Former Elder Scrolls Expert Remains Tight-Lipped on TES6 Location, Team Consensus Established During Fallout 4 Development

Kurt Kuhlmann, previously the loremaster for The Elder Scrolls series, likely possesses insights into the anticipated setting of The Elder Scrolls 6, expected to debut in roughly a century. Having departed Bethesda in 2023, he is aware of the direction the studio aimed for prior to his exit. However, he’s not revealing any specifics.

Reflecting on discussions from the era of Fallout 4, he shared, “There was a general agreement among several individuals conversing about it.” Kuhlmann makes it clear that he cannot confirm whether that consensus still stands, as he has been away from the team for a couple of years. Nonetheless, he recalls that the decision felt quite straightforward at that time.

“We had a notion, but it was more of a mutual understanding, like, ‘Okay, where should the next installment be set?’ The individuals involved were in accord. There was no debate; it was as if everyone felt it should be in that location. We were more focused on the ambiance and environment; no narrative had been developed yet,” he explained.

Fallout 4 was released in late 2015, while The Elder Scrolls 6 was first hinted at in 2018. That brief cinematic glimpse of a mountain has been the sole teaser for an astonishing eight years.

Kuhlmann, whose expertise in The Elder Scrolls lore is extensive, admits he is currently unaware of the plot for the upcoming sixth title. “I haven’t engaged with that level of story development since Skyrim,” he stated.

Todd Howard initially envisioned Kuhlmann as the lead designer for TES6 after his role as co-lead on Skyrim. However, the emergence of Fallout 4, Fallout 76, and Starfield shifted Howard’s focus, ultimately leading to a change in plans. Kuhlmann’s aspirations were dashed toward the conclusion of Starfield’s development, which occurred years after TES6 was first teased.

This suggests that by the time Bethesda unveiled the teaser for TES6, the studio had barely commenced serious discussions about the game, indicating that Kuhlmann’s departure came during a period when the project was still in its infancy.

This revelation is not particularly unexpected, considering Starfield likely absorbed a significant amount of the developer’s resources, with everyone concentrating on Bethesda’s ambitious venture into space. This context sheds light on how preposterous it was for a brief trailer to generate excitement for a game that was merely an abstract concept at that point.

Nonetheless, Kuhlmann did develop a narrative concept for TES6, envisioning it as akin to “The Empire Strikes Back.” In this scenario, players would have the chance to save the day on a broad scale, but the game would conclude with the Thalmor seizing control of Tamriel, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation in TES7.

At this juncture, the precise location for the next installment remains a mystery, although the prevailing speculation points toward Hammerfell. High Rock is also frequently mentioned in discussions. Lengthy YouTube analyses and Reddit threads abound, presenting mountains of so-called ‘evidence,’ yet the reality is that it all hinges on pure conjecture and a teaser produced eight years ago.

For now, we will have to continue our guessing game.