Fans are still waiting for any real update on the upcoming The Elder Scrolls 6. It's been three years since the game was initially revealed, and nothing else about the game has been announced thus far. Fans of the previous titles like Skyrim are looking for any clues about where The Elder Scrolls 6 will take place and about what will occur in its main plotline. The series is also known for its expansive side narratives, and also for bringing in elements from previous games. With that, many fans are likely wondering about whether the impacts of one of Skyrim's biggest expansions will have on the world's future.
It's likely that Elder Scrolls 6 will move its timeline forward and with that be impacted by events that preceded it. That being said, a lot has happened since Skyrim's narrative started. The Elder Scrolls 6 will most likely need to reckon with dragons, Lovecraftian deities, assassinations, and supernatural threats that all cropped up in Skyrim. One of two major expansions for Skyrim introduced the return of an organization dedicated to stamping out vampires from Tamriel. The events of Dawnguard would feasibly have impacted Tamriel as a whole. Whether the titular Dawnguard will appear in Elder Scrolls 6 is something some fans are probably pondering.
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The Dawnguard DLC quickly became a fan-favorite expansion to Skyrim, for a few reasons. Dawnguard added a huge set of content to explore, an expansive base to acquire earlier in the game than most others, and a cast of characters including a popular companion. The expansion also brought an injection of classic horror themes to Skyrim that felt distinct from the Lovecraftian brand that permeates so much of the Elder Scrolls. Dawnguard's narrative thrust was broad, and its events impacted the world at large in major ways.
The main storyline of Dawnguard revolves around preventing (or abetting) an apocalyptic curse that would allow for a powerful vampire lord to quite literally extinguish the sun. Continuing the Elder Scrolls' tradition of immortal villains, the vampire lord Harkon and his house have persisted for centuries. Harkon became obsessed with a prophecy held within an Elder Scroll about a magical bow that could darken the sun when combined with certain blood. Unfortunately for his daughter Serano, she held the special blood needed for the ritual. Players can choose to work with Harkon and become a vampire lord themselves, or with the Dawnguard as a vampire hunter.
Either outcome of the main narrative has far-reaching implications on the world of Tamriel. It's more likely that if Elder Scrolls 6 includes some elements from Dawnguard, it will presuppose the ending where Harkon is defeated and the sun still burns bright. These events will need to be addressed much like Skyrim's Civil War if The Elder Scrolls 6 occurs later in the timeline. There are still vampires that were members of Harkon's house that could have lived on, and its likely that the newly revitalized Dawnguard would only expand its efforts. Seeing whether the Dawnguard expanded into other territories by the The Elder Scrolls 6 will certainly be interesting.
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The Elder Scrolls series certainly has a history of referencing back to events from previous games as a way to help tie the world of Tamriel together. The best example of this in Skyrim was when players encountered a cult that was still worshipping the Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon. Dagon had been the primary catalyst of the crisis that occurred during Oblivion. That being said, certain elements of Skyrim will likely not be in The Elder Scrolls 6 in attempt to establish the game as distinct from its predecessors. It will likely still address some of Skyrim's major events, but if the Dawnguard appear in The Elder Scrolls 6, they may be relegated to a background role.
The Elder Scrolls 6 already has so much to address from the series' history. This likely means that the events of Dawnguard will have impact in one of two ways: It's completely possible to see the order of vampire hunters merely mentioned, like in a note found on the body of a defeated vampire.
The other and more involved option would be a single or set of side quests where players can help a fledgling chapter of the Dawnguard establish themselves in whatever region the new game takes place. This could be interesting for longtime fans: Seeing the Dawnguard become one of the factions that players can join like the Fighter's Guild, Dark Brotherhood, or the Companions in subsequent Elder Scrolls games would be a fitting addition.
The region itself may hold a clue as to whether or not the Dawnguard appears in the next game. While nothing has been officially announced yet, many fans believe The Elder Scrolls 6 will take place in Hammerfell or High Rock. If these rumors hold true that would lend towards the possibility of the Dawnguard making an appearance. Both provinces have a relative proximity to Skyrim itself. With that, it's not hard to imagine a branch of the Dawnguard having established itself there in order to further battle the immortal vampire threat.
The Elder Scrolls 6 will have a lot to explore from its past, and the location will impact what the game focuses on. If Hammerfell/High Rock end up being the setting for Elder Scrolls 6, that would point to the aforementioned faction approach to the Dawnguard. Even if the game takes place a large chunk of time after Skyrim, as has been the tradition for a while, a smaller contingent of the Dawnguard could still be in rough shape. Players being able to help the vampire hunters along by either providing resources or eliminating major threats could make for an engaging series of side quests.
The other possible way for players to interact with the ramifications of Dawnguard would be through a certain character. Given her nature as a vampire (provided The Elder Scrolls 6 doesn't presuppose her being cured), Serano could still be alive. Whether or not she would have had any reason to venture so far away from her ancestral home is another issue. She would likely be a fan-favorite reference to Skyrim though. Meeting Serano could be interesting, but Dawnguard could be referenced in The Elder Scrolls 6 in any of these ways or not at all.
The Elder Scrolls 6 is in development.