One of the most enduring mysteries in The Elder Scrolls series is Akavir, which appears in the in-game book Mysterious Akavir. Akavir is an unexplored continent that has intrigued many The Elder Scrolls players, despite the lack of information about it. Some fans want to see Akavir depicted in The Elder Scrolls 6. Unfortunately, despite the fascination surrounding Akavir, it’s very unlikely to be featured in The Elder Scrolls 6.
Bethesda has been candid about the likelihood of Fallout ever featuring a location outside the USA because it would change the tone and culture of the franchise. The same could be said about Akavir, which has different races, cultures, and landscapes from Tamriel, but there are other reasons why it’s unlikely to be depicted anytime soon.
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Akavir is the only known continent aside from Tamriel that is confirmed to be inhabited, making it a mystery within the series’ lore. Players have learned fragments about Akavir through mentions in in-game books and historical accounts, but it’s never been depicted in-game.
Despite its minimal depictions, Akavir’s influence on Tamriel’s history is substantial, and at least two of the leaders of Tamriel were from Akavir. The Tsaesci of Akavir once launched a powerful invasion of Tamriel but were ultimately repelled and negotiated a truce with Reman Cyrodiil. From this truce came the Blades, an order that hunts dragons and is sworn to protect the Dragonborn, which includes the Dragonborn emperors. Akaviri influence can be seen in locations such as Cloud Ruler Temple in Cyrodiil, and Sky Haven Temple in Skyrim, both of which feature distinctly Akaviri architectural styles. The iconic Blades katana and their distinctive armor also reflect Akavir. The Blades are another reason for player curiosity about Akavir, as their style is visually distinct from any other culture in Tamriel.
One of the biggest barriers to Akavir appearing in The Elder Scrolls 6 is simply a matter of geography. It’s very likely that The Elder Scrolls 6 will take place in Hammerfell and possibly High Rock. Both these provinces are located in western Tamriel, an entire continent away from where Akavir is likely located beyond the seas of Morrowind and Skyrim on the far eastern side of Tamriel. Based on The Elder Scrolls‘ mainline games, which have only focused on one province or region since Morrowind was released over 20 years ago, it’s highly unlikely that The Elder Scrolls 6 will include two continents.
Preserving Akavir’s mystery is an intentional design choice, which was recently stated by Todd Howard.
It’s OK to leave mystery or questions: what is happening here? What is happening here? I think those are good things. In Elder Scrolls everybody wants to go to these other, mysterious lands. The worst thing you could do to mysterious lands is remove the mysteriousness. Keep mysterious lands mysterious!
Leaving information out and leaving space for the imagination of players is vital for immersion. Some of The Elder Scrolls series’ most compelling worldbuilding relies on leaving certain parts of the world unexplored. By keeping Akavir off-limits, Bethesda can maintain a sense of scale and mystery in The Elder Scrolls, which is an important part of what makes it feel vast.
If Akavir ever does make a proper appearance, it seems far more likely to happen in The Elder Scrolls Online. ESO’s structure allows for temporary exploration of distant lands without permanently altering the mainline series’ continuity or worldbuilding, and would fit better into its structure as a self-contained chapter. A chapter set in Akavir could possibly satisfy fan curiosity while keeping the single-player The Elder Scrolls mainline games focused on Tamriel.