Bethesda Game Studios co-lead Kurt Kuhlmann revealed that the team originally planned to release The Elder Scrolls 6 immediately after Fallout 4. This timeline shifted when the studio pivoted to develop Fallout 76, which diverted staff away from the main franchise. The delay allowed the team to focus on other projects, including a new space role-playing game. Players waiting for the next major entry in the fantasy series have seen their expectations adjusted by these internal priorities.
Former co-lead Kurt Kuhlmann explains how Fallout 76 and Starfield reshaped the studio roadmap
Kuhlmann explained that Todd Howard approved Starfield as a new intellectual property before The Elder Scrolls 6 could proceed. Howard described the space RPG as an ambitious project intended to be the greatest of its kind. This decision placed Starfield ahead of the long-awaited fantasy sequel in the development queue. The studio chose to pursue this new direction rather than continuing the established fantasy timeline.
The Elder Scrolls 6 was first announced in 2018 and remains in active development as of late 2024. Kuhlmann noted that he would have preferred to work on the fantasy sequel instead of the space RPG. He believes the majority of the Bethesda Game Studios team shares this sentiment. Kuhlmann indicated that most of the studio likely preferred working on The Elder Scrolls 6 over Starfield.
The development history shows how internal priorities and new intellectual property approvals can reshape a studio's roadmap. The Elder Scrolls 6 continues to move forward despite these earlier delays. Fans of the series await further updates as the game remains in production. The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced in 2018 and remains in development as of late 2024.
Source: DEXERTO
