Former Bethesda Designer Envisioned The Elder Scrolls 6 as “The Empire Strikes Back”
Kurt Kuhlmann, a veteran designer with over 20 years at Bethesda, shared his vision for *The Elder Scrolls 6*. Kuhlmann, who co-led the development of *Skyrim*, revealed that he envisioned the game resembling *The Empire Strikes Back*. He proposed a narrative where the Thalmor, an antagonistic faction, temporarily gains the upper hand, creating a cliffhanger for the next installment, *The Elder Scrolls 7*.
The Vision for *The Elder Scrolls 6*
Kuhlmann’s concept included a scenario where players could “secretly save the day” by rescuing a royal heir. However, the overall tone would depict the Thalmor’s continued march toward dominance. He believed this approach would break away from the typical “chosen one” narrative prevalent in the *Elder Scrolls* series.
Development Challenges and Changes
During his tenure, Kuhlmann was reportedly offered the lead designer role for *Elder Scrolls 6* by Todd Howard after *Skyrim* concluded. Bethesda initially planned to develop *Fallout 4* and then return to the *Elder Scrolls* franchise. However, the focus shifted to *Fallout 76* and later *Starfield*, delaying the next installment for over a decade.
- Years in Development: The last *Elder Scrolls* game released before the upcoming title was *Skyrim* in 2011.
- Current Focus: Bethesda’s resources shifted to *Starfield*, which absorbed significant development time.
Kuhlmann expressed his readiness to lead the project, citing his successful track record with *Skyrim*. However, he ultimately did not become the lead designer for *Elder Scrolls 6*. Instead, he was offered another significant role, although it did not align with his aspirations.
Kuhlmann’s Departure from Bethesda
In 2023, Kuhlmann left Bethesda after realizing his vision for *Elder Scrolls 6* and the studio’s direction no longer aligned. He noted that leading *Elder Scrolls 6* is markedly different compared to leading *Skyrim* a decade ago.
As development progresses on *The Elder Scrolls 6*, Bethesda aims to create a rich narrative experience. Despite initial excitement during its announcement at E3 2018, the game’s release is anticipated to be years away, with Todd Howard indicating substantial pre-production work has recently been completed.
Fans are eagerly waiting for the next chapter in the *Elder Scrolls* saga, with hopes it delivers on the narrative promise that has been hinted at over the years.
