Given the reputation and legacy of the wider franchise, it is no wonder that so many are excited aboutThe Elder Scrolls 6. With the last mainline release for the IP coming out over a decade ago, many fans are hoping that the next installment will provide the most detailed and exciting experience yet.
While little is known aboutThe Elder Scrolls 6, some dominant theories have arisen regarding details such as the potential setting of the title: Hammerfell. The cities ofThe Elder Scrolls 6need to truly stand out to help inform the desert-like location but prove worthy enough to follow up onSkyrim. In this way, the cities ofTES 6should take a page out ofOblivion’sbook instead ofSkyrim’s.
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The Difference Between Oblivion’s Cities and Skyrim’s
Coming out five years afterOblivion, Skyrimhas plenty of features that were improved, but there is a clear disparity between the featured settlements and cities of the two games.Oblivion’slocales, simply put, are more expansive and richer thanSkyrim’s. BothOblivionandSkyrimfeature nine main cities, yet those of the earlier title tend to be much larger and more populated, with this being a lingering criticism ofSkyrimever since it launched.
Of course, it can be argued thatOblivion’ssetting of Cyrodiil would foster more impressive cities thanSkyrim, withCyrodiil being the capital province of Tamrieland the seat of the Empire. Regardless, settlements play an invaluable role in providing a sense of immersion and weight behind a game’s lore, and it would be remiss for the cities ofThe Elder Scrolls 6to possess the same barebones feel asSkyrim’s.
The Elder Scrolls 6’s Hammerfell Setting and its Cities
While not officially confirmed, it is strongly rumored thatThe Elder Scrolls 6will be set within Hammerfell. This primarily stems from the now infamous 2019 announcement trailer for the title, which briefly portrayed a landscape that matches up well with the landmarks of Hammerfell. An early Starfield trailer also seemed to showcase a landmass nearly identical to Hammerfell.
Hammerfell has eight major cities, and while this may be less than Cyrodiil and Skyrim,The Elder Scrolls 6can still easily make these eight feel bustling and organic. Many fans would no doubt enjoy cities that feel thoroughly lived in and dynamic, as opposed to even a dozen or more lifeless settlements. Lore-wise, Hammerfell is anything but lifeless. Although it would be dependent upon what time periodThe Elder Scrolls 6is set in,Hammerfell’s major cities such as Sentinelare known for their ports and trade. This is an element of a Hammerfell setting that should be utilized by Bethesda to increase the world-building of the title, with exotic ships coming in and out of the province’s harbors and potentially opening up quest opportunities for the player.Oblivionbriefly explored the likes of piracy and harbors, but the modern hardware behindTES 6could take this a step further.
Expectations aroundThe Elder Scrolls 6are understandably high, and while they seem minor, how it portrays its cities could have a long lasting impact on how it is received. Cities being situated near bustling ports or even beingbuilt around ancient Dwemer ruinsare a great benefit of a potentially Hammerfell-setTES 6, and a lack of detail within the game’s settlements akin toSkyrimwould squander an important aspect of the game.
The Elder Scrolls 6is currently in development.
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