Xbox Is Working on a Mystery Franchise Sequel That May Take a Decade to Develop [IGN]

Triple-A video games are taking longer and longer to make these days, and Microsoft is apparently working on a video game sequel that may take upwards of ten years to develop.

The information comes from an amended complaint in a lawsuit against Microsoft’s proposed deal to acquire Activision Blizzard. First spotted by Axios’ Stephen Totilo, the document references an unannounced Microsoft game in an established franchise.

A redacted excerpt references a mystery franchise sequel.

“Halo Infinite, a recent title from Microsoft’s first-party Halo franchise, was in production [REDACTED], and cost almost [REDACTED] million to develop and bring to market,” the statement reads. “Other Triple-A games take even longer to develop. For instance, according to one Microsoft executive, [REDACTED], a forthcoming title from the [REDACTED] franchise, may take a decade to develop.”

The lawyers involved in this case have access to private, internal Microsoft information. The sensitive details are then redacted when the documents are released to the public.

It seems very possible that this unknown title could simply be Elder Scrolls VI. The long-awaited Skyrim followup was still in the design phase as of 2021, as Todd Howard and Bethesda Game Studios focus on the upcoming Starfield. Starfield is nearing a decade in development, as Howard has said Bethesda began production on the game in 2015. So, a Microsoft executive projecting a decade-long development cycle for the next Elder Scrolls is certainly plausible.

This mystery franchise sequel could also be something entirely unannounced. With notable exceptions like Bethesda Game Studios, it’s rare to hear about a game five-plus years away. So it’s possible we won’t know what this project is for quite some time.

Either way, we’re less than two months out from Microsoft’s Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct on June 11, where the company is set to share more of its future plans.

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over seven years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.