Eight years after Bethesda first revealed The Elder Scrolls VI was in development, we now finally have a title. And if you've been paying attention to the rumors lately, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
Towards the end of a video celebrating 40 years of Bethesda Game Studios, Todd Howard revealed the official title of the next RPG in Bethesda's long-running Elder Scrolls series.
"As we're here in the 40th anniversary, we think about all of the games we've made," Howard began. "And so even though yes, we're looking back,we're also looking forward to all we're doing, particularly with the Fallout franchise and obviously The Elder Scrolls. You know, everybody's always asking about Elder Scrolls VI. And we thought, hey, given the moment, what a perfect time to tell you what The Elder Scrolls VI is actually called."
Without further ado, here's the official reveal:
The Elder Scrolls VI is officially titled Sentinel, a name that all but confirms the long-rumored Hammerfell setting.
Sentinel is a major port city located along the Iliac Bay in Hammerfell, the homeland of the Redguards. It's one of the region's most influential cities, known for its wealth, political power, and strategic importance. The city has appeared in previous Elder Scrolls games, including The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall and The Elder Scrolls Online. The title confirms the long-rumored Hammerfell setting, although Bethesda has yet to reveal just how much of the region players will be able to explore.
The teaser includes an interesting quote at the end, which reads: "The scroll offered only a shimmer, a veil thinly lifted to my eyes. A future lost. A victory undone. Sands of time scattered by fate."
The quote is attributed to Yazar, a Moth Priest serving High Queen Iradne of Hammerfell, in the year 4E 206. As pointed out by UESP, that places the prophecy just five years after the events of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which takes place in 4E 201. While the cryptic message doesn't reveal much about the game's story, the references to a "future lost" and a "victory undone" could hint at another major conflict involving Hammerfell and the Aldmeri Dominion.
For those unfamiliar with the lore, Hammerfell successfully resisted the Aldmeri Dominion following the Great War, eventually forcing its withdrawal under the Second Treaty of Stros M'Kai in 4E 180. Could the prophecy be warning that Hammerfell's hard-fought independence is once again under threat?
The mention of "sands of time" could be a reference to Hammerfell's vast Alik'r Desert, although the Elder Scrolls universe is certainly no stranger to prophecies, altered timelines, and events shaped by fate.
It's all speculation for now, but the teaser seems to suggest that the consequences of Hammerfell's past victories could play a significant role in The Elder Scrolls VI: Sentinel.
Unfortunately, the title reveal didn't come with a release date, gameplay footage, or any additional details about what players can expect. Bethesda has also cautioned that it'll be some time before the studio is ready to share more. So while we finally know what the next Elder Scrolls game is called, it sounds like we're still a long way from actually playing it.