[Antony Holdsworth]

There is NO OFFICIAL information about a new TES game release.

This thread is for member speculation of when and if TES V will be released. This is where you post any new information about when it might be released, tidbits from interviews which mention it and such.

It is also where you post your theories of when you think it might come out based on guesses, number crunching, rumors or such.

This is about speculating on the next TES game and when -- or if -- it is going to be released. It is not a place for discussion of what is going to be in it, what type of graphics there will be, or any other subject of that type; they belong in the http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1090035-tes-v-ideas-and-suggestions-164/. If those kind of posts get raised they will be deleted and the poster warned for going off topic.


Please note that this thread is not a personal chat box and that one liners and posts of little substance will be considered as spam and thus the poster will be subject to warnings and suspensions.

No scans of copy righted material are allowed in this thread. All other forum rules apply. You agreed to them, so please read them.

More recent interviews of note:
April 27th, 2009: http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/974/974529p1.html
June 25th, 2009: http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24211 (particularly this quoted part)August 14th, 2009: http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/08/14/quakecon-2009-todd-howard-keynote-highlights/
August 17th, 2009: Pete clarify many things of what happen in QuakeCon in this blog: http://bethblog.com/index.php/2009/08/17/clarifying-about-next-elder-scrolls-game-mmo-etc/
January 6th, 2010: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/kotaku/2010/01/06/chatting-with-fallout-and-oblivions-todd-howard, at the 9:30-10:30 mark Todd Howard said: "[...] we spend a lot of time adding to the engine, [...] and we've sort of been doing that with the big new game [we've been] making since we finished Fallout 3. You know we finished Fallout 3 over a year ago so that whole time has been spent re-doing a large part of our basic technology[...]".
May 4th 2010: http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/interview-bethesdas-pete-hines/ about future games.

PLEASE NOTE: AS PER MODERATOR REQUESTS IN THE PREVIOUS THREAD, PLEASE CONFINE THIS DISCUSSION TO SPECULATION TO BETHESDA GAME STUDIOS / TES:V. DISCUSSION OF ZENIMAX ONLINE STUDIOS PROJECTS OR AN ES MMO SHOULD GO IN THE http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1085332-official-tes-multiplayer-thread/

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1103382-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-52/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1103159-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-51/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1103053-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-50/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1102894-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-49/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1102744-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-48/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1102619-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-47/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1102423-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-46/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1101929-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-45/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1101692-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-44/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1101362-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-43/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1100625-tes-v-speculation-thread-42/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1100100-tes-v-speculation-thread-41/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1099526-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-40/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1098899-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-39/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1098448-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-38/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1097723-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-37/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1097314-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-36/
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1096566-official-tes-v-speculation-thread-35/


Note that Bethesda Game Studios is NOT working on Fallout: New Vegas, Rage, Brink, or Hunted: The Demon's Forge -- Nor do they develop MMOs.

....................................................................................................................

After all the chaos of the last couple of threads it is now revealed that the cover of http://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/07/08/7718298August_5F00_Cover_5F00_Revealed.aspx. Please do not make posts saying "I told you so" or "I was right", all that is over, the moderators had enough of that in the last few threads.
Now back to discussion of when the next Elder Scrolls game may be announced.

[Tiffany Castillo]

I'm putting this up so no-one has to go back to the previous thread.

xXUpdatedVersionXx


The following is a compilation of theories that have been concocted over the past few weeks in the Official TES: V Speculation Thread. I will include past predictions for anolyzing to see where we failed to meet our expectations. I will also include current predictions for further anolyzing to learn from our mistakes and fulfill our expectations, whether correct or wrong.
Thanks to all who participate in the official thread. A special thanks to the following:
xXAntibodyXx, Mr. Tissue Box, Stain, ThatOneGuy, Syltstrider, and the rest of the old-timers who got the speculation thread # 1 to where it is now. And a sincere thanks to the moderators for keeping peace in the thread and for keeping it alive.

*= assumption based off of Bethesda timelines.

The Past Predictions.

