The Elder Scrolls 6 remains one of the most anticipated games in the industry. Bethesda’s sixth mainline entry in its beloved fantasy RPG series was originally announced back in 2018, and its progress has been practically silent ever since. The game may have been announced much too early, but The Elder Scrolls 6 is very much in production. As the follow-up to Starfield, many are wondering if Bethesda is taking the same approach to its next Elder Scrolls entry.
Starfield garnered mixed reception, but the game’s plans for post-launch DLC remain a strong point. Last year, Starfield received its first ever DLC with Shattered Space. This isn’t the only expansion planned, though. Todd Howard has confirmed that Starfield is set to get yearly DLCs. If The Elder Scrolls 6 takes this same approach, there are some upsides and downsides that need to be considered with this method.
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The Elder Scrolls 6 Could Learn From The Series’ Modding Trends
The Elder Scrolls 6 ought to borrow a bit from its generous modding community, implementing some long-running, unofficial features.
The Pros and Cons of The Elder Scrolls 6 Sharing Starfield’s Post-Launch Roadmap
The Case For Annual Expansions
- Stretches the game’s longevity
- Enhances the story and lore
- Can offer special extra content
The most obvious pro is that it can keep the game going for years after launch. Having an expected expansion every year is a strong way to ensure that players keep returning. Post-launch expansions can also be exciting ways to add extra chapters to the game’s base story that dive even deeper into certain lore points. Fallout 4‘s Far Harbor is a great example of how DLCs can offer players incredibly compelling side stories that add a greater level of depth to the overall narrative.
Also, extra content like new weapons, NPCs, and potentially even modes of transportation can be introduced through yearly expansions. Shattered Space added two new companion options, allowing players to have even more people to add to their crew. Unfortunately, when it comes to annual DLCs, there is one major con.
Bethesda has yet to confirm the title and release date of Starfield‘s next DLC.
The Case Against Annual Expansions
- Development of annual DLCs takes time and resources away from other games.
This may only be one point, but it’s a massive one. Ultimately, the extra work going into Starfield after its release could potentially be better utilized to make sure that The Elder Scrolls 6 gets finished quicker. This same issue will also pop up once The Elder Scrolls 6 is here. In the past, Todd Howard has claimed that Fallout 5 is on the schedule after The Elder Scrolls 6, and spending time on making expansions for the latter could make a new Fallout game even further away from release.
Platforms like Starfield‘s Creation Club raise the question if major annual DLCs are even needed in the first place. Between the Bethesda-made base content and fan-made Creations, there already may be plenty to keep Starfield going for years to come. After Shattered Space received similarly mixed reviews to Starfield‘s base version, it may be best for Bethesda to pivot most of its attention to its next project and keep a smaller team in charge of crafting official developer-approved Creations.
A potential leak from YouTuber Extas1s has claimed that the first major look into The Elder Scrolls 6 could happen in July 2025, but this should be taken with a grain of salt.
The Wait Between Releases is Getting Much Longer
The Elder Scrolls 6 has excited many, but it’s also been notorious, as it feels like it’s been in development since the dawn of time. The last mainline game, Skyrim, was released back in 2011, and the wait currently has no end in sight. Since game development has evolved by leaps and bounds in that time, it has also become more sophisticated and complex, so the long wait is understandable. Annual DLCs can greatly enhance a game, but they can also hinder the progress of future projects, and it would be a shame if Fallout fans were stuck waiting as long as Elder Scrolls players have been.
- Released
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2026
- ESRB
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m
- Developer(s)
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Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher(s)
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Bethesda Softworks