Bethesda director Todd Howard has effectively confirmed that GTA 6 will release before The Elder Scrolls VI, settling speculation about which massive RPG arrives first. Speaking at the Fallout Season 2 premiere, Howard expressed confidence in Rockstar‘s November 2026 target while acknowledging his own project remains “a long way off.”

GTA 6 vs Elder Scrolls 6 Timeline

Game	Status	Details
GTA 6	November 19, 2026	Official release date (Take-Two fiscal)
Elder Scrolls 6	2027+ (estimated)	“Still a long way off” – Todd Howard
Fallout 5	Pre-production	Development starts after TES6
TES6 Announcement	June 2018 (E3)	7+ years since reveal
Playable State	Unknown	Recent playtests confirmed

Todd Howard’s Confirmation

When asked by Dutch publication Power Unlimited which game releases first—GTA 6, Elder Scrolls 6, or Fallout 5—Howard responded: “I got my fingers crossed for GTA 6.” He praised Rockstar Games, stating they’re “some of the absolute best at bringing a virtual world to life” with worlds that “feel like they would go on even if you weren’t there.”

This statement aligns with Howard’s recent comments to GQ Magazine confirming The Elder Scrolls 6 is “still a long way off.” Despite the 2018 E3 announcement—over seven years ago—Bethesda has shared minimal concrete information beyond a single teaser trailer showing a mountainous landscape.

Why GTA 6 Will Release First

Confirmed Release Date: Rockstar targets November 19, 2026, representing the publisher’s fiscal year-end. Despite two previous delays, Rockstar has never delayed a game three times throughout their history, suggesting confidence in this timeline documented by industry release tracking.

Development Progress: GTA 6 has shown substantial gameplay footage through official trailers, while Elder Scrolls 6 remains limited to conceptual imagery. The contrast reflects vastly different development stages.

Bethesda’s Focus: The studio prioritizes finishing The Elder Scrolls 6 before beginning full Fallout 5 production. Bethesda’s historical development timeline shows roughly four-year gaps between major releases—a pattern suggesting TES6 won’t arrive before 2027 at earliest.

What This Means for RPG Fans

The confirmation tempers expectations for Elder Scrolls enthusiasts who’ve endured years without substantive updates. Howard’s honesty contrasts with GTA 6’s repeated delays, which generated player frustration documented across gaming community forums.

Fallout 5 remains furthest from release, still in pre-production while Bethesda channels resources toward completing The Elder Scrolls 6. However, rumors suggest potential remasters—including Fallout 3—may bridge the gap, following the successful Oblivion Remaster pattern.

The Elder Scrolls 6 possibly targeting 2027-2028 gives Bethesda breathing room to avoid the backlash Rockstar faced over GTA 6’s multiple postponements.