After the success ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Bethesda has a tough job when it comes to the next installment in the fan-favorite series. That might be why it’s been over 10 years since fans were able to play a newElder Scrollsentry, although Bethesda has also been busy with other projects like the ongoingFallout 76and the massive sci-fi RPGStarfield. Still, players were excited when it was revealed at E3 2018 thatThe Elder Scrolls 6was on its way, even if relatively little has been seen of it since then. Apart from an initial teaser, fans haven’t really seen much ofThe Elder Scrolls 6. In the absence of facts, speculation has begun amidst the community.
There are a few prevalent rumors, such as the assumption that the nextElder Scrollstitle will be an Xbox exclusive thanks to Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda in 2020, but not much has actually been confirmed. Thanks toTheElder Scrolls' expansive lore, there are plenty of places whereThe Elder Scrolls 6could be set, and many potential storylines to follow. Some fans feel likeHammerfell — the homeland of the Redguards— is a likely setting, which will have interesting implications forThe Elder Scrolls 6’s story. If players want to understand the rumored setting before the game’s release, it might be a good idea to read up on the region’s fascinating history.
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The Long-Awaited Elder Scrolls 6
Considering how belovedSkyrimhas been (and continues to be) in the video game community within the last decade, it is natural that fans will be eager to see what the next installment in the series will entail. While game development can undoubtedly be a long and involved process, particularly with diverse open worlds like the onesin games likeSkyrim, it is natural that fans might get a little impatient when news has been so scarce and glimpses so infrequent.
Players knowThe Elder Scrolls 6won’t be coming out any time soon. With a lot of pressure on the nextElder Scrollstitle, it makes sense that Bethesda would want to take its time and get things right; from the characters, combat systems, storylines, to the setting itself. IfHammerfell is the setting forThe Elder Scrolls 6,then there are so many interesting facets of the area that the game could explore. Along with its ancient history and troubled past, the Redguards are an intriguing race with a unique culture that would be great to get to know in more detail.
Introducing Hammerfell
Hammerfell goes by a few different names; like Volenfell by the Dwemer, Hegathe by the inhabitants of Aldmeris, and evenDeathland by the ancient Nedes. The region has been referenced in other titles in theElder Scrollsseries, and players can even visit parts of it,particularly inThe Elder Scrolls Online, but it has mostly existed on the periphery ofThe Elder Scrolls.
The region itself is extensive and is mostly taken up by the desolate Alik’r Desert, alongside areas of grassland and mountainous terrain. There are not many large settlements among the unwelcoming landscape, but the Hollow Wastes do contain a few that are home to nomadic Redguards. The desert mainly contains the remnants of past civilizations, giving players opportunities to explore, as well as reminders of how dangerous the terrain is.
Hammerfell’s coast not only has a few locations of cultural and historical significance, but also some small coastal islands as well. Stros M’Kai is one such desert island and was also among thefirst areas settled by the Redguards, after they came east in search of a new home after losing Yokuda. Piracy and pilfering are rife here, with lawless revolutionaries seeking refuge in this coastal haven. Hammerfell’s few forest areas are found along the coast as well, offering a varied landscape to the mostly arid and uninhabitable regions towards the center.
IfThe Elder Scrolls 6is set in Hammerfell, the Redguards will likely be a large focus. As their homeland, Hammerfell has been shaped by their history, conflicts, and cultures. Originally from the lost continent of Yokuda, theRedguards can now mostly be found in Hammerfell, and they’re a playable race and a natural choice for a warrior build given their skill in combat. Unsurprisingly, their culture tends to be more martially orientated, with every Redguard taught to fight from a young age. There may have been a divergence in their cultures between the Crown and Forebear factions, but the Redguards remain a formidable race and one that has proven difficult to conquer.
With large swathes of the region still unexplored,Hammerfell could have its fair share of secretsto uncover. The ongoing tension between the more traditional-minded Crow faction, and the more open-minded Forbears, could serve as an interesting political background to the game. Players could also explore more of the storied region’s past alongside its turbulent present. The Redguard’s successful excursions into the inhospitable desert to uncover its many ruins would be a rich vein of storytelling to explore as well, and could be a fascinating backdrop to the game’s action.
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Battling High Expectations for The Elder Scrolls 6
Thanks to the long wait for a sequel, anticipation is high forThe Elder Scrolls 6. With morerecent disappointments likeFallout 76, players are hopingStarfieldwill signal a return to form for the studio, and will act as an exciting predecessor to the nextElder Scrollsinstallment. It’s clear thatThe Elder Scrolls 6needs to deliver, and the right setting will be key to achieving this. While there are other settings that fans might hope to see as the focus forThe Elder Scrolls 6, such as Elsweyr, Hammerfell really does tick a lot of boxes.
With its geographical proximity to Skyrim and its significance in its predecessor’s questlines involving the Thalmor and the Aldmeri Dominion, Hammerfell could tie the two games together, as well as present interesting narrative directions. The rumors that the next game will feature a “political system” with different factions to navigate also fits this perfectly. While vast amounts ofHammerfell may be taken up by the Alik’r Desert, there are still plenty of other biomes that would provide interesting opportunities for exploration and feel distinct enough fromSkyrim’s landscapes to give players something fresh and new.