The E-threeum Theory – A theory based off the expectation of seeing a big game at a big game event, which is known as E3.
*TES: V would have been announced at (or a couple hours before the showing on the Elder Scrolls website) E3.
*The sequel to the Infernal City would have been announced not long after the conclusion of E3.
*TES: V was speculated to be released sometime between mid 2011 and early 2012.
Many rumors spread around the Internet, fueling this theory, but in the end we were doped. However Game Informer never even acknowledged the mere chance of an announcement at E3., which gave rise to the existence of the next theory…

The Informium Augustus Theory – a theory based on a tweet that stated the August cover would make fantasy fans “crap” themselves.
*TES: V would have been announced hours before the cover reveal on the Elder Scrolls website.
*The sequel to the Infernal City would have been announced on the Game Informer issue.
*TES: V would have been released sometime between mid 2011 and mid 2012.
After Dragon Age 2 was revealed to be the cover many lost hope, but there are many more theories that need speculating and arguing. Such as the following…

The Current Predictions

The Serperium Theory (Serper’s theory) - TES: V is released on the next generation consoles. This theory is based off of an unknown and offline source that has yet to be revealed…
*The sequel to Infernal City is announced along with release date in late 2010/early 2011.
*The announcement of Elder Scrolls V would most likely take place sometime in 2011.
* TES: V shown at E3 2012.
*The release will be between late 2012 and mid 2013 on the new platforms.

The M’aiqium Theories
In honor of M’aiq
As of now the following two theories are what the some of the experienced speculators are aligned with at the moment (such as xXAntibodyXx, Stain, ThatOneGuy and etc.)

The M'aiqium Theory #1 (the majority) – TES: V is released on the current generation consoles.
*TES V is announced at Quakecon with an issue in the September cover of Game Informer (2010).
*The sequel to Infernal City is announced along with release date in late 2010/early 2011.
*TES: V is shown at E3 2011.
*Release sometime in 2012 on current generation platforms.

The M'aiqium Theory #2 (the majority) – TES: V is released on current generation consoles.
*TES: V is announced sometime between late 2010 and mid 2011.
*The sequel to Infernal City is announced along with release date (maybe) with TES: V if announced in late 2010 or early 2011.
*TES: V is shown at E3 2011 (maybe shown at E3 2012 too?)
*Release sometime in 2012 on current generation platforms.

The Faelianium Theory (or as some like to call the "Cosmic" Theory) (a minor part of the minority) – TES: V is never announced. Oblivion was Bethesda Game Studio's crowning achievement and will go down in history as a legend (along with Morrowind).
The sequel to Infernal City is lost to the halls of Apocrypha.
Oblivion and Morrowind will become so heavily modded some might even call them sequels to their original games.
We will all die without ever playing the Elder Scrolls V.

The Mustangium Theory (Mustangs10's theory)
*2nd novel is announced in September, released in November.
*TES: V is announced Spring 2011; Perhaps May-June Game Informer.
*E3 2011, perhaps a small demo and more info.
*TES: V is released Spring-Summer 2012.

The Keatoniun Kitsunium Theory (Keaton Kitsune’s theory)
*TES: V announced between mid 2010 and March 2011.
*TES: V released between late 2011 and early 2012 on current generation of platforms.

The Love Theory (LoveIsReal’s theory)
*Game Informer announcement of TES V within the next three months.
*TES: V is left with no new information until E3 2011.
*Game is set for release in November 2011.
*Game is delayed and set for release in April 2012.

The Johnnium Theory (Johnn123’s theory)
*Second Elder Scrolls Novel announced at Quakecon, alongside TES: V.
*Book comes out early December with info on TES: V inside.
*TES: V shown at E3 2011.
*TES: V released late 2011.

The Conspiracy Theory (Kristoffer’s theory) - Game was completed already, in complete secrecy, and waiting for a late November 2010 release for the Christmas shopping blitz. An announcement will be made on Black Friday that the game is IN STORES NOW.

The Mr. Tissue Box Theory – in the last couple of threads, Mr. Tissue Box was tweeting with a Game Informer employee about September’s magazine cover. The September magazine may not be TES: V after all, but Batman: Arkham Asylum 2. This would interfere with the acclaimed M’aiqium Theory #1.

