Former Elder Scrolls Loremaster Reveals ES6 Story Idea

Former Bethesda Elder Scrolls loremaster Kurt Kuhlmann has unveiled an ambitious story concept for The Elder Scrolls 6 that would have fundamentally altered the series' narrative traditions. In a candid interview discussing his departure from the studio, Kuhlmann outlined a bold vision where the elven supremacist faction Thalmor would emerge victorious, creating a narrative reminiscent of The Empire Strikes Back.

This revelation comes as Bethesda continues development on the highly anticipated sequel, which has been in production for several years. Kuhlmann's concept represents a significant departure from the series' established formula, where players typically achieve definitive victories by the game's conclusion.

Kuhlmann's story concept draws direct inspiration from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the second film in the original trilogy that famously ends with the heroes defeated and the villain victorious. The former loremaster envisioned a narrative where players would "preserve hope for the future" but ultimately witness the Thalmor "on the march" toward dominance.

This approach would have represented a radical departure from the series' traditional narrative structure, which typically features the player character as the "chosen one" who achieves a definitive victory. Kuhlmann's concept instead positioned the Thalmor not only as the primary antagonist but as the faction that would end the game on the road to victory.

"Overall it looks like the Thalmor are on the march."

The narrative would have created a cliffhanger setting up The Elder Scrolls 7, establishing a darker, more complex world where victory is neither guaranteed nor immediate.

Despite the creative ambition of his concept, Kuhlmann expressed significant doubts about its feasibility within Bethesda's development framework. The veteran developer questioned whether the studio would approve a mainline Elder Scrolls game with such a "bad" ending, particularly given the series' established expectations.

The primary obstacle identified was the studio's notoriously lengthy development cycles. Kuhlmann noted that a cliffhanger ending would be "completely unfeasible" given the decade-plus gaps between mainline Elder Scrolls releases.

"That's not a good way to end a game and say, yeah, we'll see you in 10, 15 years."

This practical concern ultimately led Kuhlmann to conclude that his vision was unlikely to be realized, despite its creative merits.

Kurt Kuhlmann left Bethesda in 2023 after more than two decades at the studio. His departure followed the release of Starfield and came amid what he described as dissatisfaction with working at the company.

During his tenure, Kuhlmann served as the Elder Scrolls loremaster, responsible for maintaining the series' extensive lore and narrative consistency. His experience spanning over 20 years positioned him as one of the most knowledgeable figures on the franchise's intricate world-building.

The interview discussing his story concept also covered his reasons for leaving the studio, though the specific details of his dissatisfaction were not elaborated in the available information.

While Kuhlmann's concept remains just that—an idea—The Elder Scrolls 6 continues its slow march toward completion. The game entered "early development" in August 2023 and had "early builds" available by March 2024, according to studio confirmation.

The announcement of the game has itself become a point of discussion among fans. The Elder Scrolls 6 was revealed on June 10, 2018, just over six years after Skyrim's release on November 11, 2011. By the time of the six-year anniversary of its announcement in June 2024, even Todd Howard acknowledged the extended timeline, noting "oh wow, that has been a while."​

Former Bethesda developer Nate Purkeypile suggested the early announcement was strategic, made when Starfield was being revealed to ensure fans "were not just pissed at us" following the long gap since Skyrim. However, he noted this approach comes with significant costs, as "those trailers are not cheap."​

Bethesda leadership has consistently emphasized taking the necessary time to ensure quality. Todd Howard described The Elder Scrolls 6 as "still a long way off" and has been "preaching patience" to avoid fan anxiety.

Studio design director Emil Pagliarulo pointed to GTA 6's high-profile delays as the "smartest thing they could do," arguing that fans ultimately want a polished experience rather than a rushed release.

"Do they want a game that comes out before it should and doesn't meet their expectations? Or do they want the turkey that is in the oven for long enough to be delicious when it finally comes out of the oven?"

This philosophy extends to managing expectations about the final product. Nate Purkeypile noted that even if The Elder Scrolls 6 matches the quality of Skyrim—which he considers one of the top ten games of all time—Bethesda may still face "hateful comments" from portions of the fanbase.

Kurt Kuhlmann's story concept represents a fascinating "what if" scenario for The Elder Scrolls 6, showcasing the creative ambition that veteran developers bring to the franchise. While his vision of a Thalmor-victorious narrative inspired by The Empire Strikes Back remains unrealized, it highlights the narrative possibilities within the series' rich world.

As Bethesda continues its methodical development process, fans await any substantive details about the actual story direction. The studio's commitment to taking "as long as it needs to be great" suggests that The Elder Scrolls 6 will emerge only when the team is satisfied with its quality, regardless of how long that takes.

For now, Kuhlmann's concept serves as a reminder of the creative minds that have shaped the Elder Scrolls universe over decades, even as the franchise prepares for its next chapter.