Fans of The Elder Scrolls 6, much like those of Grand Theft Auto 6, are eager for updates. With little official information available, the community has turned to a recent character creation contest to fuel speculation about the game’s release date.

Bethesda recently unveiled its latest Make-A-Wish initiative, offering a chance to collaborate with Bethesda Game Studios to design an NPC for The Elder Scrolls 6 through a silent auction.

“For several years, we’ve been privileged to partner with Make-A-Wish, granting wishes, supporting local events, and providing unique experiences to help children facing critical illnesses,” Bethesda stated.

“This year, our silent auction offers one winner the chance to work with Bethesda Game Studios to create an NPC for The Elder Scrolls 6. All proceeds from the auction will directly support Make-A-Wish.”

This heartwarming initiative has sparked excitement among fans, who see it as a clue about the game’s development stage. By comparing it to a similar Make-A-Wish project for Starfield, fans are estimating a potential release timeline for The Elder Scrolls 6.

It’s a stretch, but let’s explore the theory for curiosity’s sake.

A redditor named ‘FartingSlowly’ noted that Bethesda’s Starfield character creation contest was announced two-and-a-half years before its September 2023 release. Applying the same logic, they suggest The Elder Scrolls 6 could launch around September 2027, possibly on September 27.

“This isn’t a reliable predictor of release,” FartingSlowly cautioned. “Don’t take it too seriously. But it’s something tangible from Bethesda, a step up from baseless speculation. It’s a refreshing change, even if it’s not definitive.”

Many fans remain skeptical of this timeline. Some pointed out that Starfield’s contest was announced when its release was set for November 2022, suggesting The Elder Scrolls 6 might arrive as early as November 2026.

Do you think Microsoft will have released a next-gen Xbox by the time Elder Scrolls 6 comes out?

Nope, Xbox Series X and S will still be Microsoft's only consolesYep, and 2026 can't come soon enough

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It’s been years since Bethesda first announced The Elder Scrolls 6 on June 10, 2018—a date now as distant as Skyrim’s release was at the time of the announcement.

In August 2023, Bethesda confirmed The Elder Scrolls 6 had entered early development, with playable builds available by March 2024. Last June, marking the announcement’s sixth anniversary, Bethesda’s Todd Howard reflected, “Wow, it’s been a long time.”

Speculation once pointed to a 2028 release, likely on next-gen consoles and PC, which would place it 17 years after Skyrim. For now, fans can explore everything known about The Elder Scrolls 6 while awaiting further updates.