Shirley Curry, popularly known as “Skyrim Grandma,” is a gaming YouTuber who gained a following for posting playthroughs of the popular Elder Scrolls game on her channel. Apart from creating Skyrim content, she also puts up vlogs and attends gaming conventions. Since Curry first started releasing videos, her channel has gained over a million subscribers (whom she lovingly calls her grandkids). She’s also very excited for The Elder Scrolls 6.
Curry’s love for Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls series eventually got the attention of the developers at Bethesda. The company promised to include her as a character in The Elder Scrolls 6, much to fans' delight. Bethesda should make sure her inclusion is more than just a passing reference.
How Shirley Curry Got a Character in The Elder Scrolls 6
In 2018, one of Curry’s fans started a petition to have Bethesda include Skyrim Grandma in The Elder Scrolls 6. Fans supported the project, as the developer has shown its willingness to immortalize beloved members of the community in its past games; such is the case with Erik the Slayer in Skyrim and Evan in Fallout 4’s Nuka-World DLC.
Skyrim Grandma’s petition amassed over 40,000 signatures in a few months. The following year, Bethesda confirmed that Curry would appear as a character in the upcoming game. The celebration video for The Elder Scrolls’ 25th anniversary showcased tidbits of Skyrim Grandma’s character model, and in the same video, Curry expressed that she is happy knowing someone could play alongside her character in The Elder Scrolls 6. The next Elder Scrolls installment looks to be years away, but there’s no harm in theorizing what Skyrim Grandma’s character will be like - and she should definitely be an important one.
What Skyrim Grandma’s Role Could Be
The countless playthroughs on Curry’s YouTube channel show that she’s a natural explorer who enjoys traversing Tamriel. She’s also capable of playing as many characters, putting on different hats. For instance, in one playthrough she role-plays as El’Mondo, a no-nonsense Khajiit mercenary that lost his entire family to a fire. In another, she’s Ganci, a tough Redguard warrior - one of her earliest characters. This gives the developer plenty to work with when it comes to creating her in-game character.
With this in mind, it would make sense to have Skyrim Grandma’s character be a rugged, yet kindhearted adventurer. She should be known across the region as one of the most prominent explorers of her time, with books being written and songs being sung about her. She could even hail from the land of Skyrim and have plenty of tales to tell about the freezing land of the Nords - from her own adventures to stories surrounding The Elder Scrolls' Dragon Crisis.
Skyrim Grandma’s official role in The Elder Scrolls 6 is unknown, but assuming she’s an experienced adventurer, she could serve as the player’s guide as they explore a new region of Tamriel in The Elder Scrolls 6. She can offer advice on how to traverse the new landscape and provide information on the local flora and fauna. This could potentially give her a role in the game’s main quest, as her experience lets her direct the player to where they should go next.
Aside from the main questline of The Elder Scrolls 6, Skyrim Grandma should definitely have her own side quests. It could involve a treasure hunt, where the player accompanies her to find a powerful weapon or artifact. Alternatively, it could also be something more wholesome, like traveling the region in search of the tastiest snacks. At the end of the day, she’s the community’s “grandma,” and players should feel like her lovely grandkids when they meet her. She’d join the player as they undertake this new, daunting journey and make sure they never felt alone.
With that in mind, she should absolutely be available as a follower in The Elder Scrolls 6. She’d have comments and opinions about the world around her, while also being a headstrong warrior to help the protagonist fight off enemies. Perhaps Bethesda could even implement a companion system like Fallout 4’s, wherein the player can raise affinity with Skyrim Grandma’s character and unlock new dialogue.
There’s no doubt that Curry’s fans would love to have her along for their journeys in The Elder Scrolls 6 - just as they were along for the ride in her Skyrim videos. All this would immortalize everyone’s Skyrim Grandma as one of the most renown fans of the series., though there are other options for fans who can’t wait for The Elder Scrolls 6.
The Skyrim Shirley Curry Follower Mod
First released in May 2021, the Shirley Skyrim Follower mod allows players to meet Curry in Skyrim. She’s a powerful follower, able to fight with a two-handed blade and a bow. She’s also got a lot to say, with stories about her past adventures (based on her YouTube series) and comments about specific locations on the map. Best of all, the follower is fully voiced by Skyrim Grandma herself.
The mod is available for download on Nexus Mods. Players can find Skyrim Grandma in Brightwood, a cozy little home northwest of Whiterun. They’ll have to finish a short quest to recruit her as a follower, though the house itself also contains some unique items and Easter eggs for fans of Curry’s YouTube series.
While The Elder Scrolls 6 is still in early development, this mod and Curry’s YouTube videos are excellent places to enjoy her character. Still, many are hoping that the next installment of the series arrives sooner rather than later. Curry herself has asked that Bethesda hurry up with The Elder Scrolls 6. It’s arguably the company’s most popular IP, so it’s no surprise that fans have begun clamoring for its release. Regardless of when The Elder Scrolls 6 comes out, the community hopes Bethesda does Skyrim Grandma’s character justice.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is currently in development.