Bethesda hasn't said anything about the future of the Elder Scrolls series, but one of the most common topics of speculation is where the next game should be set. Rather than trying to keep this in the official suggestion/discussion thread we've decided to give this an official home.

This discussion doesn't need to be tied entirely to geography, other setting details are also appropriate. However let's please keep this focused on the game world and leave other matters, like gameplay mechanics or NPCs, in the other thread.

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1508406-tes-vi-location-and-setting-speculation-12/

The Elder Scrolls Legends: Yneslea.

Ah, the big question. I want to say Summerset Isles. I want to say high elves and maybe the Thalmor will play some role. Unless they want to keep them for even longer. Then my bet is either Elsweyr or Valenwood.

An interesting idea crossed my mind. The three Aldmeri ships traveled to Tamriel, to Yokuda and to Pyandonea. There seems to be a theory that points to them heading to the joint-points of the skeleton upon which Nirn rests - the Earth-Bones, where they built the Towers. Most of them have fallen, Yokuda's tower of Orchalc among them. But does that mean there is a Tower somewhere in Pyandonea? And if it is active, it will probably play a large role in a game set in Alinor, perhaps even as a location in the main game? If this is the case, I think that points to Alinor not being the setting of Elder Scrolls VI, as a setting so grand deserves more setup, Alinor then being VII.

If the final battle between the mantle of Auri-El and the mantle of Lorkhan is going down, the Maormer perhaps siding with the mantle of Lorkhan, then we need to be re-introduced to the Maormer in the Fourth Era, or at least should be, and see the Thalmor be further explained before becoming the main antagonists. What is a semi-neutral force that threatens a province in the Aldmeri Dominion? The formlessness of the Ouze - the Wild Hunt. As such, I think Valenwood is probably the next setting, and I think the best choice, as if it is inspiration that BGS and Todd Howard need, Valenwood can certainly offer some, and I think there is less of a chance of them ruining the lore for Valenwood, since Zenimax Online did an okay job with Valenwood, so there is at least an interpretation and we wouldn't have to worry about them retconning the Meat Mandate out of existence.

I still think it's going to be the Abacean sea!

Let me be more specific: It will (I desperately hope) include the southern coasts of Hammerfell, the Gold Coast of Cyrodiil (including the Thalmor-occupied city of Anvil), the Northern coasts of Valenwood, and all of the islands in between. They may include the island of Moridunun, but I highly doubt they will unveil an updated vision of the Summerset Isles until The Elder Scrolls VII, when they've had time to optimize their use of the next-gen consoles.

Choosing a world map that allows for an emphasis on naval battle and exploration would be a refreshing new gameplay dynamic, so that the gameplay doesn't come off as just an "upgraded Skyrim". It would also allow players to explore the cultures of various provinces, which would be engaging for dedicated solo TES gamers as well as (perhaps more incidentally) the MMO players who may get drawn into the official series by TESO, because for them it wouldn't feel limiting after having been able to travel all across Tamriel in TESO. That's not to say I think that Bethesda will take seriously what MMO players think about the main series, I believe the feedback from solo gamers will continue to be given a priority in terms of game development, as it always has.

As for the time frame, I want to say it's likely that they won't take it too many years after the events of Skyrim. I'm predicting a quick succession in terms of in-game time, much like how Morrowind and Oblivion took place very close together on the 3rd era timeline. The Abacean is far enough from Skyrim, and busy enough with the Redguards restisting the Thalmor, that news from Skyrim won't be arriving very frequently. This bipasses having to worry about addressing the winning faction of the civil war.

As someone in the last version of this thread responded to this idea for a setting (that was the person above me, actually), the game will probably be heavily focused on redeeming the Altmer, by (first) having the Thalmor fail and show weakness in some major way, and by showing the grace, power, and honor of the rebel Altmer. I love that idea, and my take on that is that the more esoteric aspect of the plot (there always is one, thanks in large part ot MIchael Kirkbride I think) will be further reinforcing the more hidden prerogatives of the Thalmor agenda, as hinted at by Ancano's attempt to harness the Eye of Magnus, and said Kirkbride chap's "Altmeri Commentaries on Talos", which extrapolates on the plot to reclaim the High Elves' Ehlnofey status by destroying man in order to follow in Auri-El's wake. A huge part of me sympathizes with the ultimate goals of the Thalmor... but I believe that the events surrounding Magnus in the College of Winterhold storyline, and the intervention of the Psijic Order, suggest an attempt by the Thalmor to tap into more powerful magics by claiming other artifacts through military aggression, and the struggle that the resistors and an increasingly active Psijic element will face in stopping them.

The Abacean would be a choice setting, introducing a myriad of colorful environmental themes, which are a much-needed thing after facing the bleakness of Skyrim. And, like I said, aren't we sick of our characters not being able to sail so much as a rowboat???

I like both of our ideas. We should be writing the plots for the next three games! You can do TES VI: Valenwood, I can do TES VII: Artaeum, and we can collaborate on TES VIII: Alinor : )

Eh... three games is too much actually. Too drawn out. We'll just have to battle to the death to see whose creative juices go the longest!