The gaming world is no stranger to high expectations, but few franchises carry the weight of anticipation quite like The Elder Scrolls. For over a decade, fans of Bethesda’s iconic open-world RPG series have been clamoring for news about The Elder Scrolls 6, the long-awaited successor to 2011’s Skyrim. When Bethesda finally released a trailer for the game, the community erupted—not with excitement, but with frustration, disappointment, and a healthy dose of memes. The trailer, meant to stoke excitement, instead became a lightning rod for fan criticism, sparking heated debates across social media, gaming forums, and streaming platforms. So, what went wrong? Why are fans roasting a trailer for one of the most anticipated games of the decade? Let’s dive into the chaos and unpack the reasons behind the backlash.

A Brief History of The Elder Scrolls and Its Legacy

To understand the uproar, it’s worth revisiting the legacy of The Elder Scrolls. Since The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind redefined open-world RPGs in 2002, Bethesda has built a reputation for crafting sprawling, immersive worlds filled with rich lore, memorable characters, and near-endless player freedom. Oblivion (2006) pushed graphical boundaries and introduced a generation to Tamriel’s political intrigue, while Skyrim (2011) became a cultural juggernaut, selling over 60 million copies and spawning countless memes, mods, and re-releases. Skyrim’s enduring popularity—bolstered by its availability on everything from PCs to smart fridges—has kept fans hungry for a true sequel.

Bethesda first teased The Elder Scrolls 6 at E3 2018 with a brief cinematic trailer showcasing a misty, mountainous landscape accompanied by a stirring orchestral score. The announcement was met with euphoria, but with no release date or gameplay details, excitement soon gave way to impatience. Years passed with minimal updates, as Bethesda focused on other projects like Fallout 76 and Starfield. By 2025, fans had grown restless, their anticipation simmering into frustration. When Bethesda finally dropped a new trailer, expectations were sky-high—but the reaction was anything but celebratory.

The Trailer That Sparked the Fire

The latest Elder Scrolls 6 trailer, released in early 2025, was billed as a “first look” at the game’s world. Clocking in at just under two minutes, it featured sweeping vistas of a rugged, unnamed region of Tamriel, with towering peaks, lush valleys, and hints of ancient ruins. A voiceover teased a story of “forgotten heroes” and “a world on the brink,” while the iconic Elder Scrolls theme swelled in the background. On paper, it sounded like a classic Bethesda reveal. In practice, it left fans feeling shortchanged.

The primary grievance? The trailer showed no gameplay. After years of waiting, fans expected a glimpse of mechanics, character models, or at least a hint of the game’s systems—perhaps a taste of combat, exploration, or the rumored dynamic weather system. Instead, they got what many described as a “glorified landscape simulator.” Social media platforms like X lit up with reactions, ranging from sarcastic quips to outright anger. “Bethesda’s been cooking for 7 years and all we get is a Google Earth flyover?” one user posted. Others pointed out that the trailer felt eerily similar to the 2018 teaser, with little new information to justify the wait.

The lack of a release date or even a release window further fueled the fire. Bethesda’s vague promise that the game was “still in active development” did little to reassure fans, many of whom speculated that The Elder Scrolls 6 was still years away—potentially not arriving until 2028 or later. For a fanbase that’s been replaying Skyrim for 14 years, this was a bitter pill to swallow. Memes flooded the internet, with fans jokingly suggesting Bethesda was “remastering the trailer” instead of the game itself. One viral image superimposed the trailer’s landscape onto a Skyrim mod, captioned, “Modders did this in a weekend.”

Why Fans Are So Frustrated

At the heart of the backlash is a sense of betrayal. Bethesda’s radio silence over the years has left fans feeling neglected, and the trailer’s lack of substance was seen as a slap in the face. The gaming landscape has evolved dramatically since Skyrim’s release, with competitors like The Witcher 3, Elden Ring, and Baldur’s Gate 3 raising the bar for RPGs. Fans expected Bethesda to show that The Elder Scrolls 6 could compete in this new era, but the trailer offered no evidence of innovation. Questions about the game’s engine, AI, or quest design—longstanding points of criticism for Bethesda—went unanswered.

