Kurt Kuhlmann, a former lead designer at Bethesda Game Studios, shared his vision for The Elder Scrolls 6 during his time at the company. He expressed that he imagined the game reflecting the narrative style of the iconic Star Wars film, The Empire Strikes Back.
Kuhlmann proposed a storyline where the Thalmor, known as the game's antagonists, would initially gain the upper hand, leading to a cliffhanger that would set the stage for The Elder Scrolls 7. He stated, "I had in my mind that TES6 was going to be like The Empire Strikes Back." The twist would give players a ray of hope by secretly saving an heir to the throne, while the Thalmor’s power appeared to rise.
"It wasn't just my expectation - I had been told that that was going to happen"
Kuhlmann, who was co-lead designer of Skyrim, recalled being verbally promised the lead designer role on TES6 by Bethesda's Todd Howard. However, plans shifted as the studio became preoccupied with projects like Fallout 76 and Starfield, pushing the next Elder Scrolls installment nearly 11 years away from its announcement.
Despite his aspirations, Kuhlmann noted the challenges of leading TES6 in the current environment compared to his time on Skyrim. He expressed doubt that his idea of an unexpected ending would resonate with the studio's vision, remarking, "That's not a good way to end a game and say, yeah, we'll see you in 10, 15 years." Currently, The Elder Scrolls 6 is officially underway, transitioning from early planning stages, although Todd Howard indicated it remains a significant way off.
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