For years now, fans of The Elder Scrolls have been waiting patiently some might say far too patiently for Bethesda to finally deliver concrete news on the next installment in the iconic RPG series. Since its announcement back in 2018, The Elder Scrolls 6 has existed more as a promise than a game. The studio focused its efforts on Starfield, which meant meaningful progress on Tamriel’s future took a backseat. But a new report suggests we may finally have a clearer idea of when the wait could end.

The latest word comes from leaker eXtas1s, who has claimed that Bethesda is internally targeting a late 2027 release window for The Elder Scrolls 6. No official document has surfaced to support the claim, but according to the leaker, the timeline fits with what he has gathered from various sources. It’s worth emphasizing that “target” is the key word here late 2027 is not locked in stone, and as anyone who has followed AAA development knows, delays into 2028 remain entirely possible.

This aligns with expectations that surfaced during the FTC vs Microsoft case, where legal documents implied the game would not release before 2026 at the earliest. Combined with Todd Howard’s repeated insistence that Starfield had to come first, it makes sense that development on The Elder Scrolls 6 would still be in its early-to-mid stages. With that in mind, 2027 seems like a realistic, if optimistic, goal.

The potential timing also fits with Bethesda’s established rhythm. The studio often spends years polishing its massive RPGs before committing to a release date, and it tends to announce those dates only once the finish line is in sight. If the internal target really is late 2027, we could expect to see more concrete marketing by 2026, perhaps with the first real gameplay showcase.

Still, caution is warranted. Reports earlier this year floated 2026 as a possible release year, while others speculated that the project might slip all the way to 2028. Without confirmation from Bethesda, all of these remain educated guesses. What’s certain is that fan expectations are sky-high. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has lived on for over a decade across multiple console generations, and its successor has the unenviable task of not just following up, but redefining what an open-world RPG can be.

For now, players will have to content themselves with rumours, scattered hints, and endless speculation about setting, factions, and mechanics. But if this new leak proves accurate, the end of the long wait might finally be in sight. Whether it arrives in 2027 or later, The Elder Scrolls 6 will carry the weight of one of gaming’s most beloved legacies on its shoulders. Until Bethesda itself speaks, fans will keep watching the horizon just as they have since that first teaser trailer rolled back in 2018.