Bethesda Lead Says The Elder Scrolls 6 Got Announced So... Former

"I think there is something to be said for going a bit more constrained. I always thought that was a weird goal anyway."

Former Bethesda lead artist Nate Purkeypile has given a new interview to Esports Insider, in which he makes the eyebrow-raising suggestion that The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced when it was because the studio was worried people would be "pissed" at it: The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced simultaneously alongside Starfield at E3 2018

It's been… eight years. Right now Elder Scrolls fans are huffing the copium thanks to a Microsoft tease that 2026 will be a "big year for games ending in 6", but the reality is there's no indication what date Bethesda is aiming for with the next Elder Scrolls. That's one hell of a stretch, even for a marquee title, and our man reckons it's because Bethesda didn't want Starfield's debut to be overshadowed by the absence of The Elder Scrolls.

"My assumption was always that we were announcing Starfield," says Purkeypile, "and it had been so long already since Skyrim that we needed to make sure people were not just pissed at us. It’s a very expensive way to do that, though. Those trailers are not cheap."

With that said, however, he also reckons Bethesda now has the luxury of time.

"I would imagine that they will take a while to deliver it because there’s so much pressure behind that title," says Purkeypile, "and I think it’s been proven with Starfield that they’re finally okay, actually delaying stuff." Starfield itself was subject to one big delay, something that Purkepile says was "not really the case early on… On Skyrim, it was like, 'It's coming out on 11/11/11' and we were like, 'what?! Oh boy, no pressure.'

"I think there is less economic pressure to just get Elder Scrolls 6 out on a date, but there is more economic pressure to actually make sure it’s good, and I think that’s a good thing. That’s healthy so long as they’re also honest with the team about that."

Asked whether these games are in a bit of a no-win situation thanks to the expectations, Purkeypile says: "Yes, and that definitely factored into me leaving because Skyrim being one of the top 10 games of all-time, how do you beat that?

Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.

"If they do, great! And I hope it’s a great game, but even if it’s just as good as Skyrim was, you’ll still get so many people throwing out hateful comments. I’m sure there will be more death threats again. All o

Source: PC Gamer