Skyrim loremaster says The Elder Scrolls never got a Fallout: New Vegas-style game because Bethesda is “very protective” over its golden goose
eurogamer.net Sep 25, 2026

Skyrim loremaster says The Elder Scrolls never got a Fallout: New Vegas-style game because Bethesda is “very protective” over its golden goose

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Kurt Kuhlmann, former lead developer and loremaster on Skyrim, told the FRVR podcast that Bethesda has never entertained an external studio creating a main‑line‑style Elder Scrolls spin‑off, unlike the partnership with Obsidian that produced Fallout: New Vegas. He said director Todd Howard is “very protective” of the franchise, fearing a comparable debate over which studio delivers a superior Elder Scrolls game. Kuhlmann noted that The Elder Scrolls Online has kept fans engaged during the long wait for The Elder Scrolls VI, shifting player expectations toward the live‑service experience. He added that he left Bethesda in 2023, and that recent corporate changes—Xbox’s focus on flagship titles and Obsidian’s integration under Bethesda—could eventually open the door for a spin‑off after VI’s release and renewed fan interest in 2025.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · A Bethesda‑approved Elder Scrolls spin‑off would give the franchise a fresh single‑player experience while the studio concentrates on VI, keeping the community engaged during the multi‑year gap.