Skyrim Grandma, 88, Is Retiring From Making Gameplay Videos

Almost anyone can become a star in the age of social media, but few have had the reach of Shirley Curry aka Skyrim Grandma. At 88 years old, Curry may be the world’s oldest video game streamer. She’s also amassed 1.29 million subscribers on her YouTube page. But now, after nine years of making Skyrim gameplay videos, Curry is bringing that part of her life to a close.

Curry made the announcement in a newly released video where she explained why she’s hanging up her controller. “I’m just doing it for fun and it isn’t fun anymore,” said Curry. “I’m tired of it. I’m bored with it. I’m bored to death with it. So I am making the decision now, totally, finally. I am not going to be making any more game videos and uploading them.”

While Skyrim videos are no longer in her plans, Curry noted that she doesn’t intend to quit YouTube altogether. She plans to continue making videos about novels she’s read, a quilt she wants to make, and potentially a book that she may write. This decision shouldn’t be too surprising, since Curry had cut back on her posting schedule in 2020 after citing her dissatisfaction with some of the negative comments left on her page as well as a general desire to look after her own physical health.

Regardless, Curry’s Skyrim fandom earned her admirers all over the world, including inside Bethesda. In 2019, Bethesda revealed that Curry had lent her likeness to the company and may be featured as a NPC in The Elder Scrolls VI. If that happens, Curry’s legacy in Skyrim will live on beyond her videos.