Despite the enormous success of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Bethesda’s long silence on its sequel has often puzzled fans. Now, new insight from a former senior developer sheds light on why The Elder Scrolls VI took so long to enter full development—and how differently it might have turned out.
In an interview with PC Gamer, former Bethesda loremaster Kurt Kuhlmann explained that work on The Elder Scrolls 6 was originally expected to begin shortly after Fallout 4. Instead, Bethesda pivoted to other projects, dramatically extending the wait.
“After Fallout 4, we didn’t go to TES6,” Kuhlmann said. “We made Fallout 76, and then after that we still didn’t make TES6—we made Starfield. That became an extremely long project compared to the others. From my point of view, I waited about 11 years to finally be in a position to lead TES6.”
A Planned Trilogy That Never Was
Kuhlmann also revealed that he once envisioned The Elder Scrolls V, VI, and VII as a more closely connected trilogy—an unusual approach for a franchise traditionally built as an anthology. Earlier entries were loosely linked through the actions of Emperor Uriel Septim VII, but Kuhlmann wanted to take narrative continuity further.
His idea positioned Skyrim as the opening act in a larger conflict with the Thalmor, the elven-led Aldmeri Dominion introduced in Skyrim. Under this plan, The Elder Scrolls 6 would have served as a darker middle chapter, comparable to The Empire Strikes Back, with the Thalmor emerging victorious and Tamriel falling further under their control.
“I imagined TES6 as the point where the Aldmeri Dominion had effectively won,” Kuhlmann said, with the story building toward a final reckoning in TES7.
However, he ultimately concluded that such a structure was unrealistic given Bethesda’s development timelines. With gaps of a decade or more between major releases, ending a game on a bleak cliffhanger was, in his view, untenable.
“That’s not a good way to end a game and say, ‘We’ll see you again in 10 or 15 years,’” he said.
Moving Away From the “Chosen One”
Kuhlmann also hoped to move away from Bethesda’s familiar “chosen one” narrative trope. While players would still play a pivotal role, he imagined a story where the hero’s impact was more subtle—perhaps secretly safeguarding an heir or preserving hope for the future, rather than delivering an outright victory.
Ultimately, those ideas never materialised. Development delays, shifting priorities, and the practical realities of long production cycles pushed Bethesda away from a tightly linked trilogy and toward a more self-contained approach for The Elder Scrolls 6.
What Remains Likely
While Kuhlmann’s original plan is no longer in play, the Thalmor remain a major unresolved force in the series’ lore. Many fans expect them to play a significant role in The Elder Scrolls 6, particularly if the game is set in Hammerfell, a region known for its resistance against Aldmeri rule.
What seems clear is that The Elder Scrolls 6 will not function as the middle chapter of a grand trilogy. Instead, Bethesda appears poised to deliver a standalone entry—one shaped as much by time and circumstance as by creative ambition.
