The development path of The Elder Scrolls 6 has been a subject of much speculation, and former Bethesda Game Studios designer Kurt Kuhlmann has offered his perspective on why the highly anticipated title was not the studio's immediate next project after Fallout 4. Kuhlmann, who spent over two decades at Bethesda before departing in 2023, claims that creative director Todd Howard pushed for Starfield to be the studio's next major undertaking, rather than continuing the Elder Scrolls saga.
Kuhlmann detailed that after the release of Skyrim in 2011 and Fallout 4, the expectation among many at the studio was that The Elder Scrolls 6 would be the next project. However, he stated that this was not the case, with Fallout 76 becoming the focus, followed by Starfield. Kuhlmann characterized Starfield as more of a passion project for Todd Howard himself, rather than a collective desire from the development team.
"It wasn’t ever that we were about to suddenly work on TES 6, even though that’s what I think most people wanted," Kuhlmann told FRVR, as reported by PC Gamer. He further elaborated on the push for Starfield, stating, "It was very much, ‘Guess what, team? We’re making this space game.’"
Kuhlmann's tenure at Bethesda concluded with an acrimonious split after he was reportedly denied the lead designer position for The Elder Scrolls 6. He also cited issues during Starfield's development and an increasing bureaucracy within Bethesda as contributing factors to his concerns about the studio's direction. He personally expressed a preference for working on The Elder Scrolls 6 over Fallout 76 and Starfield, believing this sentiment was shared by the majority of the studio.
Despite these past detours, The Elder Scrolls 6 is now positioned as Bethesda's next major release. Todd Howard has indicated that it is the studio's top priority. While no release window has been provided, it is anticipated to launch before the end of the decade.