minimal promotion and still achieve impressive sales.

It seems Bethesda was likely experimenting with a surprise release strategy for The Elder Scrolls 6. In a recent GQ interview, Todd Howard explained his preference for announcing games and then releasing them quickly. He said his ideal scenario is to announce a game and then have it unexpectedly appear after a significant wait. When asked if this meant Bethesda might surprise-release ES6, he hinted that the sudden release of Oblivion: Remastered was a trial run for this approach.

Howard hasn’t officially said the next Elder Scrolls game will be released suddenly without prior announcement, but all signs point to that being the strategy. If there is an announcement, it probably won’t happen until the game is nearly finished. While I’m eager to find out more about my next adventure in Tamriel, the current gaming environment makes me think other major, highly awaited games should consider doing the same.

Game Delays Disappoint Everyone, And They’re Becoming Too Common

Look, I get that game delays happen, and most of us fans are pretty understanding. But it’s still a bummer when it happens, especially when a game already has a release date or window we’re excited about! It feels like we’re seeing this more and more lately – so many games, big and small, announce dates that they just can’t quite meet. It’s frustrating when a release window seems too optimistic from the start.

Games like GTA 6 are so popular that extensive marketing isn’t really needed. While new or smaller games need time to build excitement, a highly anticipated title like GTA 6 or a sequel to Hogwarts Legacy will likely sell well no matter when it’s announced. Announcing a release date far in advance, only to delay it repeatedly, just leads to unnecessary disappointment.

Man, I’ve been seeing a lot of games lately that are pushing back their release dates, originally planned for late 2025. Honestly, it’s way more frustrating when a game was supposed to come out, then gets delayed. It really kills the excitement. Like with Tales of the Shire, all the delays made people worry that something was wrong with development. It’s got me thinking – maybe it’s better for games to just hold off on announcing a release date until they’re really ready to show us something solid.

GTA 6 Makes Me Glad We Know Nothing About The Next Elder Scrolls

I’ve been a big fan of The Elder Scrolls series for years, and I’ve definitely spent more time playing Skyrim than almost any other game – maybe just slightly less time than I’ve spent with The Sims games. Seeing GTA fans upset about another delay, though, makes me realize I’m actually okay with not knowing anything about The Elder Scrolls 6 right now.

While there’s been a lot of speculation about the next Elder Scrolls game, the simple truth is it’s still being made. Don’t expect to play it anytime soon, and Bethesda doesn’t seem to be sharing many details. These days, it’s almost better not to know too much about upcoming games – either you end up disappointed with what’s shown, or you get excited only to have the release date pushed back, like we’ve seen with GTA.

I’m actually happy Bethesda is being patient about revealing details for Elder Scrolls 6. While I’m still a little concerned they might be facing challenges, I’d much prefer a surprise release than announcing a date and then having to postpone it.

Could Bethesda surprise us with an unexpected release of The Elder Scrolls 6? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-16 18:17