Summary
Even since it was announced all the way back in 2018, the setting forThe Elder Scrolls 6has been a hotly discussed topic among fans of the series.Elder Scrollstitles have made a habit of late of taking place in one of Tamriel’s many countries, withObliviontaking place in Cyrodil,Skyimtaking place in Skyrim, andMorrowindtaking place in Vvardenfell. Because of this, the previously visited countries in the main series likely won’t be used for the sixth game, but that still leaves most of the continent to choose from.
Despite being over six years since the initial announcement trailer,Bethesda has been quiet about any news regardingThe Elder Scrolls 6, which makes sense given that it has been working onStarfield.The trailer basically amounted to the developer saying that the game was going to happen at some point, and the trailer itself didn’t give any concrete hints about where the sixth game was going to take place. However, a leak may have shown the developer’s hand and where it plans to set the sixth game in the franchise.
Forget Elder Scrolls 6, Skyrim Can Easily Be Made Into A Next-Gen Game
The Elder Scrolls 6 won’t be releasing for a while, and in the meantime, the modding community has been making Skyrim into a next-gen game.
Leak Suggests That The Elder Scrolls 6 Will Be Set In Hammerfell
A Place More Unique Than Skyrim
Recently, a Bethesda employee’s Pinterest boards leaked, as posted byr/TESVIon Reddit,showing many reference images that look like they could inspire designs forHammerfell. Although most players would have heard about Hammerfell from the Redguards ofSkyrim,particularly the Alik’r, many might not know that it borders Skyrim, sitting to the southwest of the Nordic country. It is known for being inspired by North Africa and the Sahara desert, which makes it reasonably unique compared to the European settings that the last twoElder Scrollsgames have used.
Skyrimis based in Scandinavia, while Cyrodil andOblivionare based in Italy, with strong, Roman design themes throughout.
The Pinterest board of the Bethesda employee showcases rocky desert landscapes, clothing that wouldn’t be amiss in sandy dunes, and African men who are likely to inspire the Redguards of Hammerfell.An African-inspired setting would be unique in a genre that is largely sticking to parts of EuropelikeThe Witcherfranchise being inspired by Polish folklore. Not only will it be visually different from anything done by many AAA, fantasy RPG developers, but it will also show a completely different side toThe Elder Scrolls' extensive lore.
Thankfully,Hammerfell won’t only be desert and an endless sandy seamade of yawning dunes. Having a similar environment throughout would be a worry for an area famed for its great desert, but Hammerfell’s coasts are known for being quite vibrant, and there are sections of the country that are grassy. WhenSkyrimwas announced, many worried that the entire game would be nothing except a snowy tundra, yet the country included the vibrant forests of Falkreath and the grassy plains of Whiterun. Hammerfell will likely follow this direction.
The Lore Of Hammerfell Will Make It More Interesting
Say Goodbye To The Empire
Other than dragons and its Viking-inspired setting, one ofSkyrim’s most prevalent features wasSkyrim’s civil warbetween the imperial loyalists and the Stormcloaks. Part of what made it compelling is that there is no right side, with the Empire restricting freedom of religion while the Stormcloaks made their disdain for elves known. One big difference for a game based onHammerfell is that this conflict could have already happened, with the Redguards united, driving off the Empire and Thalmor to become a strong, independent country.
The Thalmor of the Third Aldmeri Dominion are a group of radical, Altmer supremacists hoping to end the dominance of humans by creating a new Merethic Era.
IfThe Elder Scrolls 6takes place after Skyrim chronologically, which makes sense, then Hammerfell would not have Cyrodil’s Empire. The Empire has been a key feature of bothOblivionandSkyrim,but withHammerfell becoming independent after the White-Gold Concordat, Bethesda would have to move away from this. In fact, it is implied that Hammerfell’s independence inspired Ulfirc and his Stormcloaks, since the Redguards essentially achieved what the Nords were hoping for when beginning their civil war.
Hammerfell is an important place to theThalmor of the Summerset Islesand could be a setting for a country that has long been at war against an invading force. Possible wars aside,the Redguards have quite an interesting culture, having originally come from the western continent of Yokunda before settling in Tamriel. In fact, the place has its name because a Dwemer chieftain threw his hammer across Tamriel and vowed to lead his people to wherever it landed, naming the place Volenfell (Dwemer for City of the Hammer). The name later changed to Hammerfell.
10 Skyrim Bugs And Glitches That Still Persist In 2024
Among its players Skyrim is notorious for its many bugs and glitches, but surprisingly over 12 years later some have never been fixed by Bethesda.
Hammerfell Is Perfect For The Elder Scrolls 6
Especially With All The Upcoming Fantasy RPGs
Hammerfell’s North African-inspired setting, as well as the variety of its environments, make it theperfect place for a newElder Scrollsbecause of how unique it would bein the fantasy RPG genre. When compared to other upcoming games in this genre, likeThe Witcher 4(officially calledProject Polaris) orDragon Age: The Veilguard,which will likely use Europrean-based settings, Hammerfell would provide something different to make it stand out. It would be perfect to keep theElder Scrollsfresh.
Sections of Hammerfell have already been visited inTheElder Scrolls Online, including the Alik’r Desert, Bangkorai, and Stros M’Kai.
Another element that Hammerfell would add toElder Scrolls6would be its many islands. They could be added later as expansions, like with Solstheim and theDragonbornDLC, or could be added in the base game to allow for sailing.Hammerfell’s coasts are sometimes plagued by pirates, and a maritime element will be a great feature in theElder Scrollsfranchise, especially becauseSkyrimhad a northern coast that was ill-used in that game. With the more vibrant ocean to the west, it would be both visually stunning and add far more depth to the gameplay.
There is so much that Hammerfell would add toThe Elder Scrolls 6, andit would help the franchise remain unique in a genre that is seeing many big names make their return. The non-European setting would be brilliant from a visual standpoint, the lore and culture of the land would provide depth to the continent of Tameriel, and the seas could add even more gameplay opportunities. Even if Hammerfell isn’t the setting for the nextElder Scrolls, it is the perfect setting for a new game and is a place that Bethesda should visit at some point.
