The Elder Scrolls never got a Fallout: New Vegas-like spinoff because Todd Howard is “very protective” of the IP, according to former Bethesda developer Kurt Kuhlmann.
Kuhlmann, who served as lead designer and senior designer at the Microsoft studio for 20 years before leaving in 2023, shared details on his experience working on the legendary fantasy RPG franchise during an interview with FRVR. Fans have spent decades wondering why The Elder Scrolls never got the same spinoff treatment as Fallout has, but he said there’s a pretty specific reason why that’s the case.
“The whole New Vegas thing did create this, at least the perception of this, ‘Who makes a better Fallout game? Oh, they should just give it to Obsidian’,” Kuhlmann said. “There are the Obsidian, the New Vegas people, that think obviously New Vegas is way better, Obsidian is way better at making those games, and why don’t they just get Fallout altogether?”
Kuhlmann isn’t sure “that Todd wanted to create that situation again for The Elder Scrolls.” He added, “Todd, from my time there, he is very protective of it.”
The ex-Bethesda developer continued, saying he thinks ZeniMax Online Studios’ The Elder Scrolls Online “did take the heat off of that” idea. The multiplayer offshoot, which launched in 2014, is quite different from the franchise’s typical single-player outings, but it’s still managed to carve out its own place in its history.
“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.
“I do think that ESO was the, ‘We’re doing something with Elder Scrolls. There is a product for people that want it.'”
Kuhlmann stopped short of confirming whether Bethesda ever had formal discussions about a The Elder Scrolls spinoff. So, as the company undergoes massive changes behind the scenes, fans will have to settle for The Elder Scrolls Online while they wait for a more traditional installment with The Elder Scrolls 6.
The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced in 2018, but in 2026, it still seems to be years away. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma recently posted about seeing a demo for the new game, saying that “the scale and grandeur are incredible.” For more, you can read about what Kuhlmann had to say regarding the potential for Starfield 2.
Michael Cripe
Freelance Writer
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).