Rumors about The Elder Scrolls 7’s setting have already sparked intense debate within the gaming community, despite the fact that The Elder Scrolls 6 has yet to be released. A notable voice in the discussion is former Bethesda developer and Elder Scrolls lore master Kurt Kuhlmann, who recently expressed skepticism about two popular rumored locations: Elsweyr and Black Marsh.
Kuhlmann’s concerns revolve around the unique populations inhabiting these regions. Elsweyr is famously home to the Khajiit, the feline-like race, while Black Marsh is the domain of the reptilian Argonians. Speaking in a recent interview with Kiwi Talks, Kuhlmann stated, “I would be skeptical that they could do a game in Elsweyr or Black Marsh because those inherently… the main population are lizard people or cat people. That becomes much weirder than a place that’s a human population.”
While the setting for The Elder Scrolls 6 remains unconfirmed, strong rumors have pointed to Hammerfell, a human-populated region, which aligns with Kuhlmann’s viewpoint. Given Bethesda’s lengthy development cycles — juggling projects like Fallout and Starfield — The Elder Scrolls 7 could be many years away, possibly not arriving until the 2040s.
Despite the excitement surrounding the next chapter in the franchise, Kuhlmann’s comments highlight the complexities Bethesda faces in balancing lore authenticity and player immersion, especially when considering regions dominated by non-human races.
Stay tuned with us as fans eagerly await official announcements, Kuhlmann’s insights offer a grounded perspective on what to realistically expect for The ES7 settings.