Xbox's secret weapon could change everything for The Elder Scrolls 6

With pressure to increase revenue, impending layoffs, and the potential sale of beloved gaming studios, it's no secret that Xbox is in turmoil. How it handles that turmoil remains to be seen. Recent reporting suggests that Microsoft's gaming division will double down on its biggest franchises and aims to releaseElder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 as soon as possible. With Bethesda's track record — and the lengthy development cycles of most big-budget games — that proposal sounds preposterous. There is one way that Xbox could actually pull it off, though.

Two words: Early access.

I know, I know. Publishers charging for games in an unfinished state is a gamble, even in the best of circumstances. While successful for some indie games on PC, early access is not a typical approach for marquee franchises like Fallout or The Elder Scrolls. And with the backing of a company like Microsoft, it might seem gauche for Bethesda to ask for public funding.

Realistically, though, how else could we possibly get a new Elder Scrolls or Fallout game on shelves quickly? There was a time during Xbox's acquisition spree when Microsoft was willing to let its studios cook. This was a period when executives almost seemed unbothered by sales numbers, at least to the public, and embraced smaller, more niche releases.

That time is over. Not only does recent reporting paint a grim picture of what lies ahead for Xbox, but new division head Asha Sharma has also said that the publisher needs to make hard choices. Billions have been spent, and the returns have been comparatively meager. Major bets like Call of Duty and Starfield haven't panned out. The pressure is on.

Image: Xbox

The ticking clock might be loudest for The Elder Scrolls 6, a title that was announced way back in 2018. Bethesda hasn't been actively developing its next open-world RPG that entire time, sure. TES6 has been the developer's primary focus for at least a year, possibly more. We know that the game is in a playable, generally stable state. The Elder Scrolls 6 executive producer Todd Howard says it is playtesting well. The game was on the precipice of reaching a mysterious big milestone back in February.

Historically, games like The Elder Scrolls take nearly a decade to make — but that includes pre-production time. Starfield, for example, was conceptualized around 2012, but the most meaningful progress occurred in the latter stretch of its 11-year development. Bethesda has been hesitant to so much as hint at a time frame for the RPG's release, but it doesn't seem like a stretch for the game to be at least a couple of years away.

Microsoft may not be willing to wait that long anymore. Sharma has been on the job for less than a year, but she's moving fast. If Xbox does pare down its developers and studios, that puts even more pressure on studios like Bethesda.

Image: Bethesda Softworks

Early access is not a foreign concept to Xbox — among consoles, only Microsoft has built-in support for it. The publisher has already experimented with the development approach with its multiplayer survival franchise, Grounded. Grounded 2 is still in early access, and critical reception to the gestating player-vs-environment experience has largely been positive.

Bethesda going for early access would be a big deal. Though its games are critically acclaimed, they're also notoriously buggy. Early access could easily be framed as an evolution for Bethesda's development. The studio has spent the last few years pumping out port after port of its classic games. The games sell — otherwise Bethesda wouldn't bother — but each one has steadily eroded fan goodwill. Players are sick of being sold Skyrim for the millionth time. Others are especially done with Bethesda's refusal to fix long-standing issues in newer ports. Some of Skyrim's problems have persisted for over a decade now. Modders often save the day here, but Bethesda keeps upsetting those people, too.

There's an argument that, no matter what forum crusaders say, Bethesda's approach to glitches is a smart one. Jokes are cracked and complaints are levied, but Skyrim is still considered one of the best games of all time. Still, Bethesda's baggage around technical stability could work in its favor, PR-wise.

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

The branding benefits of The Elder Scrolls going early access are tremendous for Xbox. The publisher has spent the last few months trying to generate as much press attention as possible. Sharma seems intent on positioning Xbox as a company that has its ear to the ground. The Game Pass price decrease was framed as Xbox listening to its fans, as was its pivot back to exclusives. Xbox recently launched a Player Voice forum where gamers are encouraged to submit their suggestions for the company.

The company is clearly being selective about what requests it heeds or even acknowledges, but the overall messaging is unwavering: fans come first. What could be more customer-oriented than a development where fan feedback is built into the approach?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not arguing that early access is the best or most desirable approach for The Elder Scrolls 6, its developers, or the fans. My guess is that, finished or not, people will turn out for The Elder Scrolls 6 or Fallout 5. Profits, at least in the short term, are guaranteed — and Microsoft seems hellbent on making as much money as possible from Xbox.

Related

The Elder Scrolls 6 and next Fallout games are a ways off, but fans still have new content to look forward to