A former Bethesda developer has revealed that a cliffhanger ending was proposed for The Elder Scrolls VI, and I can only say that I’m glad the idea was shut down because it’s amongst one of the worst I’ve ever heard.
Bethesda is a studio known for its long development cycles. I’ve always found it amusing, personally, that a studio that refuses to be rushed still manages to ship so many bugs.
For proof of this, you need look no further than what’s happening with The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
The most recent The Elder Scrolls entry, Skyrim, landed back in 2011 and 15 years on, the next one still hasn’t arrived.
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The Elder Scrolls VI is Bethesda’s next game but despite being revealed in 2018, it’s not expected to land for another two or so years.
Fallout is in a similar predicament. Fallout 4 arrived in 2016, and Fallout 5 isn’t expected until after The Elder Scrolls VI, so we could be looking at 2030 and beyond.
As such then, Bethesda is a painful studio to be a fan of when it comes to waiting for sequels and new entries. You really don’t want that arduous wait to be made worse by adding a cliffhanger into the mix.
You Only Have To Wait a Decade For The Conclusion …
Kurt Kuhlmann, co-lead designer on Skyrim, recently unveiled some controversial ideas he had for The Elder Scrolls VI before he departed Bethesda in 2023.
Speaking to PC Gamer, Kuhlmann explained that he thought The Elder Scrolls VI was “going to be like The Empire Strikes Back”.
The Thalmor would succeed in taking over Tamriel in his version of the game, marking a departure from the usual happy ending ‘chosen one’ story route.
That would make for a pretty deflating conclusion. Kuhlmann explained that the player could have “secretly saved the day” but he envisioned the game ending with “the Thalmor on the march”.
I can see the vision, most definitely, with this storyline then having to carry on over into The Elder Scrolls VII.
But do you want to wait 15 years for a conclusion? I definitely don't.
If there’s one franchise you shouldn’t be allowed to use a cliffhanger in, it’s The Elder Scrolls.
Thankfully, that’s something that dawned on Kuhlmann. Of course, he left Bethesda, but it doesn’t sound like his idea ever gained traction.
He called the cliffhanger “completely unfeasible”.
"That's not a good way to end a game and say, yeah, we'll see you in 10, 15 years," he said.
I’m relieved to hear it. There is a possibility that somewhere Todd Howard has changed his mind and is going to commit us to 15 years of misery, but I’m going to hope that’s really not the case.
Topics: The Elder Scrolls, The Elder Scrolls 6, Bethesda, Skyrim