It feels like an exciting time to be an Elder Scrolls fan, with new details emerging for The Elder Scrolls 6, reportedly subtitled Sentinel. A recent report revealed the game's title and a cryptic quote suggesting a story involving time travel. The quote, attributed to a Moth Priest from Hammerfell and dated 4E 206, places Sentinel five years after Skyrim and confirms the game will be set in Hammerfell, the region home to the titular Sentinel city. This setting offers the potential for a significant departure from Skyrim's aesthetic, which the author argues strayed from the series' more eccentric roots.
While acknowledging a fondness for Skyrim's atmosphere, music, and characters, the author points out its medieval fantasy setting bears strong resemblances to popular franchises like The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. In contrast, earlier titles like Oblivion and Morrowind presented more distinct and otherworldly environments. Oblivion's Cyrodiil, inspired by ancient Rome, and Morrowind's alien landscapes with giant fungi and unique architecture, are cited as examples of the series at its most creative. Though Skyrim has moments of similar wonder, such as the Dwemer ruins of Blackreach, the game as a whole is described as offering a more conventional fantasy take.
Hammerfell's landscape, with its searing deserts and tropical jungles, presents an opportunity for Bethesda to return to the series' more fantastical origins. The Redguard culture of Hammerfell, drawing on Middle Eastern, African, and Japanese influences, is also noted as a unique element for the franchise. However, there is a counterpoint that Skyrim's more accessible, familiar setting was a deliberate commercial decision, influenced by director Todd Howard's preferences and the desire to create a commercially successful product. This approach, while leading to Skyrim's immense success, may have come at the cost of the series' originality.
Given Skyrim's financial success and the current needs of Xbox, it is unlikely that Bethesda will drastically alter this successful formula. The announcement of Sentinel and its distinct Hammerfell setting suggest a move towards more fantastical elements. Yet, the proximity of High Rock, a province with more European and Tolkien-esque similarities, raises concerns that the developers might lean into familiar tropes rather than emphasizing Hammerfell's uniqueness. The author expresses a desire for Sentinel to be a distinct experience, one that leverages the contrast between Hammerfell and potentially High Rock to create a truly alien and surprising new world, rather than a rehash of Skyrim.