Todd Howard thinks GTA 6 release date will arrive before The Elder Scrolls 6, even after delays

A Bloomberg reporter recently dismissed any possibility of The Elder Scrolls 6 appearing at The Game Awards. Fans of the fantastical RPG series heard more bad news in a new Power Unlimited article. Game director Todd Howard told the Dutch magazine to expect the GTA 6 release date before the Bethesda project surfaces.

The website spotted Howard during an event celebrating the second season of the Fallout show. A reporter asked him whether he thought GTA 6, The Elder Scrolls 6, or Fallout 5 would ship first. Howard replied, “I'm rooting for Grand Theft Auto 6.” The Bethesda stalwart then explained that he didn’t anticipate another GTA 6 delay.

The update isn’t a revelation, given that only the Rockstar Games title has an official arrival date. Still, after multiple letdowns, not all fans are convinced that November 19th, 2026, will be a day to celebrate.

Is GTA 6 further along than The Elder Scrolls 6?

Rockstar has been notoriously reluctant to show any progress, with GTA 6 trailers debuting after long periods of silence. Recent firings of employees over allegations of leaking may also suggest a lack of cohesion at the study.

In the case of The Elder Scrolls 6, Todd Howard has been more forthcoming about the game's status. Despite an unveiling at the 2018 E3, he informed GQ in November that the title was “still a long way off.” He asked gamers for patience, saying, “I don’t want fans to feel anxious.” One reason for the extended development cycle was Bethesda’s decision to complete Starfield.

Now, it seems more likely that The Elder Scrolls 6 release date won’t come until at least 2027 or 2028. Nevertheless, Bethesda has also shown a preference for shadow drops, as seen with Oblivion Remastered. The Game Awards would have been an ideal setting for an announcement. Unfortunately, even after host Geoff Keighley teased gamers with a mythical statue, Howard has crushed those dreams.