Skyrim was announced for worldwide release on November 11, 2011. As of October 8, 2026, it is nearly 15 years old—not 13—and Bethesda still has not announced a release date for The Elder Scrolls VI. The company’s current franchise site labels the game “Currently in pre-production.”
How old is Skyrim now?
Bethesda Softworks announced on December 13, 2010, that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim would launch worldwide on November 11, 2011, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Games for Windows. That makes the original release nearly 15 years old as of October 8, 2026. The “13 years old” in the supplied headline is no longer current.
Skyrim’s long afterlife has included new editions and official support. Bethesda’s 2021 FAQ described Anniversary Edition as Special Edition bundled with Creation Club content released at that edition’s launch. Bethesda Support now describes it as including Special Edition and 74 Creations; the exact package and availability can vary by platform and listing. Bethesda’s FAQ also records a Skyrim Special Edition update dated August 20, 2026, which increased console mod-storage limits and included Creations improvements and fixes. That is evidence of an update on that date, not a promised update schedule.
What is the status of The Elder Scrolls VI?
Bethesda’s current Elder Scrolls site labels The Elder Scrolls VI “Currently in pre-production” and gives no release date. A December 2025 GamesRadar report quoting Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard said the majority of the studio was working on the game. Howard also said Bethesda overlaps development and that the process takes time. Those are differently worded status descriptions from different dates; neither establishes a launch window.
#1 Best Overall
- Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, Skyrim Special Edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail.
- The Special Edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features.
- All-new features include remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more.
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, use of alcohol
There is no confirmed release date or window, platform list, or detailed gameplay specification in the cited announcements and reporting. That leaves little basis for treating online predictions as confirmed news.
Why the wait feels especially long
Bethesda’s announcement of Skyrim is itself a reminder of how long the series has been between numbered releases. In 2010, Howard called a new Elder Scrolls game “a long time coming” as the studio prepared to show Skyrim. That was a historical comment about Skyrim, not a statement about the current development of VI.
Rank #2
- EPIC FANTASY REBORN - Skyrim reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose.
- LIVE ANOTHER LIFE, IN ANOTHER WORLD - Play any type of character you can imagine, and do whatever you want; the legendary freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls is realized like never before.
- YOU ARE WHAT YOU PLAY - Choose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities. The new character system allows you to play any way you want and define yourself through your actions.
- BATTLE DRAGONS - Battle ancient dragons like you’ve never seen. As Dragonborn, learn their secrets and harness their power for yourself.
- INCLUDED CONTENT - The Anniversary Edition includes the core game, pre-existing and new Creation Club content, plus all three official add-ons: Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn.
Meanwhile, Skyrim has remained available in updated forms. Anniversary Edition is an option for someone who wants to return to the game, but it is a Skyrim package, not a preview or substitute for confirmed information about the sequel.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check before buying Skyrim again
If you want to revisit Skyrim while waiting, verify the precise product before checkout. Bethesda’s 2021 FAQ said physical Anniversary Edition copies would be available for PS4 and Xbox One, and that internet access was required to redeem and download the included Creation Club content. Those are launch-era details, not a guarantee of current stock or the configuration of every current listing.
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Best Value
- Live Another Life, In Another World: Play any type of character you can imagine, and do whatever you want; the freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls comes to life in one legendary experience from all three official add-ons.
- Dawnguard: The Vampire Lord Harkon has returned to power. By using the Elder Scrolls, he seeks to do the unthinkable - to end the sun itself. Will you join the ancient order of the Dawnguard and stop him? Or will you become a Vampire Lord?
- Hearthfire: Purchase land and build your own home from the ground up - from a simple one-room cottage to a sprawling compound complete with an armory, alchemy laboratory, and more.
- Dragonborn: Journey off the coast of Morrowind, to the vast island of Solstheim. Traverse the ash wastes and glacial valleys of this new land as you become more powerful with shouts that bend the will of your enemies and even tame dragons.
Rank #4
- Winner of more than 200 game of the year awards, Skyrim special edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail
- The special edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features
- All-new features include remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, use of alcohol
Rank #3
- ANNIVERSARY EDITION CONTENT — Includes the base game, Dawnguard, Hearthfire, Dragonborn, and hundreds of Creation Club items such as quests, weapons, armor, spells, and dungeons.
- SWITCH 2 ENHANCEMENTS — Explore Skyrim with updated visuals, improved load times, and optimized performance for Nintendo Switch 2.
- SHAPE YOUR ADVENTURE — Choose your character and decide how to play in an open world that responds to your actions.
- BUILD YOUR CHARACTER — Choose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities to define your play style.
- BATTLE DRAGONS — Face ancient dragons as the Dragonborn, learn their secrets, and harness their power.
- Platform: Confirm the listing matches your console or PC. Bethesda’s franchise page promotes Anniversary Edition on Nintendo Switch 2, but that does not mean every store listing covers that version.
- Edition: Check whether the item is Anniversary Edition or an upgrade for an existing copy of Special Edition. They are not interchangeable products.
- Format: Distinguish a physical game copy from a digital upgrade. Do not assume a listing for an upgrade is a boxed game.
- Included content: Read the current platform-specific listing for what it includes; package details from the 2021 launch FAQ may not describe every current offer.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
