Todd Howard told Eurogamer on December 4 that he can’t rule out an Elder Scrolls TV series in the future, but believes Fallout was more uniquely suited for television adaptation because it has more to say in its genre. The Bethesda boss explained that the Fallout TV journey took 10 years from when people first asked after Fallout 3 released, emphasizing they took their time to get it right. Howard suggested any Elder Scrolls adaptation would follow a similar decade-long development process, adding that he’s prepared to say no for the next ten years when asked about fantasy series possibilities. The comments come as Fallout Season 2 prepares to launch on Prime Video December 17, with Season 3 already confirmed and stars indicating they’d continue through Season 5 or 6.
Why Fallout Worked Better
Howard’s reasoning centers on Fallout’s distinctiveness within the post-apocalyptic genre compared to Elder Scrolls’ position in fantasy television. The Fallout series distinguishes itself from similar shows with its twisted retro-futuristic interpretation of the apocalypse, featuring mutants and raiders traversing radioactive wastelands while Vault dwellers shelter in 1950s-inspired underground neighborhoods. This aesthetic feels fresh and specific to the franchise in ways that are immediately recognizable and difficult to confuse with other properties.
By contrast, any expansive fantasy narrative will inevitably face comparisons to HBO’s Game of Thrones for both positive and negative reasons. The fantasy television landscape is crowded with high-budget adaptations of established properties, from The Witcher to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Howard seems to believe Elder Scrolls would struggle to carve out unique visual and thematic identity in that saturated market, whereas Fallout’s Vault-Tec aesthetic, Brotherhood of Steel power armor, and atomic age paranoia instantly differentiate it from other post-apocalyptic shows.
The Ten Year Timeline
Howard emphasized that the journey from Fallout 3’s 2008 release to the 2024 TV series premiere took approximately a decade of careful development. This wasn’t rushed adaptation but deliberate partnership building with Amazon Studios, scriptwriting iterations, casting decisions, and creative collaboration between Bethesda and showrunners to ensure the series respected the games while telling its own story. The influence of the Fallout show on the franchise exceeded Howard’s expectations, prompting thoughts about whether similar success could happen with Elder Scrolls.
Applying that same timeline to Elder Scrolls means even if Bethesda started serious adaptation discussions today, a hypothetical series wouldn’t premiere until 2035 at the earliest. Howard’s comment about being prepared to say no for the next ten years suggests he’s not actively pursuing Elder Scrolls television development currently, focusing instead on ensuring the games themselves maintain quality. With The Elder Scrolls 6 still years away from release, diverting attention to television adaptations would further stretch Bethesda’s already strained development resources.
AI Defense and Creative Intent
During the same Eurogamer interview, Howard defended AI use in game development while emphasizing Bethesda aims to protect artistry and human intention in their games. He clarified the studio isn’t using AI for generating things but considers it part of their toolset for building worlds and checking things, comparing it to evolving versions of Photoshop over the past decade. Howard stated that human intention is what makes our stuff special, positioning AI as efficiency tool rather than creative replacement.
This stance places Howard somewhere between AI skeptics who want it banned entirely and enthusiasts who believe it can replace human creativity. The comments address ongoing industry concerns about generative AI threatening artist jobs and creative integrity, with Howard attempting to reassure both employees and fans that Bethesda won’t sacrifice artistic vision for algorithmic content generation. Whether this policy holds as AI capabilities advance and pressure for cost-cutting increases remains to be seen.
Game of the Year Pick
Howard also named Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as his 2025 Game of the Year in conversations with Eurogamer, calling it unique and a truly distinctive work of art. The timing is notable since Bethesda unexpectedly launched Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered just two days before Expedition 33’s release, with both titles available on Xbox Game Pass. Howard’s public endorsement of a competitor’s game demonstrates either genuine appreciation for quality RPGs or savvy political maneuvering to maintain good relationships with other developers.
Expedition 33 has sold over 5 million copies globally and leads The Game Awards nominations with 12 total, marking it as the largest third-party release for Xbox Game Pass this year. Howard’s endorsement carries weight given his legendary status in RPG development, potentially introducing the Japanese-style RPG to audiences who primarily know Western RPGs like Elder Scrolls and Fallout. The pick also reinforces Howard’s positioning as someone who appreciates the broader RPG genre rather than viewing other titles as pure competition.
What This Means for Elder Scrolls Fans
The practical takeaway is that Elder Scrolls fans shouldn’t expect television adaptations anytime soon, if ever. Howard’s focus remains on The Elder Scrolls 6, which he describes as his everyday thing but acknowledges is still a long way off from release. With Fallout 5 not beginning production until after Elder Scrolls 6 ships, Bethesda’s plate is full for the foreseeable future without adding complex television production to the mix.
Additionally, Howard’s honest assessment that Fallout was better suited for adaptation suggests he recognizes Elder Scrolls might not translate as successfully to television. Rather than forcing an adaptation that could damage the franchise’s reputation, Howard seems content letting Elder Scrolls remain game-focused while Fallout explores transmedia opportunities. This specialization allows each franchise to play to its strengths instead of assuming what works for one automatically works for the other.
FAQs
Is Todd Howard making an Elder Scrolls TV show?
No, not currently. Howard told Eurogamer he can’t rule out an Elder Scrolls TV series in the future but is prepared to say no for the next ten years. He believes any adaptation would take a decade to develop properly like Fallout did.
Why does Todd Howard think Fallout worked better for TV?
Howard stated Fallout was more uniquely suited for adaptation because it has more to say in its genre. The retro-futuristic post-apocalyptic aesthetic distinguishes Fallout from other shows, while Elder Scrolls fantasy would inevitably face comparisons to Game of Thrones.
When is Fallout Season 2 releasing?
Fallout Season 2 launches on Prime Video December 17, 2025. The season will feature New Vegas as its setting, and Season 3 is already confirmed with stars indicating they’d continue through Season 5 or 6.
What is Todd Howard’s stance on AI in games?
Howard defends AI as part of Bethesda’s toolset for building worlds and checking things, but emphasizes the studio isn’t using it for generating things. He states human intention is what makes our stuff special and aims to protect artistry.
What is Todd Howard’s 2025 Game of the Year?
Todd Howard named Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as his 2025 Game of the Year, calling it unique and a truly distinctive work of art. The Japanese-style RPG has sold over 5 million copies and leads The Game Awards with 12 nominations.
When is The Elder Scrolls 6 releasing?
Todd Howard describes The Elder Scrolls 6 as still a long way off from release. He confirmed it won’t release before GTA 6, likely pointing to a 2027 release date at the earliest, possibly later.
Will Fallout 5 come before Elder Scrolls 6?
No. Todd Howard has stated that Fallout 5 won’t begin production until after The Elder Scrolls 6 releases, meaning it’s likely more than a decade away from launch.
Conclusion
Todd Howard’s comments about Elder Scrolls television adaptations reveal pragmatic thinking about what makes franchises suitable for different media. Rather than chasing Fallout’s TV success by forcing Elder Scrolls into a similar format, he recognizes the fantasy series faces different challenges in an already crowded television landscape. The decade-long timeline he describes for any potential adaptation essentially takes it off the table for the foreseeable future, allowing Bethesda to focus on actually finishing The Elder Scrolls 6 instead of juggling game development and television production simultaneously. For fans desperately waiting for Elder Scrolls 6, that focus is probably welcome news even if it means no TV series is coming. Sometimes the best decision is recognizing when not to pursue opportunities that seem appealing on the surface but could dilute what makes a franchise special in the first place.