Elder Scrolls 6: The Case For and Against a Small Time Skip

by

Summary

  • The Elder Scrolls 6 has a choice between skipping far forward in time or exploring the Fourth Era’s familiar characters and setting.
  • A time skip of 50-100 years could add intrigue, but could create more complications.
  • Bethesda is facing challenges with long development times, something the studio can’t afford to repeat.

It’s been quite some time since we last saw Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls 6 in reality, which has sparked much speculation about its potential setting. Unlike its predecessors from TES 1 to 4 that occurred during Emperor Uriel Septim’s reign, Skyrim broke the trend by taking place two centuries later. This raises the possibility that the next game might also have a significant time jump, but such a decision could potentially pose several challenges.

Given past release schedules for the Elder Scrolls series, it’s possible that several games could have been launched since 2011. However, considering the trend of extended development periods and studios taking on more projects, it’s understandable that The Elder Scrolls 6 hasn’t appeared yet.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but ponder the idea that Bethesda might delve deeper into Skyrim’s Fourth Era. The enduring popularity of the game suggests it could be a rich vein to mine for more stories. Following the pattern we’ve seen before, where games are set a few years apart, could strike a familiar chord with fans. However, the extended development cycles involved in this method might pose challenges.

Both strategies have their merits and pitfalls, some of which may not be apparent at first glance. It would be intriguing to see how Bethesda navigates this decision.

Should the Elder Scrolls 6 Take Place Close to Skyrim’s Timeline or Further in the Future?

The Case Against a Time Skip

Bethesda dedicated considerable effort to crafting a unique experience for Skyrim, contrasting it with the Third Era where their previous games were set. The story unfolds in 201, marking a significant downturn for the Empire, elves regaining power, and dragons reappearing. Essentially, the world is transitioning back to the turbulent Dawn Era, offering numerous opportunities for the developers to expand upon these changes. There are several characters who could resurface and have significant roles in future games, like Neloth on Solstheim, even some unexpected ones such as Paarthurnax.

Other titles within the TES (The Elder Scrolls) franchise often transpire in distinct historical eras rather than the primary sequence, like The Elder Scrolls Online’s Second Era.

One illustration of such conflicts is the Skyrim Civil War. It’s likely that similar strife will flare up in other provinces as well. Hammerfell seems primed for a similar conflict, and its autonomy during the Fourth Era could provide an exceptional setting for various factions to battle over, offering an engaging role-playing experience.

In a nutshell, experiencing a handful of games set during a distinct era could aid in forming a unified understanding of this unique timeframe, distinct from the Third and Second Era depicted in other games. Many enthusiasts are eager to witness the resolution of the Civil War, which has lingered in ambiguity for over a decade. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which side emerges victorious as long as players receive some form of closure on the conflict.

It’s also worth considering that some critics argue that the time jump in Skyrim wasn’t managed effectively by Bethesda. The game seems to struggle with understanding the concept of time, as many dates in the Fourth Era timeline suggest. For instance, it’s hard to comprehend why Winterhold remains a ruin 80 years after the Great Collapse; how the Nords were able to conquer so much territory within just 200 years given the Empire’s weakness at that time; and why Gelebor has been alone at the Chantry of Auriel for thousands of years without going completely mad. Repeating this type of timeline leap could potentially introduce more inconsistencies. Reducing Skyrim’s 200-year time skip to approximately 50 years might be a better approach.

Bethesda’s other titles have likewise been subjected to critique regarding their timeframes; for instance, the case of the ghoul child trapped in a refrigerator in Fallout 4 is often cited as an emblematic instance of this issue.

The Case for a Time Skip

Advancing significantly into the future, possibly 50 to 100 years from now, could provide Bethesda with an opportunity to delve into a distinct time frame. By this point, players would likely be well-acquainted with Skyrim and its era, as it has been extensively explored. However, moving forward allows Bethesda to introduce more mystery and allure to the setting. This could demonstrate that Tamriel in The Elder Scrolls’ Fourth Era is not only marked by chaos and change, but also dynamic and far from stagnant.

It’s plausible that “The Elder Scrolls 6” might be set five years following “Skyrim”, but it won’t be out until at least 15 years later. Maintaining this development pace along with a shorter game universe timeline could pose challenges such as dealing with returning voice actors, retaining developers, and ensuring the world remains captivating and fresh. It seems probable that many developers who have worked at Bethesda since “Skyrim” have aspired to work on an “Elder Scrolls” project but haven’t had the opportunity, and the continuous staff changes could lead to issues in maintaining a consistent game world.

Advancing to a later period in the game’s timeline might resurrect some of the quirks that fans cherished from earlier games. It’s debatable whether Oblivion and Skyrim toned down Morrowind’s eccentricity, but jumping ahead significantly could offer Bethesda an opportunity to alter this, depicting the world evolving to fit a less familiar era. As hinted, delving into Kalpa lore suggests that the world may be growing more peculiar as it approaches the Dawn, and a time leap would aid in investigating Kalpa theory by reintroducing more outlandish elements like Mananauts and the unruly, tempest-tossed Nords once again.

The Elder Scrolls 6 Is Still a Long Way Away

According to Todd Howard himself, he aims to avoid another extended gap between Elder Scrolls releases since such a pause has brought about challenges for the series. Skyrim has earned the title of an everlasting game, and while its longevity is renowned, it’s not suitable for one of the highest-grossing games in history.

Based on the general responses within the community, it appears there’s a divide in opinions about how Bethesda should handle a time skip for the next game, but a larger number seem to favor sticking closer to the era of Skyrim. This makes sense since Skyrim is well-loved and many fans prefer staying in a familiar period rather than taking a big leap forward again. However, Bethesda’s plans are unclear, and it seems we’ll have to wait for The Elder Scrolls 6, as it won’t be released anytime soon, so there’s ample time for speculation.

Read More

2025-06-02 01:34