The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim launched in 2011, and is easily one of the most popular video games of all time. Nearly a decade later, Elder Scrolls fans are still waiting on news for the next game in the long-running franchise, but unfortunately, it seems as though they will have to wait awhile longer.

Responding to a fan on Twitter, Bethesda's Pete Hines confirmed that The Elder Scrolls 6 news is years away. Hines explained that The Elder Scrolls 6 isn't coming until after Starfield, which which has hardly been showcased itself, and so Elder Scrolls 6 details won't be coming until well after that game is properly unveiled. Hines didn't indicate when more information would be coming on Starfield, but hopefully that at least is sooner rather than later.

RELATED: Rumor: The Elder Scrolls 6 Setting and Release Year Leaked

Bethesda was going to have an E3 2020 press conference before the event was canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It's possible that Bethesda was going to show Starfield at the event, but behind-the-scenes reports indicate that the sci-fi game is actually running into some development trouble. Todd Howard himself indicated that Starfield might have skipped E3 2020, and so if that was the case, it's possible news on that game won't come until 2021. And if Starfield news isn't coming until then, one has to imagine that Elder Scrolls 6 news wouldn't be coming until 2022 or even later.

This will likely be an excruciating wait for The Elder Scrolls fans. In the meantime, Elder Scrolls 6 "leaks" and rumors will likely continue popping up online, which can be frustrating for people wanting legitimate news. Most recently, an Elder Scrolls 6 leak claimed that the game would be set in High Rock and Hammerfell, with the supposed "leaker" providing "proof" of their credentials. It was later revealed that the leak was fake, deflating a lot of fans who were excited about the information.

Fans may also be disappointed by this reaffirmation from Hines that The Elder Scrolls 6 is years away, but on the bright side, it does confirm one thing about the game. While many may have already assumed this, The Elder Scrolls 6 being years away is an indication that the game will be coming for next-generation consoles as opposed to the PS4 and Xbox One. This should ensure that The Elder Scrolls 6 is an even more significant leap forward for the franchise than it would have been otherwise.

The Elder Scrolls 6 is in development for unspecified platforms.

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