Another sore point is Bethesda’s recent track record. Fallout 76’s disastrous launch in 2018, plagued by bugs and a lack of polish, damaged the studio’s reputation. Starfield (2023), while better received, was criticized for feeling outdated compared to its peers, with clunky exploration and repetitive missions. Fans worry that The Elder Scrolls 6 might suffer from similar issues, especially since Bethesda has confirmed the game will use an updated version of the Creation Engine, which many consider outdated. The trailer’s pristine visuals did little to assuage these concerns, as fans noted that cinematic trailers often bear little resemblance to final gameplay.

The timing of the trailer also played a role. With Starfield’s mixed reception still fresh and Fallout 76’s redemption arc ongoing, fans hoped Bethesda would use The Elder Scrolls 6 to reclaim its former glory. Instead, the trailer felt like a placeholder, a way to keep the game in the conversation without committing to specifics. Some fans speculated that Microsoft, Bethesda’s parent company since 2020, was pressuring the studio to release something to maintain hype for Xbox exclusives. Whether true or not, the perception of corporate meddling only deepened the frustration.

The Community’s Response: Roasts, Memes, and Hope

The fan reaction has been equal parts savage and creative. On X, hashtags like #ElderScrolls6Trailer and #BethesdaRoasted trended for days, with users sharing side-by-side comparisons of the 2018 and 2025 trailers to highlight their similarities. Streamers and YouTubers piled on, with some creating parody trailers that swapped the footage for Skyrim clips or Minecraft landscapes. One particularly brutal roast came from a Reddit thread where users “reviewed” the trailer as if it were a game, giving it “10/10 for rocks, 2/10 for actual content.”

Yet, beneath the snark, there’s a palpable sense of passion. The Elder Scrolls has a fiercely loyal fanbase, and their frustration stems from love for the series. Many fans expressed hope that Bethesda would take the criticism to heart and deliver a game worthy of the wait. Others pointed to the studio’s history of turning things around—Fallout 76, for example, has seen significant improvements since its launch. Modders, a cornerstone of the Elder Scrolls community, even got in on the action, with some jokingly offering to “finish the game” for Bethesda.

What’s Next for The Elder Scrolls 6?

Looking ahead, Bethesda faces an uphill battle to regain fans’ trust. The studio has remained tight-lipped since the trailer’s release, though a few developers have acknowledged the feedback on social media, promising “more to come.” Industry insiders suggest that The Elder Scrolls 6 is still in pre-production for certain aspects, with a full reveal unlikely before 2026. Rumors point to a setting in Hammerfell or High Rock, with a focus on naval exploration and faction-based storytelling, but nothing has been confirmed.

For now, fans are left to speculate—and roast. The trailer’s failure to deliver has only heightened anticipation for the next reveal, whenever it comes. Bethesda has a chance to redeem itself, but it will need to show tangible progress, whether through gameplay footage, a developer diary, or a concrete release window. The Elder Scrolls community is forgiving but not infinitely patient, and the clock is ticking.

Why This Matters

The Elder Scrolls 6 trailer saga is more than just a gaming controversy—it’s a case study in managing expectations in an era of instant communication. Fans today have louder voices than ever, amplified by platforms like X and Twitch. Bethesda’s misstep shows how quickly hype can turn to backlash when a company underestimates its audience. At the same time, the passion behind the roasts reveals why The Elder Scrolls remains a cultural touchstone. Fans aren’t just angry—they’re invested. They want The Elder Scrolls 6 to be a masterpiece, a game that lives up to the legacy of Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim.

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Bethesda has work to do. The next chapter of The Elder Scrolls is still shrouded in mystery, but the fanbase’s reaction to the trailer has sent a loud message. Whether Bethesda rises to the challenge or stumbles again, the world is watching. For now, the memes, roasts, and heated debates continue to light up the internet, proving that even a disappointing trailer can’t dim the fire of Tamriel’s most devoted adventurers.