In a recent revelation, former Bethesda veteran Bruce Nesmith discloses the reason behind the early announcement of The Elder Scrolls 6. Nesmith, who has since left the company, sheds light on how the fan uproar and relentless inquiries about the highly anticipated game forced director Todd Howard's hand.

Bethesda's decision to announce The Elder Scrolls 6 in 2018, without a concrete release date in sight, has raised eyebrows in the gaming community. Nesmith acknowledged that the company had faced years of backlash for not providing any updates on the game. Both Nesmith and Howard shared the belief that the video game industry has a short memory, cautioning against companies that promote games excessively ahead of their release.

Speaking to MinnMax, Nesmith stated, "The best time to start talking about it is six months before release." He recalled how the company had received numerous criticisms and demands from fans brandishing "pitchforks and torches," creating a situation in which Howard felt compelled to confirm the existence of The Elder Scrolls 6. Nesmith explained, "Yes, we are going to do The Elder Scrolls 6. I promise you. It's for real. It'll happen."

While Bethesda had previously followed a shorter marketing timeline, such as with Fallout 4 and Skyrim, the situation changed with the announcement of Starfield in 2018, which was released just last month in September 2023.

Speculation arose that The Elder Scrolls 6's early announcement was aimed at reassuring fans of its development progress and attracting potential staff for the project. However, this approach has not provided any concrete details about the game. As a result, Howard expressed doubt about the decision to announce the game so early and admitted he might have preferred a more casual announcement.

Despite not providing specifics about The Elder Scrolls 6, Nesmith believes that details will likely remain scarce until approximately six months before the eventual release. Bethesda remains tight-lipped regarding the game, leaving fans eagerly anticipating any updates.

Nesmith departed from Bethesda after Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax, stating that the deal had brought forward his retirement plans. While he did not disclose the details of the staff distribution following the acquisition, he expected his influence to be present in The Elder Scrolls 6. Nesmith, who dedicated many years to developing games in the Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises, hinted that certain elements from previous titles, such as Oblivion and Skyrim, would likely be expanded upon in the next installment.

As for the platforms The Elder Scrolls 6 will be available on, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer revealed during the Microsoft-FTC court case that it is too early to decide due to the game's distant release date. With talks of new Xbox hardware in development, the potential inclusion of The Elder Scrolls 6 in the next console generation, which could begin in 2028, is a possibility worth considering.

While gamers eagerly await more news and information about The Elder Scrolls 6, Bethesda and its developers remain focused on bringing Starfield to players and ensuring its success in the gaming market.