History Franchise / TheElderScrolls

According to former series developer Ted Peterson, the name ''The Elder Scrolls'' was chosen as the surtitle to ''Arena'' simply because "it sounded cool", and it wasn't determined until later in development what an "Elder Scroll" actually was in-universe. ("[[TomeOfEldritchLore Fragments of Creation]]" which simultaneously record past, present, and future events but tend to have nasty side-effects on mortal readers including blindness and insanity.)

* ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'' (2006): Set four years after the events of ''Morrowind'', Emperor Uriel Septim VII is assassinated by the [[ApocalypseCult Mythic Dawn]], but not before seemingly accidentally freeing yet another convict from the Imperial City Prison (the PC). The PC then joins the Blades in their search for the last remaining heir to the Empire, Martin Septim, against the backdrop of [[DuringTheWar an ongoing invasion]] from [[TheLegionsofHell Oblivion]] by the Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon, whom the Mythic Dawn worships. ''Oblivion'' was the first big-name RPG for the 7th generation of consoles, and made full use of the Xbox 360's and Playstation 3's technical capabilities. A [[VideoGameDemake Demake]] of ''Oblivion'' was released for mobile phones called ''The Elder Scrolls Travels: Oblivion''. A PSP version was also planned and demonstrated, but was cancelled.[[/index]]

* ''The Elder Scrolls Travels'' (2003-2004): A series of small, mobile phone games developed for Java-enabled devices, including the UsefulNotes/NGage. These include ''Dawnstar'' (2003), ''Stormhold'' (2004), ''Shadowkey'' (2004), and ''Oblivion'' (2006). The canonicity of each is [[CanonDiscontinuity unclear at best]].

* ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'' (2011): Set [[DistantSequel 200 years]] after the events of ''Oblivion'', the Tamriellic Empire is [[VestigialEmpire in bad shape]], being slowly picked apart by its reformed ancient rival, the [[AntiHumanAlliance Aldmeri Dominion]] led by the fascistic [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Thalmor]], through means of subterfuge, imposing treaty terms, and outright war. Said imposing treaty terms have caused significant strife in the few remaining provinces of the Empire, with Skyrim itself, homeland of the [[HornyVikings Nords]], erupting into full blown CivilWar. The PC is unintentionally captured by the forces of the Empire along with a contingent of the Stormcloak rebels, including their [[RebelLeader leader]], Ulfric Stormcloak. Moments away from being executed, the PC and the Stormcloaks are saved when Alduin, the "[[BeastOfTheApocalypse World-Eater]]", swoops in and destroys the village. Now with dragons appearing all over Skyrim, the PC discovers that they're the Dovahkiin (Dragonborn) and the only one able to stop Alduin from ushering TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt. A remastered "Special Edition" was released in 2016 for PC, UsefulNotes/XboxONE, and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4. The Special Edition updates ''Skyrim''[='s=] graphics and engine to that of its Bethesda sister property, ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', and also includes modding capabilities on console for the first time in the ''ES'' series. In 2017, ''Skyrim'' was also released for UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch and [=PlayStation=] VR. Another re-release titled "Anniversary Edition" was announced in 2021 for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 and UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS.[[/index]]

* ''The Elder Scrolls VI'' (TBA): The next main installment in the franchise was announced during 2018's UsefulNotes/ElectronicEntertainmentExpo. No details were revealed other than a brief glimpse of what appears to be the game's setting. The game spent the next five years in preproduction while Bethesda worked on ''VideoGame/{{Starfield}}''. Ahead of the ''Starfield'' release in 2023, Bethesda Softworks vice president Pete Hines announced that the game had officially entered development but is still "years out" from release. Like ''Starfield'', the game is expected to be released on PC and, with Microsoft's purchase of Zenimax in 2020, a console exclusive to UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS.