Elder Scrolls 6: Todd Howard’s Safe Bet Could Break the Spell for Fantasy Fans

We still know next to nothing about The Elder Scrolls 6 beyond the fact that it exists, but a new interview just gave a hint at the flavor Bethesda might be chasing. If you were hoping for Morrowind-level strangeness or Skyrim-style mythic curveballs, temper expectations.

What a former Skyrim co-lead thinks is coming

On YouTube's Kiwi Talkz, former Bethesda designer and Skyrim co-lead Kurt Kuhlmann shared his read on where Todd Howard is steering TES6. In short: less weird, more grounded.

"They're making something different than what I would have done, and so I don't know how I'm going to feel about that when I see it."

Kuhlmann says he personally leans toward the eccentric, lore-heavy vibe — think influences like Dune and The Dark Crystal — while Howard tends to gravitate toward a more mainstream, traditional high-fantasy tone. He also pointed out that Oblivion took a safer approach back in the day, which made perfect sense given the Lord of the Rings heat at the time. Reading between the lines, he expects TES6 could follow a similarly safe path rather than embracing the strange, alien energy that defined Morrowind and parts of Skyrim.

So what does that mean for TES6?

If you love stumbling into bizarre quests, unsettling architecture, and cryptic cultures, you might not get that same flavor this time. To be clear, Kuhlmann doesn't actually know what the current team is building — he said as much. But his experience with the series gives his instincts some weight.

Why the safer lane makes sense (even if it's less exciting)

There's a business read on this too. With Microsoft now owning Bethesda, the stakes and budgets are bigger, the audience is broader, and the pressure to deliver a crowd-pleaser is real. When that happens, studios tend to pick the familiar flavor over the risky one. I would love to be wrong here — a bold, offbeat Elder Scrolls would be a blast — but the safer bet feels more likely.

Quick takeaways

• Interview: Kurt Kuhlmann (former Bethesda designer, Skyrim co-lead) talked TES6 on Kiwi Talkz.
• His take: Todd Howard seems to be moving away from the weirder, alien elements and toward a more grounded, classic fantasy tone.
• Kuhlmann's taste: he prefers the odd, lore-rich stuff inspired by Dune and The Dark Crystal.
• Context: Oblivion's safer tone lined up with Lord of the Rings mania; TES6 might repeat that strategy.
• Reality check: Bethesda hasn't shared specifics, and Kuhlmann doesn't know the current plan — this is informed perspective, not inside info.
• Big-picture pressure: Microsoft ownership likely means bigger budgets and broader targets, which usually nudges creative choices toward safe and accessible.

What would you rather see for TES6: a crowd-pleasing classic fantasy or a swing for the fences with stranger, riskier worldbuilding?