Why The Elder Scrolls Never Got a New Vegas Style Spinoff, According to a Former Developer
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Former Bethesda developer Kurt Kuhlmann explains that Todd Howard's protectiveness over the Elder Scrolls IP is the main reason the franchise never received an external spinoff like Fallout: New Vegas.
For years, fans have wondered why The Elder Scrolls never received a standalone spinoff akin to Fallout: New Vegas. According to former Bethesda developer and long-time loremaster Kurt Kuhlmann, the answer comes down to executive control. In a recent appearance on the FRVR podcast reported by Game Rant, Kuhlmann explained that Bethesda Executive Producer Todd Howard is fiercely protective of the Elder Scrolls intellectual property and wanted to avoid creating community divisions regarding who should helm the franchise.
Kuhlmann pointed out that Fallout: New Vegas fostered a fractured fan base, with many arguing that external studio Obsidian Entertainment handled the world better than internal teams. Howard reportedly had little interest in replicating that dynamic for Tamriel. Furthermore, Bethesda felt that The Elder Scrolls Online successfully filled the content gap between mainline single player releases with its steady stream of expansions.
Even with corporate shakeups placing Obsidian under the same Xbox corporate umbrella, an external Elder Scrolls project remains off the table. Obsidian is currently occupied with a new Fallout title, while Bethesda Game Studios remains deeply focused on the long awaited development of The Elder Scrolls 6. Kuhlmann also touched on the commercial reality of modern AAA development during the interview, noting that 2023's Starfield would likely need a massive shift in fortunes to ever justify a direct sequel following his departure from the studio.
Tags: The Elder Scrolls, Bethesda, Fallout, RPG, Gaming News
Original article: Game Rant