A former Skyrim lead has disclosed that Bethesda Game Studios has consistently avoided entrusting the development of a The Elder Scrolls spin-off to an outside studio, despite long gaps between main series installments.
Following the launch of Skyrim in 2011, anticipation for The Elder Scrolls 6 has only grown, but Bethesda has refrained from using the same strategy it did with the Fallout series. Unlike Fallout, The Elder Scrolls has never had a major side project by another developer set in its universe.
No Spin-Off in the Style of New Vegas
During the FRVR podcast, Kurt Kuhlmann, one of the key figures behind Skyrim’s gameplay and lore and its former chief loremaster, revealed that upper management at Bethesda has always maintained strict oversight over the Elder Scrolls IP.
In contrast, Bethesda permitted Obsidian Entertainment to take the lead on Fallout: New Vegas back in 2010, resulting in a title that quickly became a fan favorite and regularly sparked conversations comparing Obsidian’s and Bethesda’s visions for Fallout. Kuhlmann pointed out that passionate debate over which studio handled Fallout best gave rise to demands for Obsidian’s further involvement, creating a division within the fanbase.
Kuhlmann stated that this experience led Bethesda to avoid pursuing a similar arrangement with The Elder Scrolls. He mentioned that Todd Howard, the studio director, was wary of repeating that environment, and preferred to keep Elder Scrolls under Bethesda’s full creative control, preventing any potential for controversy or distraction among fans.
Elder Scrolls Online’s Place in the Franchise
The ongoing updates to The Elder Scrolls Online have, according to Kuhlmann, alleviated some of the calls for a new single-player spin-off during the protracted development of the next mainline game. He remarked that, for many players, their primary connection to the franchise is now through the MMORPG, which ensures the Elder Scrolls universe remains active in public awareness.
Studio Changes and Future Prospects
After Kuhlmann departed Bethesda in 2023, the company entered a period of significant change. Xbox, Bethesda’s parent, has begun restructuring and doubling down on its flagship series, among them Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. This shift has brought Obsidian under the same corporate banner, and that studio is now working on another Fallout game.
Even with Bethesda and Obsidian now operating within the same parent company, it remains unclear if The Elder Scrolls will ever receive an external spin-off. Recently, Jill Braff, president of Bethesda, assured teams that Obsidian’s individual creative culture would be retained as part of the reshaped organization.
Though there has been resistance from Bethesda leadership toward outsourcing Elder Scrolls to another studio for a side project like Fallout: New Vegas, there is a possibility this stance could shift in the future, especially following the eventual launch of The Elder Scrolls 6.