The Elder Scrolls VI is an Xbox exclusive, will not be on PS5

By Kes Eylers-Stephenson,

The Elder Scrolls VI will be an Xbox exclusive that will not come to PlayStation systems, head of Xbox Phil Spencer seemed to confirm in an interview. Microsoft had previously purchased ZeniMax, and thus Elder Scrolls dev Bethesda.

In an interview with GQ, the head of Xbox Phil Spencer spoke about the future of the game franchises under Xbox. Since Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda back in 2020, conversations have been raging about which IP under the Bethesda Softworks brand will make it to PlayStation consoles. We can now rule out one huge name as almost certainly not coming to PlayStation systems: The Elder Scrolls VI.

“It’s not about punishing any other platform, like I fundamentally believe all of the platforms can continue to grow,” Spencer stated. “But 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 VI. That would be true when I think about any of our franchises.”

We know that the next game in the series is probably a long way away after Todd Howard said it was in the still "design phrase." More recently, Howard said in an interview with IGN: “When we think about games and what we would want to do going forward, it's okay... whatever that system is... how deep can we make it? The other thing is how AI and NPCs interact with you. That's something I think we still have a long way to go with." Again, that insinuated that the game is many years away from release.

The last entry in the legendary fantasy-RPG series was The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which has been a myriad of rereleases on PlayStation systems since the original launch on PS3 in 2011. The game just received its Anniversary Update to celebrate ten years on the market. Now, however, it appears that this will be the last of the series on PlayStation, though the upcoming GhostWire: Tokyo and recently released Deathloop are both PlayStation exclusives out of Bethesda, published by Xbox.

Let us know what you think of the news in the comments! Were you looking forward to playing the new entry on your PS5/PS6? Are you sad to see it go? We are always interested in what you have to say!

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Written by Kes Eylers-Stephenson

Editor Kes is our resident expert in PlayStation and Sony news. He writes about PS5 games like LEGO Horizon Adventures, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Kingdom Come Deliverance II, Concord, and Death Stranding 2 using experience from years of PlayStation gaming. He also covers PS Plus news, as well as his favorite games — The Witcher 3, God of War, and The Last of Us — before an evening swim.