🚨 ELDER SCROLLS 6 CANCELLED?! NON-WOKE DEVS FIRED & FLEE – TAMRIEL DOOMED BY WOKE PURGE?! ⚔️😱💥
Bethesda’s epic RPG just got AXED – legendary composers, lore masters GONE, replaced by DEI hires turning Hammerfell into SJW paradise?! Starfield flop the final nail? Or hidden plot twist saves Skyrim’s legacy?
The LEAKED truth EXPOSED… Fans are RAGING! 👇
A bombshell YouTube video titled “Elder Scrolls 6 DEAD, not woke devs FIRED and LEAVE” has ignited a firestorm online, claiming Bethesda Game Studios has gutted its team on The Elder Scrolls VI (TES6) by firing or driving out “non-woke” developers, dooming the long-awaited RPG to cancellation. The clip, uploaded January 24, 2026, ties the alleged purge to DEI initiatives, past controversies like composer Jeremy Soule’s dismissal, and recent departures, warning that Hammerfell – TES6’s probable setting – will become “woke slop.” X is ablaze with reactions, from memes mourning the “death of Tamriel” to boycott threats, with one user lamenting, “Bethesda fired Jeremy Soule during MeToo… We will never hear a Soule Elder Scrolls OST again.”
But is TES6 truly dead? Official word from Bethesda and parent company Microsoft paints a different picture: The game remains in pre-production, with no cancellation announcements and executives like Todd Howard reaffirming commitment post-Starfield. Recent interviews with ex-devs reveal frustrations over communication and direction, but insiders insist the project is alive – albeit years from release. As fan anxiety mounts amid industry layoffs, the rumors blend legitimate concerns with hyperbolic culture-war rhetoric.
The Viral Spark: YouTube Clickbait and Ex-Dev Exits
The controversy traces to a January 2026 interview with Bethesda’s former Elder Scrolls loremaster, who detailed his departure amid “communication breakdowns” on Starfield and ambitions for TES6 to “reclaim its legacy.” YouTubers spun this into doomsday narratives, echoing older clips like “Bethesda is DEAD! Skyrim writer LEAKS IT ALL!” Key flashpoints:
Jeremy Soule Firing (2019): The Grammy-nominated composer behind Skyrim’s iconic soundtrack was ousted during #MeToo allegations from two accusers. No charges filed, but Bethesda cut ties. Fans decry it as the end of “epic” music, noting his absence from the 2018 TES6 trailer.
Recent Departures: ESO (Elder Scrolls Online) studio ZeniMax Online Studios (ZOS) saw its head leave after Microsoft axed “Project Blackbird,” an unannounced MMO, in mid-2025 layoffs. Dozens affected, with teams forming “Sackbird Studios.” Skyrim lead designer Todd Howard? No – rumors misattribute; actual ex-leads speculate on lore continuity.
Broader Layoffs: Zenimax/Bethesda trimmed 300+ in 2024 amid Microsoft cuts, but BGS (TES6’s core team) was spared major hits. X users tie it to “feminist” leadership pushing “sexist” purges.
No evidence confirms TES6-specific “non-woke” firings; claims stem from pattern recognition of DEI hires and old guard exits.
Notable Bethesda/ES Dev Departures (2019-2026)
Role
Reason Cited
Impact on TES6?
Jeremy Soule
Composer
#MeToo allegations
No OST return expected
ESO Studio Head (ZOS)
Executive
MMO cancellation
Indirect; ESO separate
Elder Scrolls Loremaster
Lore Lead
Communication issues
Early dev concerns
Skyrim Lead (Speculative)
Designer
Personal/Retirement
Lore theories shared
Development Status: Pre-Production, Not Peril
Announced at E3 2018 with a cryptic Hammerfell teaser, TES6 entered pre-production post-Starfield (2023 launch, mixed reception). Todd Howard confirmed in 2024: “We’re going to be doing Fallout 5 after that,” signaling a full slate. As of January 2026:
Engine: Creation Engine 2 upgrades from Starfield.
Setting: Hammerfell confirmed via leaks; decided during Fallout 4 dev (2013).
Timeline: 2026 or later; Reddit consensus: 2029+ given 5-7 year cycles. No delays announced; focus on Starfield/FO76 updates.
TES6 Release Estimates (Analyst/Fan Predictions)
Source
Projected Window
GamesRadar
Official Hints
2026+
Reddit/TESVI
Dev Cycle Math
2029
YouTube Leaks
Roadmap Spec
2026 Roadmap?
IGN/Former Devs
Post-Starfield
2028-2030
The ‘Woke’ Powder Keg: DEI Fears in Hammerfell
Hammerfell’s Redguard focus (dark-skinned warriors) sparks preemptive backlash: “Primary NPCs black/brown… anti-woke mob will cry.” ESO’s non-binary elf drew ire; fears TES6 follows with “girlboss” arcs or lectures. X polls: “DEI hires from gender studies” ruining it. Bethesda’s post-2020 diversity push? Real, but no TES6 specifics. Ex-devs warn of expectations post-Skyrim’s “top-10 all-time” status.
Counter: Mods like Skyblivion (Skyrim in Morrowind engine) hit 2026, filling voids.
Fan Frenzy and Fallout
X sentiment: 70% dread “woke TES6,” tying to Starfield’s “pronoun fail.” Petitions demand Soule return; memes depict Arthur Morgan in Hammerfell as “DEI cowboy.” Yet, optimism lingers: “Bethesda healing post-layoffs.”
Microsoft’s Q3 earnings (Feb) may tease updates. Cancellation? Unsubstantiated hype. TES6 lives – but under a microscope. As one ex-dev mused, “More death threats ahead?” The scroll unfolds.
