At Bethesda, the choice of world for The Elder Scrolls VI appeared so self-evident that the decision may have taken shape much earlier than many expected. Kurt Kuhlmann, co-lead designer of Skyrim, recalled that the team had already aligned on the fantasy RPG’s setting while Fallout 4 was still being developed. Rather than sparking debate, the topic quickly led to a shared understanding about where the next installment should take place.

It is now 2026, meaning nearly eight years have passed since Bethesda’s short announcement confirming the existence of The Elder Scrolls VI. Studio director Todd Howard later admitted that the reveal happened prematurely, and at that stage the project was still extremely far from release. In other words, the team had not yet fully outlined many of the mechanics and features that would define their next major fantasy RPG. However, one element had already been settled ahead of time: the game’s setting.

This was explained by Kurt Kuhlmann, co-lead designer of Skyrim and a Bethesda employee until 2023, in an interview with PC Gamer. He noted that during the early discussions, around the period when Fallout 4 was in development, a shared position emerged among the small group involved. There was an initial concept, but he described it more as a natural agreement than a formal decision process. When the question of where the next game should be set came up, everyone participating leaned in the same direction, with no real dispute, as if the answer was simply obvious.

Kuhlmann did not reveal further details about which region Bethesda might have chosen for The Elder Scrolls VI, and it is even possible that the studio has revised its plans since he left in 2023. He himself acknowledges that he has not been involved in story-related work on The Elder Scrolls since serving as a co-designer on Skyrim.

That said, Kuhlmann has not stopped developing ideas. Although he no longer works at Bethesda, he says he once had a narrative concept for The Elder Scrolls VI that followed a structure similar to “The Empire Strikes Back,” ending on a moment of maximum tension. Such a conclusion could have heightened anticipation for a future The Elder Scrolls VII. However, he admitted that this approach would not have fit well with Bethesda’s development pace, as it is not ideal to finish a game by telling players to wait another ten or fifteen years for the continuation.

The Elder Scrolls VI Development Is Moving Forward

Officially, Bethesda has remained quiet about The Elder Scrolls VI and has shared virtually no concrete information about the project. The most recent mention dates back to December 2025, when Todd Howard briefly confirmed that development was progressing at a steady pace. Even so, players will need to remain patient, as the game’s release is not expected in the near future.

Source: 3djuegos