The Verge's Tom Warren says Bethesda is about to officially name the next Elder Scrolls game The Elder Scrolls VI: Sentinel, that it takes place in Hammerfell, and that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has already played it live.
The next Elder Scrolls finally has a name, according to one of the most plugged-in Microsoft reporters on the planet. Tom Warren of The Verge reports in today’s edition of his Notepad newsletter (published 12:00 PM ET, Oct 29) that Bethesda is about to announce the game as The Elder Scrolls VI: Sentinel. Bethesda and Xbox have not confirmed any of this, so treat it as a rumor for now.
What you need to know
- The name: “Sources familiar with Bethesda’s plans tell me that the Xbox-owned publisher is about to announce that the next Elder Scrolls game will officially be called The Elder Scrolls VI: Sentinel,” Warren writes.
- When we could hear it: The announcement “could come as soon as next month,” lining up with the 15th anniversary of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Skyrim launched November 11, 2011.
- What to expect from that reveal: Just the name. Warren says he is “only expecting a name reveal next month and nothing more.”
- Where it’s set (spoiler warning): Warren says Sentinel will be set in Hammerfell, the desert province that showed up in The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard and The Elder Scrolls Online.
- The story hook: Per Warren, Sentinel “will be the first game about the history of the Elder Scrolls,” and will help uncover the secrets of the mysterious ancient artifacts the series is named after.
- It’s real and it’s playable: Bethesda has been showing off Sentinel gameplay in recent months, Warren says.
Asha Sharma has already played it
Warren reports that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma got a live playthrough of Sentinel in August, and that she praised the scale of the game and said “the story is even greater.”
That’s the first real word we’ve had about how the game is actually looking, and it’s coming from the top of Xbox.
How we got here
- Bethesda first announced The Elder Scrolls VI back at E3 2018 with a short teaser. That’s more than eight years ago, and we’ve had almost nothing official since.
- Fans have long guessed at Hammerfell (and High Rock) from that teaser’s coastline and desert-looking terrain. If Warren’s sources are right, the Hammerfell crowd just won.
- The name drop would land during a big month for Bethesda nostalgia, with Skyrim turning 15.
What’s still unknown
- No release date, no release window, and no platforms have been announced.
- No trailer or gameplay is expected with the name reveal, per Warren.
- Bethesda and Xbox have not commented on the report.
OnPoint’s take: This is the one. Every Xbox fan has been waiting on The Elder Scrolls VI since that 2018 teaser, and a name like Sentinel tells you Bethesda is past the “it’s early” phase. You don’t lock a subtitle and start showing gameplay to the CEO unless the game is real, it’s big, and it’s coming.
And here’s what people are going to miss today: Asha Sharma playing it live in August and coming out saying “the story is even greater” is a big deal. Bethesda games are usually sold on scale and freedom. Hearing the boss of Xbox lead with the story tells you this one might be swinging for something deeper than “go anywhere, climb any mountain.” Making it the first game about the history of the Elder Scrolls themselves? That’s lore heads eating good.
Hammerfell is also the right call. It’s fresh territory for a mainline game, it’s got the Redguard warrior culture, and it’s a totally different look from Skyrim’s snow. Timing the name drop with Skyrim’s 15th anniversary is just smart marketing.
We’ll take a name in November, but Xbox, give us a trailer at The Game Awards and let’s get this party started. If you’re an Xbox fan, it’s a good time to be one.
Sources
- The Verge (Notepad by Tom Warren): Microsoft’s AI future has fewer jobs (Elder Scrolls VI: Sentinel section; Notepad newsletter, Oct 29, 2026, 12:00 PM ET)
- Tom Warren on X: Notepad announcement post
Image: Bethesda Softworks / OnPoint 4 Gamers
If the rumor is right and it's The Elder Scrolls VI: Sentinel, what's your reaction?
Vote and see what other Xbox fans think.
Like having a say? Get OnPoint Weekly or argue it out on Discord.
Where to buy
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
