Why Bethesda Made Starfield Before The Elder Scrolls VI

Fans waiting for news on The Elder Scrolls VI might be surprised to learn that the game almost came out much sooner. Former Bethesda developer and Skyrim co lead Kurt Kuhlmann recently shared new details about the studio's internal plans following the release of Fallout 4. Speaking in an interview with FRVR, Kuhlmann explained that the team had an established pattern of alternating between the Fallout and The Elder Scrolls series.

Because of this long running tradition, most developers at the studio fully expected The Elder Scrolls VI to be their next major project. However, game director Todd Howard chose to take the studio in a completely different direction by creating Starfield instead. This creative pivot broke the familiar release pattern and gave the team a chance to build a brand new science fiction universe from scratch.

While the wait for the next chapter in the fantasy franchise has been much longer than fans anticipated, Starfield eventually launched in 2023. Bethesda is now fully focused on developing The Elder Scrolls VI, though the studio has not yet announced an official release date. For now, fans can look forward to more updates as production continues behind the scenes.