Former Skyrim co-lead says Bethesda making Starfield instead of TES6 came out of nowhere: 'It was very much: Guess what, team? We're making this space game'

The anticipation surrounding The Elder Scrolls 6 has been ongoing for eight years after its initial announcement at E3 2018. However, Bethesda has been focusing on developing Starfield, an ambitious space RPG, which has faced criticism for its lackluster setting, procedurally-generated planets, and outdated visuals. Critics have also panned Starfield on Steam, noting its poor performance compared to other games like Baldur's Gate 3.

Veteran Bethesda employee Kurt Kuhlmann, who left the company in 2023, revealed that most developers at Bethesda were unprepared for the shift to Starfield instead of The Elder Scrolls 6. Kuhlmann joined Bethesda in 1996 and co-led the design of Skyrim before his departure. He explained that the team expected The Elder Scrolls 6 to follow Fallout 4, but Fallout 76 diverted the studio's focus.

Kuhlmann recalled Todd Howard surprising the team by announcing Starfield as the next project, stating that it was a new IP, an ambitious space RPG. Kuhlmann, who left due to a "tough conversation" about not leading The Elder Scrolls 6, believes that Todd Howard might have had the opportunity to prioritize The Elder Scrolls 6 after the success of Fallout 4, but it was a hard sell.