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

Microsoft's gaming division is under pressure to produce hits quickly, and leadership has signaled a renewed focus on its biggest franchises. Releasing The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 as soon as possible sounds unlikely given Bethesda's long development cycles, but there is one realistic option: early access.

Early access is uncommon for marquee RPGs, yet Microsoft is uniquely set up for it on consoles and has already used the model with Grounded—Grounded 2 remains in early access and has drawn largely positive reception. The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced in 2018 and has been Bethesda's main focus for at least a year; the game is reportedly playable and generally stable, Todd Howard says it is playtesting well, and it was nearing a significant milestone in February, though it could still be a couple of years away.

Bethesda's recent history of ports and persistent technical issues has worn down some fan goodwill, even as its games remain highly popular.

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