There seems to be an endless stream of documents coming from the FTC v. Microsoft trial inadvertently revealing gaming bombshells. A newly released document reveals Microsoft's plan not to release The Elder Scrolls 6 on the PlayStation console, unsurprisingly.

Gamers have speculated that the sequel to Skyrim will become a Microsoft exclusive ever since the tech giant acquired Bethesda in September 2020. This new document basically confirms what we have expected from Microsoft and Bethesda ever since it announced that Starfield and Redfall would be exclusive to the Microsoft ecosystem.

The document lists a number of existing and future titles from Bethesda Softworks. The chart details plans about the platforms the games will be released on and other specifics. Based on the document, Microsoft doesn't intend to release any future Bethesda title on the PlayStation.

The chart includes comments made by Phil Spencer regarding the exclusivity of each title. "In order to be on Xbox, I want us to be able to bring the full complete package of what we have. And that would be true when I think about Elder Scrolls VI," Spencer said of the next Elder Scrolls title.

The Elder Scrolls VI will skip PS5 and isn’t coming until at least 2026, according to documents from Microsoft in the FTC v. Microsoft case. Details: https://t.co/R6Y8qpwydt pic.twitter.com/5MYk0Sgca1

— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) September 18, 2023

Interestingly, the chart also reveals the expected release date of Elder Scrolls 6. The document indicates that Microsoft expects to release the title in "2026 or later." Spencer said during the trial that the company has not made a final decision on the exclusivity of the next Elder Scrolls title but it seems that it is leaning strongly towards skipping PlayStation altogether.

Elder Scrolls 6 will be a huge addition to Xbox Game Pass once it launches. Starfield, Bethesda's newest IP, was released on Game Pass two weeks ago and has been a massive hit. Having Elder Scrolls 6 exclusive to Xbox and PC will also help sell units of the current-gen Xbox Series X/S, which will be heading towards the end of its life cycle by that time.

However, given that Elder Scrolls has been a multiplatform game for the longest time, Microsoft may be losing out on potential revenue by opting for exclusivity. Skyrim had a huge following on PlayStation and has been out on Nintendo Switch for a while now. Having the title released on Xbox Game Pass while charging gamers $70 on PlayStation and Switch could be an alternative path.

Todd Howard recently talked about Elder Scrolls 6 being his final title in the series. The game director also shared plans to make the upcoming game the "ultimate fantasy simulator." Howard also talked about exclusivity being good for games as developers only need to focus on a single platform.

It will be a while before Elder Scrolls 6 comes out, and things may change along the way. If Starfield does not significantly increase Game Pass subscriptions and console sales in the long run, Microsoft may pivot on the exclusivity plans and have the game released on all platforms. We will keep an eye out for official statements from Microsoft on the exclusivity of Elder Scrolls 6.