The Elder Scrolls Doesn’t Have a New Vegas-Like Spinoff Because Todd Howard Is ‘Very Protective’ of the Franchise, Former Dev Claims
Former Bethesda developer Kurt Kuhlmann has revealed that The Elder Scrolls franchise never received a Fallout: New Vegas-style spinoff because Todd Howard, the head of Bethesda, is “very protective” of the intellectual property. Kuhlmann, who worked as lead designer and senior designer at Bethesda for 20 years before departing in 2023, shared these insights during an interview discussing his experience on the legendary fantasy RPG series.
The comparison to Fallout: New Vegas is notable because that game was developed by Obsidian Entertainment under contract from Bethesda, allowing for creative autonomy that resulted in critical acclaim and strong fan reception. Despite decades of fan speculation and requests for a similar spinoff treatment for The Elder Scrolls franchise, no such project has materialized.
According to Kuhlmann, Howard’s protective stance toward the franchise has been a limiting factor. Additionally, the release and ongoing success of The Elder Scrolls Online, the MMORPG developed by ZeniMax Online Studios, appears to have addressed some of the demand for Elder Scrolls content outside the main numbered releases. The online game “took the heat off” fan requests for additional spinoff titles.
This revelation provides insight into internal decision-making at Bethesda regarding franchise expansion. While fans have long hoped for a New Vegas-equivalent—an external developer bringing fresh perspective to the world—Howard’s approach prioritizes tighter creative control over The Elder Scrolls universe.