Ex Bethesda Dev Howard Chose Starfield Over TES 6

Former Bethesda Game Studios developer Kurt Kuhlmann has stated that many within the studio expected The Elder Scrolls 6 to begin development immediately after the release of Fallout 4 in 2015. However, according to Kuhlmann, studio director Todd Howard ultimately decided to prioritize Starfield, a new science fiction role-playing game, as the studio's next major project. Kuhlmann, who served as co-lead designer on Skyrim and held other key roles during his tenure, described the shift in direction as a surprise to many employees. He explained that the initial plan was for The Elder Scrolls 6 to follow Fallout 4, a pattern consistent with Bethesda's previous development cycles. The unexpected inclusion of Fallout 76, which Kuhlmann noted was not originally intended to involve the entire studio, further complicated development paths and reportedly pulled resources away from early Starfield production. According to Kuhlmann, the decision to pursue Starfield was largely Howard's initiative. He characterized the announcement of Starfield as a directive rather than a collective studio decision, stating it was presented to the team as, "Guess what, team? We're making this space game.