Former Skyrim Co-Lead Reveals The Elder Scrolls 6 Plot He Wanted to Build
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Former Skyrim co-lead Kurt Kuhlmann revealed that he was once promised the helm of The Elder Scrolls 6 and planned a Star Wars-inspired story focusing on the Aldmeri Dominion, before studio changes led to his departure from Bethesda in 2023.
As reported by PC Gamer and originally detailed by Rock Paper Shotgun, long-time Bethesda developer and Skyrim co-lead designer Kurt Kuhlmann has shared the vision he once had for The Elder Scrolls 6. According to Kuhlmann, Todd Howard verbally promised him the lead role on the project shortly after Skyrim launched. However, as Bethesda shifted focus through Fallout 4, Fallout 76, and Starfield, those internal plans changed, and Kuhlmann ultimately left the studio in 2023. Had he taken the helm, Kuhlmann envisioned a narrative heavily inspired by The Empire Strikes Back, where the elven supremacist Aldmeri Dominion pushes its control across Tamriel while the player takes on a more grounded, low-key role tasked with preserving hope for the future rather than playing an all-powerful chosen one.
Kuhlmann himself remains skeptical about whether Bethesda would have actually approved his ending, noting that a cliffhanger or downbeat resolution might not sit well with players waiting over a decade for a sequel. Modern RPG audiences expect grand, definitive conclusions, especially given the glacial pace of AAA development cycles where a single mainline entry defines a franchise for an entire console generation. Still, leaning into a darker, Empire-style middle chapter offers an intriguing contrast to the traditional power fantasy typical of open-world fantasy epics.
For players deeply invested in the lore, Kuhlmann's pitch aligns closely with the geopolitical tension left unresolved at the end of Skyrim, particularly regarding the looming threat of the Thalmor. While we will likely never see this specific version of Tamriel come to life, hearing from key creative voices about the roads not taken gives us a fascinating look behind the curtain of AAA game development. As we wait for any concrete news on The Elder Scrolls 6, stories like this highlight how much creative vision shapes the worlds we spend hundreds of hours exploring.
Tags: The Elder Scrolls 6, Bethesda, Skyrim, PC Gamer, RPG
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun