What is The Elder Scrolls VI?
The Elder Scrolls VI is the sixth main-line entry in Bethesda Game Studios’ open-world fantasy RPG series, and the direct follow-up to 2011’s Skyrim. It is a single-player action RPG built on Creation Engine 3, and it entered active production in 2023 after Starfield was completed. Director Todd Howard has described the ambition behind it as building the “ultimate fantasy-world simulator.”
Getting started
The game has not launched yet, so the smartest way to start is to prepare rather than to rush. It will arrive on Xbox Series X|S and PC, so if you plan to play on console, an Xbox Series X is the smoother option; on PC, make sure your machine can comfortably handle a modern Creation Engine title.
If you have never played an Elder Scrolls game, understand the shape of the experience first. These are open-world RPGs where exploration drives everything: you create a character, choose a race and a loose skill direction, and then simply walk out into the world. There is a main quest, but it rarely nags you — most players spend their first dozens of hours ignoring it entirely and following whatever cave, ruin, or town catches their eye.
The other thing to know is that skills improve by doing. Swing a sword and your weapon skills rise; cast spells and your magic grows. There are no rigid classes, so a character who starts as a warrior can drift into stealth or sorcery over time. Approach your first hours as a sandbox rather than a checklist.
Tips for beginners
- Play Skyrim first. If you have not, do it. It is the closest thing to a tutorial for how Bethesda builds worlds, and it teaches you the rhythm of exploration, questing, and loot.
- Don’t rush the main story. In this series the best moments are usually the ones you stumble into on the way somewhere else.
- Save often, and use multiple slots. These games are famous for emergent chaos, and a hard save is your safety net.
- Pick a direction and commit early. Spreading your skills too thin in the opening hours makes early combat frustrating.
- Read the world, not just the map. Notes, books, and NPC chatter carry quests and context that markers never show you.
- Learn one crafting or magic system properly. Alchemy, enchanting, or smithing rewards players who actually invest in them.
- Mind your carry weight. Loot greed is the classic beginner trap; sell or store what you don’t need.
Is it worth playing?
Honestly, it is too early for a verdict. There is no release date, no gameplay footage, and no reviews, so nobody can tell you whether the finished game delivers on Todd Howard’s promise. What can be said is that the pedigree is strong: Bethesda has spent two decades building exactly this kind of game, and the move to Creation Engine 3 suggests they intend to modernise rather than repeat. If you love open-world fantasy RPGs, it belongs on your radar. If you want certainty before spending money, wait for hands-on impressions.