Bethesda Creative Director Todd Howard has indicated that Rockstar’s GTA 6 is likely to arrive before The Elder Scrolls VI. The comment came during an interview with Power Unlimited on the red carpet for the presentation of the second season of Amazon’s Fallout television series, which is set to debut on Prime Video on December 17. When asked directly which major title he believed would release sooner, Howard pointed to GTA 6 and offered high praise for Rockstar’s ongoing work. His remarks quickly drew interest from fans who have been tracking development timelines for both franchises and considering which will make it to market first.
Howard shared his confidence that GTA 6 will arrive earlier and noted his long standing admiration for the work Rockstar puts into its virtual worlds. In his view, few studios capture the feeling of a living environment as effectively as Rockstar, describing their games as worlds that seem to continue moving independently of the player. For many players who enjoy both Grand Theft Auto and The Elder Scrolls, the comparison feels fitting since both franchises focus on creating expansive simulations that encourage exploration. Each series approaches world building differently, yet both have set benchmarks in open world design and have shaped expectations for immersion across the industry. His optimism that GTA 6 will release next year reflects his belief in Rockstar’s progress and consistency.
The timeline suggested by Howard aligns with what many observers already expected, particularly given the status of Bethesda’s current projects. Fallout 5 is still in early development and remains far from completion, as Bethesda continues focusing its attention on The Elder Scrolls VI. Howard recently stated that the next Elder Scrolls entry is still a long way from release, and while he mentioned that he would enjoy the idea of surprising fans by making it appear once ready, such a scenario is improbable within the short term. With GTA 6 now officially targeting a November 19, 2026 release date, the likelihood of Bethesda completing The Elder Scrolls VI before that point remains minimal. Although some speculate that Rockstar could delay its release again, the studio has never postponed a game three times, making additional delays unlikely.
A look at Bethesda Game Studios’ history further supports the extended timeline. It required nearly four years between The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and another four years between The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. Fallout 76 launched three years after Fallout 4, though it was effectively built on the Fallout 4 foundation with adjustments to support multiplayer and a new setting. Starfield, on the other hand, took five years to develop due to its scope, the challenges of producing a science fiction universe for the first time and the need to design space travel and combat systems from the ground up. Based on these patterns, a four year development cycle for The Elder Scrolls VI appears reasonable, placing its estimated release near the end of 2027. Meanwhile, GTA 6 remains set for November 2026 and, even with a slight shift, would likely remain within Take Two’s fiscal year ending March 31.
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