Microsoft documents have leaked a number of unannounced Bethesda games, including an Oblivion remaster.
The documents, apparently accidentally published as part of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) versus Microsoft trial over the buyout of Activision Blizzard, include a chart put together in July 2020 ahead of Microsoft’s March 2021 purchase of Bethesda parent company ZeniMax Media.
As such, the release timings are obviously out of date (Starfield was heavily delayed, for example, and MachineGames’ Indiana Jones game has yet to come out), and some of the unannounced games included here may have been canceled. But what we do have is a Bethesda release schedule accurate as of three years ago. Here’s the list:
Financial year 2022:
- Oblivion Remaster
- Indiana Jones game
Financial year 2023
- Doom Year Zero and DLC
- Project Kestrel
- Project Platinum
Financial year 2024
- The Elder Scrolls 6
- Project Kestrel: Expansion
- Licensed IP Game
- Fallout 3 Remaster
- Ghostwire: Tokyo Sequel
- Dishonored 3
- DOOM Year Zero DLC
Of note: ZeniMax Media’s financial year aligns with the calendar year, so ends December 31.
We also have revenue forecast by title. Starfield is down to generate $900 million in revenue, for example, although again, this forecast is out of date. The Elder Scrolls 6 is listed as generating a projected $1 billion in the financial year it comes out. This week it emerged The Elder Scrolls 6 is set to skip PlayStation 5 and launch on Xbox and PC only. It is not expected to launch until 2026 at the earliest.
Even though this document is now over three years old, it represents a devastating leak for Bethesda and an embarrassing gaffe for Microsoft, which has also seen a damaging leak of its own reveal its plans for a mid-generation Xbox console refresh. IGN has asked Bethesda for comment.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.