The Elder Scrolls series has never seen a Fallout: New Vegas-style spinoff due to Bethesda's leadership, specifically Todd Howard's, being "very protective" of the franchise, according to former Bethesda developer Kurt Kuhlmann.
Kuhlmann, who spent two decades at the studio before departing in 2023, shared this insight during a recent interview. He noted that Fallout's success with Obsidian Entertainment on New Vegas created a perception that third-party developers could create superior entries in the series, a situation he believes Howard sought to avoid for The Elder Scrolls.
"Todd, from my time there, he is very protective of it," Kuhlmann stated, indicating a preference for maintaining tight control over the Elder Scrolls IP. He also suggested that The Elder Scrolls Online, developed by ZeniMax Online Studios, served as a way for Bethesda to engage with the franchise through a different format while maintaining its core identity.
"There are a lot of people for whom The Elder Scrolls is now ESO," Kuhlmann explained. "That's their experience with it. That's what they love, and that's where they got their Elder Scrolls gaming experience, and that's probably what they want more of."
While Kuhlmann did not confirm if formal discussions for an Elder Scrolls spinoff ever occurred, he implied that the franchise's direction has largely been steered internally. As Bethesda continues development on The Elder Scrolls 6, which was announced in 2018 and remains years away, players are primarily engaging with the series through The Elder Scrolls Online.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma recently shared positive impressions after viewing a demo for The Elder Scrolls 6, describing its scale and grandeur as incredible. This follows information that the game is still in its early stages, with a projected release likely some years off.