Skyrim Loremaster Says Bethesda Too Protective to Let Outsiders Make Mainline-Style Elder Scrolls

Overview

• Kurt Kuhlmann, a former Skyrim lead developer, told the FRVR podcast that Bethesda's leadership has been protective of The Elder Scrolls and resisted letting outside teams make a mainline-style entry.
• Kuhlmann said director Todd Howard did not want to repeat the situation that followed Obsidian's Fallout: New Vegas, which he described as creating persistent comparisons between studios.
• Kuhlmann argued that The Elder Scrolls Online reduced pressure for a new single-player mainline game by giving many players an ongoing Elder Scrolls experience.
• Corporate moves under Xbox have placed Obsidian inside Bethesda's umbrella and Obsidian is reported to be working on a new Fallout project while Bethesda president Jill Braff has assured staff that Obsidian's creative identity will be preserved.
• The reporting makes clear there is currently no confirmed outside, New Vegas-style Elder Scrolls spin-off and that The Elder Scrolls 6 remains in development at Bethesda with future collaborations possible but unconfirmed.