Xbox Planning to Accelerate Development of Fallout and Elder Scrolls

Xbox is looking to change its current trajectory by accelerating the development of its most successful franchises. According to a recent report, Xbox chief Asha Sharma plans to increase spending to expedite the creation of new titles, with Fallout and The Elder Scrolls specifically named as primary targets for this new push.

This strategic move comes as the gaming division faces pressure to improve financial performance. Profits are reportedly down $500 million year-on-year, despite significant investments including the $69 billion acquisition of Activision-Blizzard and an additional $20 billion invested into the company over the past few years. Reuters reports that Microsoft is currently weighing several options for the future of its gaming arm, including potential restructuring or spinning off the division into a directly owned entity that would be easier to sell.

The Long Wait for The Elder Scrolls VI

The push for faster development highlights the growing frustration regarding the status of The Elder Scrolls VI. It has been eight years since Bethesda released its initial teaser trailer for the game, and the studio has shared virtually no concrete information since. Todd Howard has offered only passing remarks, leaving the community to speculate whether the project is even actively in development.

To put the wait in perspective, fans have noted that the gap between the teaser for The Elder Scrolls VI and today is now longer than the time it took to release The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim following the announcement of its predecessor. Given that Bethesda is now a significantly larger studio than it was during the development of Skyrim, the lack of updates has led to widespread skepticism about the title's current progress.

Focusing on Established IP

The urgency to revitalize these franchises follows the mixed performance of recent titles. Starfield failed to gain the traction the company expected, and Fallout 76 has not reached the status of a global live-service phenomenon. By doubling down on Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, Xbox hopes to leverage its biggest names to bolster its position, particularly as it shifts back toward console exclusivity in an attempt to compete with rivals in the Xbox and broader console market.

Whether this new focus will result in meaningful updates or gameplay reveals for Bethesda's most anticipated projects remains the primary question for players who have been waiting nearly a decade for news on the next Elder Scrolls entry.