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Elder Scrolls Veteran Says Todd Howard’s Broken Promise Led to 2023 Bethesda Exit

He says the series’ long timelines make a cliffhanger for The Elder Scrolls 6 unrealistic.

Overview

  • Kurt Kuhlmann told PC Gamer he was verbally promised the lead design role on The Elder Scrolls 6 after Fallout 4, a role he says never materialized.
  • He says he was later offered an “important role” that did not match his expectations, leading him to leave Bethesda in 2023.
  • Kuhlmann described frequent communication breakdowns during Starfield’s development across multiple studios, which he says limited his ability to contribute.
  • He outlined a darker, “Empire Strikes Back” concept for TES6 with the Thalmor prevailing, a direction he now calls completely unfeasible given the years between entries.
  • Bethesda has not publicly confirmed his account, and recent reporting notes TES6 is in active development without a release window.