Posted 18 December 2023 by Matt Cook

Chris Avellone, the former chief creative officer and co-founder of Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian Entertainment, recently unveiled that the studio had once endeavored to create an Elder Scrolls game with similar features. In a discussion on Twitter, Avellone confirmed an old tweet brought to light by 80 Level, shedding light on the proposal that never came to fruition.

Avellone revealed that the intention behind the Elder Scrolls proposal he pitched was to provide additional adventures within the Elder Scrolls universe during the gap between Bethesda releases, much like Fallout: New Vegas served as an intermediary entry between Fallout 3 and Fallout 4. Drawing a parallel with how Infinity Ward and Treyarch handled alternate Call of Duty games, Avellone suggested that Obsidian's project would offer fans more Elder Scrolls experiences while Bethesda focused on developing a main game.

Sadly, Avellone disclosed that the idea failed to gain traction with Bethesda. He hinted that the tepid response to Fallout: New Vegas may have played a role in Bethesda's reluctance to pursue the concept, citing both positive and negative feedback surrounding the game.

Fallout: New Vegas, despite its initial backlash due to bugs and game-breaking issues, has grown in prestige over the years following extensive patches and updates. The potential of an Obsidian-developed Elder Scrolls game to bridge the over a decade-long gap since The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was released is a missed opportunity that leaves fans yearning for more.

With The Elder Scrolls VI seemingly distant on the horizon, the absence of an Obsidian take on the beloved fantasy RPG series is lamentable. However, hope remains as Obsidian Entertainment gears up for the release of Avowed, a fantasy RPG that bears a striking resemblance to the Elder Scrolls franchise. Perhaps, Avowed will have the power to fill the void left in fans' hearts.

Matt Cook, a seasoned video game writer, expressed his disappointment in the missed opportunity by Bethesda. When he is not writing about games, you can find him immersing himself in diverse gaming experiences from the NES to the latest PlayStation 5 titles and indulging in retro console tinkering. Follow him on Twitter @360cookie for more gaming insights and updates.