One of the most burning questions following Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of Bethesda was whether The Elder Scrolls 6 be exclusive to Xbox. Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox has been elusive about this. However, a recent revelation from a Microsoft document has put all speculation to rest.
According to the document, The Elder Scrolls 6 is set to skip the PlayStation 5.
From Microsoft's responses in the FTC vs Microsoft case. Elder Scrolls VI listed here as Xbox and PC and releasing 2026 or later.
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) September 18, 2023
During testimony at the hearing, Xbox's Phil Spencer went on to say the game was at least five years out and platforms were technically TBD pic.twitter.com/Kto9bE5U8C
Axios reporter Stephen Totilo recently published a document that was part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) investigation into Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This document contained a list of announced Bethesda games. It also showed the intended platforms where the games were to be released. It clearly showed that The Elder Scrolls 6 was not charted for PS5.
The game will be exclusive to Xbox and PC. The release date is yet to be confirmed, it can be expected in 2026 or later. While there hasn’t been an official confirmation from Microsoft regarding the game’s exclusivity, this document answers the questions.
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The document includes a quote from Xbox boss Phil Spencer, dating back to 2021. He said, “In order to be on Xbox, I want us to be able to bring the full complete package of what we have. And that would be true when I think about Elder Scrolls 6.”
The Elder Scrolls 6 is not the first Bethesda title to skip a PlayStation release. Games like Arkane’s Redfall and Bethesda Game Studios’ Starfield were also launched exclusively on Xbox and PC.
Going by the release window hinted at in the document, The Elder Scrolls 6 may skip this generation of consoles altogether. By the end of 2026, both the Xbox Series X and S will be six years old. Microsoft’s next-generation console is reportedly aiming for a 2028 release. So, there are more questions about the game’s compatibility with future hardware.
