Bethesda has been reluctant to hand The Elder Scrolls to outside developers for standalone spinoffs, according to former Skyrim co lead and longtime franchise loremaster Kurt Kuhlmann.
Kuhlmann said Bethesda, and Todd Howard in particular, has historically been very protective of the fantasy RPG series. He suggested that the reaction to Fallout: New Vegas helped shape that caution, especially because the Obsidian developed game created years of debate over whether another studio could make a better Fallout title than Bethesda itself.
That kind of comparison is something Bethesda apparently wanted to avoid with The Elder Scrolls.
| Topic | Kuhlmann's comments |
|---|---|
| Elder Scrolls spinoffs | Bethesda has been very protective of the series |
| New Vegas influence | Comparisons with Fallout 3 may have discouraged similar arrangements |
| Todd Howard | Described as protective of The Elder Scrolls |
| The Elder Scrolls Online | Helped reduce pressure for another mainline release |
| Last mainline game | The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim in 2011 |
| Current project | The Elder Scrolls 6 |
| Release date | Not announced |
Fallout New Vegas changed the conversation
Kuhlmann pointed to the long running discussion around Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas as an example of the risk Bethesda wanted to avoid.
New Vegas was developed by Obsidian Entertainment and became one of the most highly regarded games in the series.
That success also created a persistent argument among some fans that Obsidian should be given more control over Fallout.
Kuhlmann said this created a perception around which studio was better suited to making Fallout games.
For Bethesda, allowing another developer to create a similarly prominent Elder Scrolls spinoff could potentially create the same kind of comparison.
That appears to have made the company more cautious about licensing the series out in that way.
Todd Howard has remained protective of the franchise
Kuhlmann said Todd Howard was particularly protective of The Elder Scrolls during his time at Bethesda.
The Elder Scrolls Online remains the major exception.
Rather than a traditional single player spinoff developed in the style of Skyrim or Oblivion, ESO operates as an ongoing MMORPG with a very different structure.
Kuhlmann believes the success and constant stream of new content from ESO helped reduce pressure on Bethesda to produce another Elder Scrolls game quickly.
For some players, he noted, ESO is now their primary experience with the franchise.
That has allowed the series to remain active even during the long gap between mainline entries.
Skyrim has now been the latest mainline game for 15 years
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim originally launched in 2011 and remains the most recent mainline entry.
It has since been re released across multiple platforms and editions.
During that period, Bethesda has focused on other major projects including Fallout 4, Fallout 76, The Elder Scrolls Online, and Starfield.
That long gap has made The Elder Scrolls 6 one of Bethesda's most anticipated upcoming games.
The company has confirmed that the project is in development, but there is still no official release date.
The Elder Scrolls 6 remains far away
Recent comments from Xbox leadership have added to interest around the game.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma previously said she had played an early build and described the game's scale and story in very positive terms.
She also appeared to tease the possibility of an official subtitle, which led to new speculation among fans.
Some players have looked for clues in Starfield, including theories that the word Sentinel could be connected to the eventual title.
None of those theories have been confirmed.
Reports have also suggested that The Elder Scrolls 6 may still be at least two years away.
Until Bethesda provides more information, the game's final title, setting, release window, and platform details remain uncertain.
A New Vegas style Elder Scrolls game still looks unlikely
Kuhlmann's comments help explain why Bethesda has never pursued an Elder Scrolls equivalent to Fallout: New Vegas.
The issue appears to be less about whether another studio could make a good game and more about how protective Bethesda has been of the series and its identity.
The Elder Scrolls Online has shown that Bethesda is willing to expand the franchise beyond its traditional single player format, but a major standalone RPG developed by an outside studio would be a different decision.
Based on Kuhlmann's account, Bethesda has historically preferred to keep that part of The Elder Scrolls closely controlled while focusing on its own mainline releases.
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