The creative leads behind three of Xbox’s most highly anticipated projects shared new details about their upcoming titles in a feature by Entertainment Weekly focusing on the platform’s 25th anniversary and Hollywood adaptation plans.
Kojima says 'OD' will push horror boundaries; Todd Howard updates 'The Elder Scrolls VI' and 'Marvel's Blade'
Bethesda’s Todd Howard provided updates on The Elder Scrolls VI and Marvel’s Blade, while Hideo Kojima revealed an unprecedented gameplay system designed for his upcoming horror title, OD. Currently, none of the three projects have a confirmed release date.
Bethesda prioritizes ‘The Elder Scrolls VI’ and previews ‘Marvel’s Blade’
Todd Howard, head of Bethesda Game Studios, addressed the immense pressure surrounding The Elder Scrolls VI, especially given the extensive gap since the release of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in 2011.
Main focus:The Elder Scrolls VI is currently the studio’s largest project, concentrating the majority of Bethesda’s workforce.
Resource allocation: production has officially entered a stage of priority resource dedication as the team is fully aware of the need to deliver a successful game. However, no release window was provided.
A look at Marvel’s Blade
During interviews conducted on May 21, Howard revealed that he was shown a development demonstration of Marvel’s Blade, which is being developed by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda. He praised the developers’ performance and described the material as “really great work.”
Industry context: this praise comes amid recent rumors regarding potential layoffs at Arkane’s parent company, ZeniMax. Reports indicate that employees not assigned to The Elder Scrolls or Fallout projects could face job cuts. Howard’s comments offer a positive signal but provide no guarantee for Arkane’s continuity. The article notes that a similar cloud of uncertainty hangs over other studios, such as Ninja Theory, which remains on potential closure lists despite recently revealing Senua with a 2027 release window.
Kojima’s ‘OD’ to introduce an unprecedented gameplay system
Hideo Kojima shared that the concept for OD originated during the development of Death Stranding and was matured independently before being pitched to major corporations and emerging studios. According to Kojima, every company he initially approached turned it down, labeling the idea as completely unfeasible and impossible to execute.
Pushing single-player horror to the extreme
OD is being built as an entirely new experience centered around an unprecedented gameplay system that aims to surpass the intensity limits reached by previous titles in the horror genre.
The anti-fear mechanism: to help players who might typically stop playing out of extreme discomfort or fear, Kojima has developed an internal mechanism that allows them to continue moving forward.
Confidentiality: the exact mechanics of this system remain hidden. Kojima declined to share specific details on how it works, stating that any further explanation could reveal clues and breach confidentiality agreements.
Current release windows and estimates
None of the three showcased projects have a defined release timeline, leaving their market arrivals up in the air.
Project
Current Production Status / Estimate
Marvel’s Blade
Production status remains uncertain; no release window provided.
OD
Estimated to require an additional 1 to 2 years until completion.
The Elder Scrolls VI
Current top priority for the studio; estimated to require an additional 1 to 2 years until completion.