The Confoundus Theory (Khal_of_the_sands' theory) gamesas will try something completely new and unpredictable for the game announcement
To keep up with past traditions of surprise and secrey, TES: V will be announced in a place no one will be looking.
Possible places that announcement may take place include, but are not limited to the following:
Magazines or articles which aren't watched very carefully,
Foreign magazines (magazines outside of the USA and Europe),
Law articles and magazines (a tribute to the hard-work of TES: V speculators),
Comic, fantasy, sci-fi and other conventions (any place a geek or gamer has a chance of appearing),
A bulletin on the door of gamesas offices HQ, and
Sports channel commercials.

The basis of the theory is that TES: V will come out in a way which no one will expect.

If there are any theories that you would like me to submit to the list, please feel free to say.

[Jessica Nash]

I think we should stop talking about the next generation of consoles and whether or not TES V will be released on them or on the current gen. It's nothing but a never ending argument and there wont be an end in sight until TES V is announced or the next gen is announced.

That said, we do know that Bethesda's games take at least a year, usually around a year and a half, to be released after they're announced. Chances are very good that that will be the case with TES V. Honestly, chances are it wont be released on the next generation of consoles unless it isn't announced until 2012. If it's announced before then I'm very confident it will be on the current gen.

[Cheville Thompson]

Here's what McNamara tweeted:
"Our PAX panel got approved. Saturday afternoon in the Unicorn theater. We will talk about and reveal our October cover there. Will be sweet."

Unless Bethesda Game Studios is going to PAX, I don't see ESV being the October cover.




And about that GameInformer article about the domain name hints for Arkham Asylum 2, that's interesting. Thank you for posting that. I may have to take it back about AA2 being the cover, unless they really are toying around...

[ONLY ME!!!!]

Here's what McNamara tweeted:
"Our PAX panel got approved. Saturday afternoon in the Unicorn theater. We will talk about and reveal our October cover there. Will be sweet."

Unless Bethesda Game Studios is going to PAX, I don't see ESV being the October cover.




And about that GameInformer article about the domain name hints for Arkham Asylum 2, that's interesting. Thank you for posting that. I may have to take it back about AA2 being the cover, unless they really are toying around...

We missed this last August game informer opportunity; we're done for a while IMO, through at the very least the Holiday season.

[Steve Fallon]

Here's what McNamara tweeted:
"Our PAX panel got approved. Saturday afternoon in the Unicorn theater. We will talk about and reveal our October cover there. Will be sweet."

Unless Bethesda Game Studios is going to PAX, I don't see ESV being the October cover.




And about that GameInformer article about the domain name hints for Arkham Asylum 2, that's interesting. Thank you for posting that. I may have to take it back about AA2 being the cover, unless they really are toying around...

The hell? Did they even reveal their September cover yet?

[Melanie Steinberg]

The hell? Did they even reveal their September cover yet?

Yeah, at first I thought he was talking about the September cover, but then I was like, "What? Oh, he said October cover. ... Wow."

We missed this last August game informer opportunity; we're done for a while IMO, through at the very least the Holiday season.

I agree that it's unlikely that we'll see ESV in the next couple of covers at least, but I'm just putting this out there.

[Syaza Ramali]

Yeah, at first I thought he was talking about the September cover, but then I was like, "What? Oh, he said October cover. ... Wow."

I bet they are going to hype up the October cover, than bam surprise us with TES: V on September's cover!

edit: Unless of course Bethesda announces it will be TES: V at Quakecon...then it wouldn't be a surprise. Unless, again, Bethesda doesn't even mention TES: V at Quakecon, and give some spotlight to the titles they are publishing.

[Sheila Esmailka]

We really have nothing anymore for us to speculate , somehow Bethesda increased the damn license or whatever for Skyrim , ghosh I'm tired of speculating it is just hurting my head...

[Naomi Lastname]

Just thought I should say say that the two bloggers of Sent U A Message mentioned Elder Scrolls V again at the end of their video blog for Inside Xbox.

[The Time Car]

Just thought I should say say that the two bloggers of Sent U A Message mentioned Elder Scrolls V again at the end of their video blog for Inside Xbox.

They say anything useful this time?? :rolleyes:

[Ymani Hood]

Just thought I should say say that the two bloggers of Sent U A Message mentioned Elder Scrolls V again at the end of their video blog for Inside Xbox.

Can we hear it?

[Latisha Fry]

They say anything useful this time?? :rolleyes:

Nope. One of them just said if a viewer was going out to lunch with them, he/she would ask about Elder Scrolls V (something along those lines).

