The Elder Scrolls 6 is still shrouded in mystery, but a recent chat with Kurt Kuhlmann, Skyrim’s co-lead and a longtime Bethesda veteran, sheds some light on what fans might expect, or not expect. Kuhlmann, who helped shape Morrowind’s distinct vibe, shared that the next game will likely play it safe and lean toward a more conventional style, rather than the eccentric, lore-heavy content that defined earlier entries, such as Morrowind.
For those who love the offbeat and strange corners of Tamriel, this might be a bit of a bummer. Kuhlmann discussed how the version of Cyrodiil in Oblivion was more “normcore” compared to the jungle-like, culturally complex realm described in The Pocket Guide to the Empire. He acknowledged that Oblivion’s worldbuilding mainly was set before he joined but admitted he would have loved to push the weirdness further if given the chance.
“I think Todd in particular gravitates not toward the weird stuff,” Kuhlmann said, referring to Todd Howard, Bethesda’s longtime director. “I do. Like, Morrowind… Michael and I had done a lot of brainstorming on that, and obviously, it’s got the Dune vibes, and the Dark Crystal vibes. I love that stuff. I would have definitely put more in [Oblivion] if I could have.”
He also pointed out that the more mainstream approach probably made financial sense at the time, especially given the popularity of the Lord of the Rings movies, which influenced fantasy tastes.
Regarding Elder Scrolls 6, Kuhlmann admitted he’s not in the loop and doesn’t know much about it, but he suspects it won’t go back into the more bizarre or psychedelic realms like Morrowind did. With Microsoft involved now, he thinks it’s unlikely we’ll see a game centered on exotic settings like Elsweyr or Black Marsh, which feature lizard and cat-like races, something that might be considered too niche or strange for a big-budget title.
While this news might feel like a letdown to fans craving the odd and mysterious, projects like Project Cyrodiil and Tamriel Rebuilt are still keeping that classic Bethesda weirdness alive outside the main games, so, are you ready for a more straightforward Elder Scrolls 6, or do you wish Bethesda would embrace the weirdness again?
