The Elder Scrolls VI fanbase, much like their Grand Theft Auto VI counterparts, is famished for news. So, it's hardly surprising that the community has launched into fervent release date speculation, fueled primarily by a unique character creation competition.

Bethesda recently announced their next Make-A-Wish project: a chance to collaborate with Bethesda Game Studios to design a non-player character (NPC) for The Elder Scrolls VI. The proceeds from the auction will benefit Make-A-Wish.

“For several years, we’ve partnered with Make-A-Wish, supporting their events and providing experiences for children battling life-threatening illnesses,” Bethesda stated. “This year's Silent Auction offers a winner the chance to create an NPC for The Elder Scrolls VI. All auction proceeds directly support Make-A-Wish.”

While a commendable initiative, this project has ignited a firestorm of speculation among Elder Scrolls VI fans. They're drawing parallels to Bethesda's similar Starfield Make-A-Wish campaign, attempting to extrapolate The Elder Scrolls VI's development stage and, consequently, its release date.

Reddit user 'FartingSlowly' noted that Bethesda's Starfield character creation campaign launched two and a half years before Starfield's September 2023 release. Therefore, they posit a September 2027 release for The Elder Scrolls VI—specifically, September 27, 2027.

“This isn't a reliable indicator,” FartingSlowly conceded. “Don't take this seriously. However, it's *something*. It's speculation based on actual Bethesda information, a refreshing change.”

Unsurprisingly, the community is largely skeptical. Some point out that Starfield's Make-A-Wish competition was announced when the game's release was slated for November 11, 2022. This suggests a potential November 2026 release for The Elder Scrolls VI.

It's been a considerable wait since Bethesda's January 2018 announcement of The Elder Scrolls VI. In June 2024, the game's announcement reached the same age as Skyrim's was at the time of its announcement. Bethesda confirmed the game entered "early development" in August 2023, with "early builds" available by March 2024. Even Bethesda's Todd Howard acknowledged the lengthy development time.

Initial predictions placed The Elder Scrolls VI's release no earlier than 2028, potentially on next-generation consoles and PC. A 2028 release would mark an incredible 17-year gap since Skyrim. Until then, you can explore Everything we know about The Elder Scrolls 6.