EDIT: I changed "we" to "he/she" because they were implying that the viewer out to lunch with them would ask them about ESV.

[keri seymour]

Nope. One of them just said if a viewer was going out to lunch with them, we would ask about Elder Scrolls V (something along those lines).

No we wouldn't......... :whisper: Well maybe, so what! We just want some info!

[Esther Fernandez]

Nope. One of them just said if a viewer was going out to lunch with them, he/she would ask about Elder Scrolls V (something along those lines).

EDIT: I changed "we" to "he/she" because they were implying that the viewer out to lunch with them would ask them about ESV.

Why would viewers ask them about ESV? It's not like they know anything about it.

[{Richies Mommy}]

Why would viewers ask them about ESV? It's not like they know anything about it.

But maybe they do! Haha.. I'll quote him word for word tomorrow and post it here.

[Natalie Taylor]

But maybe they do! Haha.. I'll quote him word for word tomorrow and post it here.

Thank you, I appreciate it.

[Kevan Olson]

Just to scramble the trademark speculation further, Zenimax has yet another new application in... for Vir2l. What does this mean? Nothing much, just that it was filed for July 6, and was up a few days later. That means Zenimax has likely NOT made a new application for the other Skyrim marks, JUST the expanded VG mark.

Also of note, the new Vir2L mark? expanded categories.

Therefore, I'll speculate that they're sure they have it "in the bag" as far as keeping those others. Which leaves the game mark, which is pointless if the manual mark isn't in the renewal process... unless they have something planned.

[Hella Beast]

So, what happens if Zenimax doesn't file new Skyrim trademarks for clothing and manuals by the time the old trademarks expire? Can they simply file them again after they expire, or does it have to be beforehand?

[Conor Byrne]

I think we should stop talking about the next generation of consoles and whether or not TES V will be released on them or on the current gen. It's nothing but a never ending argument and there wont be an end in sight until TES V is announced or the next gen is announced.

I think chances are pretty good it will be this gen. With Move and Kinect coming out this year it seems like MS and Sony want this gen to last another few years. Considering that it's been almost 2 years since Bethesda's last release, I can't imagine that they'd wait until next gen. I guess it's possible they could come out with Fallout 4 or a new ip in that time frame, but TES:V is far more likely imo.

[Danel]

So, what happens if Zenimax doesn't file new Skyrim trademarks for clothing and manuals by the time the old trademarks expire? Can they simply file them again after they expire, or does it have to be beforehand?

I asked the same question a couple threads back. Stain gave a nice answer:

"It's a bit complicated and I am perhaps a little confused about the whole thing myself. But here's what seems to make sense to my little brain:

To salvage the existing trademark application for the game manuals they will need to file a Statement of Use by July 31st. A Statement of Use, to be accepted, must prove the mark's Use in Commerce (for which an announcement is sufficient). This particular trademark application, of the other two, is probably the least important since it would only protect against 'Skyrim' from being used in unauthorized magazines or guides. For this trademark application they could either file a new one that's slightly different (thus making it a completely new trademark application) or they could let it expire and refile for the same trademark (which could take a little bit more time). It all amounts to about six in one hand and half-a-dozen in the other.

Hope this helps! "

[Tiff Clark]

I can appreciate Antibody's sentiments about the next gen speculation, but since several theories rely upon that I thought it needed to be addressed. I've done some digging, and haven’t made up my mind totally, but here is a bit of research to lend a smidge of credibility to the TESV on Next Gen speculation:

Ubisoft (1/23/2009):
"We want to take advantage of a company that could bring more technology to us, or new brands," said CEO Yves Guillemot to GamesIndustry. "So we have now enough to help us to grow the company for not only next year but to get ready for the coming of the next generation consoles that are probably going to happen 2011, 2012.”

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/ubisoft-guillemot-xbox-ps3-wii,news-3348.html

Developers have the SDKs for the next gen by now if they anticipate releasing games within the next 1-2 years. Even Ubisoft doesn’t pump out games within months; they take at least a year.

Microsoft and Sony don’t want to tell you about it so that people don’t just “wait and stop purchasing current gen” when next gen tech is so close.

