Summary
Many fans of Bethesda’s acclaimed fantasy series were ecstatic when it was announced in August 2023 thatThe Elder Scrolls 6has officially entered active development. While occasional bits of news about the top-secret title had trickled out in the years sinceThe Elder Scrolls 6was announced, the confirmation that the game was in active development meant that gamers were closer than ever to getting their hands on the long-awaited follow-up toThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.But even though the launch of the latest entry in the long-running franchise is still several years away, there’s one potentially thorny release date Bethesda should steer clear of.
Withthe release ofThe Elder Scrolls 6not expected until the late 2020s at the earliest, it may seem too early for Bethesda to be thinking about a specific launch date for the game. But if Bethesda wants to give the highly anticipated sequel the best chance at success, it shouldn’t schedule its release for a time that could lead to inevitable, and possibly unfavorable, comparisons to the cultural juggernaut that isThe Elder Scrolls 5:Skyrim.This is why Bethesda should make every effort to avoid releasingThe Elder Scrolls 6in 2031, the 20th anniversary ofSkyrim’s debut, or its predecessor’s launch date of November 11 regardless of the year.
A 2031 Release Would Put The Elder Scrolls 6 in a Tough Spot
Given the overwhelming success ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, it’s inevitable thatThe Elder Scrolls 6will face comparisons to the title that preceded it. While these sorts of comparisons are unavoidable, a 2031 launch forThe Elder Scrolls 6would see it competing both against other titles releasing that year and is sure to be a great deal of excitement aroundSkyrim’s 20th anniversary. Although sharing a release year withSkyrim’s anniversary could build interestThe Elder Scrolls 6, it could also make it difficult to escape its predecessor’s shadow.
It’s not just the inescapable comparisons toSkyrim’s gameplay that could make a 2031 launch forThe Elder Scrolls 6less than ideal, either. Though excitement around the release ofThe Elder Scrolls 6is sure to be high, arriving exactly two decades after the last entry in the iconic series could lead to complaints about the game’s protracted development cycle. This could prove to be costly for Bethesda if players don’t feel that the extended development time led to gameplay improvements, potentially leading to the same sort ofbacklash thatStarfieldfacedupon release.
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Steering Clear of Skyrim’s Release Date Could Be Bethesda’s Best Bet
As the original release date forSkyrim, November 11 holds a special significance for many Bethesda fans. While it may seem smart for Bethesda to capitalize on this by releasingThe Elder Scrolls 6on the same date, this could work against its success. Following thedelay ofStarfieldfrom its planned July 30, 2025 launch and the mixed response to that game, schedulingThe Elder Scrolls 6’s release for the same day might draw unwanted comparisons to the sci-fi RPG.
Regardless of when gamers finally get their hands on it,The Elder Scrolls 6is going to be measured against its genre-defining predecessor. This is why Bethesda’s best bet for letting the game be judged on its own merits is to avoid releasing it at a time that would bringSkyrimto players’ minds. While this would in no way guarantee success forThe Elder Scrolls 6, it could help it avoid getting dragged down by the weight of expectations.
