Bethesda hid TES 6’s true name in Starfield

The hunt for the true title of The Elder Scrolls 6 has officially turned into an elaborate fan scavenger hunt, fueled by a cryptic tease from Xbox boss Asha Sharma.

Fans have been scrutinizing the number of asterisks in Sharma’s tweet, hoping to unlock a secret title hidden by Bethesda years ago. The resulting theories are compelling enough to make some believe they’ve stumbled upon the answer.

One frontrunner emerges: The Elder Scrolls 6: Sentinel. This idea is supported by a clever piece of internal Easter egg hunting. By taking the character ID numbers from the Starfield creation screen and arranging them into pairs, the resulting sequence spells out “Sentinel,” suggesting Bethesda may have hinted at this name long before the official announcement.

While many theories swirl—some pointing toward Skyrim 2—the Sentinel theory feels particularly strong. Furthermore, this name carries deep lore weight; Sentinel is identified as a major coastal capital city of the Redguards in Hammerfell, an area some speculate will form the backdrop for the new epic.

The speculation doesn’t stop there. Some fans are excitedly theorizing about geographical implications, wondering if Sentinel hints at a dual province game incorporating both Hammerfell and High Rock, or even serving as a launchpad for future titles like The Elder Scrolls 7 and 8.

However, as with any great theory, there’s always the possibility that these clever coincidences are just that—coincidences. The eight asterisks might not be a code, and the Starfield ID numbers could simply be random. Despite this skepticism, the sheer consistency of the Sentinel theory keeps many fans firmly convinced that it holds a piece of the truth.

Meanwhile, behind the mystical maps and character names, the development world is facing real-world pressures. Reports indicate that recent mass layoffs at Xbox sent ripples through Bethesda Game Studios, leading staff to voice concerns about potential delays and the risk of development crunch, impacting the creation of the long-awaited successor to Skyrim.

In a move that spoke volumes, some former employees felt compelled to protest these decisions, even having staff inflate a giant rat outside company offices during high-profile visits. This tension highlights the delicate balance between creative vision and corporate reality as the massive undertaking of The Elder Scrolls 6 moves closer to its promised launch.