In 2008 both companies discussed the next gen in regards to the current life cycles:

"Is there a next generation?" said Aaron Greenberg, director of product management for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. "I don't know. It's hard to think about that right now...It feels like we still have a lot of growth between where we are and (the sales) ceiling" of the current generation.
Greenberg said he thinks that Microsoft still has plenty of opportunities to "leverage the platform we have," in particular because the company hopes that the biggest growth for the Xbox will be in its online component.

"Everyone has realized that consoles can continue to sell for quite an extended period of time," he said. "It feels a little premature to think about what (the next) generation might be like. We're always thinking about the future, but we have no plans for years to launch another console."

And Sony, as expected, took the position that the PS3 itself is its console of the future.

"We have always said we believe PS3 has a 10-year product life cycle," said Patrick Seybold, the director of corporate communications and social media for Sony Computer Entertainment America. "We've only begun to scratch the surface with PS3...Our investment in future technology is important, and we continue to look at advances in technology to see where we would benchmark our next-generation product. But right now, PS3 is just hitting its stride, and we'll continue to focus on driving the development of games that tap the full resources of PS3."

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-9948560-52.html

Product life cycles last until the hardware is no longer manufactured, and someone in a previous thread mentioned that there are still PS2s on the shelf.
Does this mean it is at least possible that TESV will be on the next generation of consoles based upon this information? Yes.

Enter -Kinect & Move-:

Target Audience: Casual Gamers – purchasing games and hardware for simpler games and not worth making large monetary investments for the sole purpose of gaming
1) These people are not going to run out and upgrade their PC to play TESV
2) These people are not going to run out and buy the 8th generation of Consoles on launch day
3) These people aren’t going to even play TESV
4) Kinect and Move are designed to keep these people buying 7th generation consoles, because they will…

Kinect & Move will extend the “life cycle” of the current generation of consoles; but all of us had to buy new hardware whenever a TES game came out… that is the way it works (yes I know some of you didn’t but the rest of the cash-strapped certainly did). The reason the PS2 is still being sold isn’t because hardcoe gamers are buying them… people who want to get a cheap gaming console for their kids are buying them.

The PS3 and 360 still have years left in them, but the next generation is a lot closer than we may all believe. The Xbox only came out 4 years before the 360, and we are now 5 years into the life cycle of the 360. Even if both the PS3 and the 360 have a 10 year life cycle, that still puts the median expectation for 8th generation at 2012.
If we see TESV at E3 2011, it could very well be running on 8th generation hardware, and very well be a fully realized proof of concept for the hardware. BGS has started to favor the console market with interfaces specifically console friendly, so it would not surprise me if they were working very closely with (at least) Micro$oft to push the envelope once more for another jaw-dropping spectacle like we experienced when we first saw the visuals in the last two games.

There is probably enough speculative information around the next generation of consoles to start an entire “Official Thread”, and what I have posted here is just the tip of that speculation (I don’t even want to mention the actual tech…)

So-
I would still like to see TESV on this generation, but I like to dig and research things, even if I don’t think it holds much water. Doesn’t mean I have given up hope! I think there is a lot of money to be made off the massive user base of 7th generation. I would also like to see a game put these current consoles to the test and really prove what they can do. anolysts predicted this type of code would not be possible for another 7-10 years (stated when the consoles released) so we are just about due.
In the end, speculation has to include all possibilities, and I love to dig and research even if I don’t want to prove my own theory. I just like the process

Also, a few threads back someone mentioned the trademark for Vir2L which is a studio that Zenimax acquired.

[djimi]

I hope bethesda will release tes v on the current consoles and then make an improved version for next gen.

[Gracie Dugdale]

I hope bethesda will release tes v on the current consoles and then make an improved version for next gen.

Why bother? If they've released the games on the current systems they won't spend time and cash recoding the exact same game for release on newer systems. By then everybody who wants to play it will have already played it.

Far either to either wait for the next gen consoles (Which are still a few years off) or simply release ESV on current gen and eventually release a brand new game on the next gen.

[Quick Draw III]

Alright boys, this is what he said on Sent U A Message word for word:

"...apply at Microsoft... book a meeting.. where you can pretend it's all about improving subscriber performance for the next fiscal until you accidentally slip in a question about Elder Scrolls five three-quarters of the way through your 67 slide PowerPoint deck."

*The newest one just came out very recently, and they did not mention Elder Scrolls V.