Former Skyrim lead explains why Elder Scrolls never got a New Vegas-style spin-off

Former Bethesda designer Kurt Kuhlmann believes Todd Howard's protective approach to The Elder Scrolls series may explain why it never received a spin-off similar to Fallout: New Vegas. He suggested that Bethesda wanted to avoid the comparisons that followed Obsidian Entertainment's work on Fallout.

Speaking on the FRVR Podcast, Kuhlmann discussed why Bethesda kept its main single-player Elder Scrolls RPGs within its own development teams. However, he did not confirm whether Bethesda had formally considered outsourcing another major entry.

Kuhlmann, who served as co-lead designer on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, explained that Fallout: New Vegas created an unexpected debate about which studio handled Fallout better.

Obsidian Entertainment developed Fallout: New Vegas, which launched in 2010. Its reception led some players to argue that Obsidian should take greater responsibility for the franchise instead of Bethesda.

Kuhlmann suggested that Howard may have wanted to avoid similar comparisons involving The Elder Scrolls. He also described Howard as particularly protective of the fantasy RPG franchise during his time at Bethesda.

"I don't know that Todd wanted to create that situation again for The Elder Scrolls," Kuhlmann said. The distinction between the franchises is important. Bethesda acquired Fallout from Interplay, while The Elder Scrolls originated within Bethesda itself.

Kuhlmann believes The Elder Scrolls Online also reduced pressure on Bethesda to release another standalone adventure while its main development team worked on other projects. Developed by ZeniMax Online Studios, the MMORPG launched in 2014 and has continued receiving new content. It gives players another way to explore Tamriel without requiring Bethesda's main team to develop additional single-player releases.

Kuhlmann acknowledged that many players prefer traditional Elder Scrolls RPGs such as Skyrim. However, The Elder Scrolls Online has maintained an active presence for the franchise between major releases.

The Elder Scrolls franchise has received several smaller projects outside its numbered installments. These include The Elder Scrolls: Blades, The Elder Scrolls: Legends and the earlier The Elder Scrolls Travels games.

However, none followed the same approach as Fallout: New Vegas, which offered a full-scale single-player RPG developed by another studio. Kuhlmann's comments concern that particular type of project rather than suggesting Bethesda has never worked with outside developers. His explanation also remains a personal interpretation, as Howard has not publicly confirmed that concerns about comparisons prevented such a spin-off.

Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls VI during E3 2018, but the game still has no confirmed release date. The studio shifted more attention toward the project following Starfield's release in September 2023.

Bethesda has not announced another externally developed single-player Elder Scrolls spin-off. Kuhlmann's comments offer a possible explanation for that absence, although they do not establish whether the studio will consider such a project in the future.