Bethesda teases potential The Elder Scrolls VI location
05
Jan 21
The internet has been going into overdrive on what the cryptic tweet could mean for the series
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
A surprise Tweet from the official The Elder Scrolls Twitter has got the internet donning their tinfoil hats to decipher the meaning.
There’s been a lot of anticipation since The Elder Scrolls VI’s announcement teaser at E3 2018. However, since then, publishing giants Bethesda Softworks have been quiet about the title. The Tweet in question could be the first big news about the game, indicating that official details may not be too far away.
Gamers have been waiting for this news for a long time with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim turning 10 years old this year (2021), and the last addition to the mainline games being a VR remake of Skyrim back in April 2018.
The tweet of a picture of The Elder Scrolls’ map, containing three strategically positioned lights, accompanied by text reading “Transcribe the past and map the future” is very mysterious. While Bethesda isn’t giving much away, it’s plenty to send fans of the franchise on a mission to work out what it means.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Transcribe the past and map the future. 📖<br>Here's to a Happy New Year!🕯 <a href="https://t.co/bL44CzLDIE">pic.twitter.com/bL44CzLDIE</a></p>— The Elder Scrolls (@ElderScrolls) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElderScrolls/status/1344674735901339648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Firstly, community members of the SubReddit /r/TESVI believe this is to do with the next The Elder Scrolls game, rather than another expansion for the popular MMO spinoff The Elder Scrolls Online. They note that the expansion updates come on a separate Twitter account dedicated to the Online game, therefore, a teaser for this would also be placed on this account, rather than The Elder Scrolls account.
Now that it’s been hypothesized as a game and not an expansion, it’s time to delve into what the lights in the image mean. Again the /r/TESVI SubReddit note that the “past” reference aligns with the light on Skyrim - the setting of the aptly named The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
This also aligns with the top right light which is pointed east. Those who are big fans of The Elder Scrolls may be familiar that this is the location of Morrowind - again a previous location of the series as it is the setting of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.
It remains unclear if this is there to hint at whether Skyrim and Morrowind will feature in the next game, or if it is simply referencing the previous games, with fans going back and forth on if we could see two or more locations in the next title.
The most intriguing light is located in the center of the map on Hammerfell, also known as Volenfell. Whilst it is not yet confirmed, this could be a hint towards “the future” that is mentioned within the text of the Tweet.
Referenced in previous mainline games, including The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, yet not seen since The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, Hammerfell is one of the largest areas in Tamriel.
Consisting of deserts, mountains, and grasslands. There are coasts and forests, however, it’s regarded as the most inhospitable region in all of Tamriel due to the large desolate Alik'r Desert taking up most of the province. Though a few cities do exist - including the port city of Rihad and the Northern city-state of Sentinel. Therefore it could be the largest map seen in the franchise to date, with more detail than in previous entries.
But the tricky environment isn’t the only threat in the region, with the Redguards calling the province home. Known for being cunning warriors and swordsmen, they have seen off many enemies in the TES lore, and if you have to take them on then it could be a tough battle. Of course, you could also be part of the Redguards in the story, yet with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’s character customization highly-praised, it is likely that you won’t be restricted to a character within a race of men.
Of course, Hammerfell’s inclusion in a previous game could simply have the light be another nod to the past, however, in Daggerfall you travel between Hammerfell and High Rock. With no light seen on High Rock, it asks more questions about whether this is a nod to the past than it answers.
