Todd Howard's Protection Stifled Elder Scrolls Spinoffs

Former Bethesda developer Kurt Kuhlmann revealed that Todd Howard’s strong protective stance on the Elder Scrolls intellectual property (IP) is the primary reason the franchise hasn’t received a spin-off like Fallout: New Vegas.

The ‘New Vegas’ Comparison

Kuhlmann, who spent 20 years at Microsoft’s Bethesda studio before departing in 2023, explained that the desire to compare New Vegas with other Fallouttitles – specifically, a push for Obsidian to take over the entire series – prompted Howard to be cautious. “There are the Obsidian, the New Vegas people, that think obviously New Vegas is way better, Obsidian is way better at making those games, and why don’t they just get Fallout altogether?” Kuhlmann stated.

Elder Scrolls Online as a Diversion

He believes ZeniMax Online Studios’ The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) successfully shifted the focus. “There are a lot of people for whom The Elder Scrolls is now ESO,” Kuhlmann noted. “That’s their experience with it. That’s what they love, and that’s where they got their Elder Scrolls gaming experience.”

No Formal Discussions Confirmed

Kuhlmann declined to confirm if Bethesda ever formally considered a The Elder Scrolls spin-off, adding that the recent company changes necessitate fans to anticipate The Elder Scrolls VI, currently slated for a 2026 release, after the success of ESO. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma recently praised the scale of the upcoming game.