TES VI, if any, will be different in several ways.
I'm not going to drone over details, however "bed was made" for Skyrim long before it was ever written. Oblivion had everything perfectly setup for the sequel.
The problem with TES VI is Skyrim was very destructive to the Imperial social order. This was something I did not care for about Skyrim, however it enthralled me, what with getting yourself mixed up with all the drama and glory that comes with the Civil War.
Many people just forgot about the Dragons and concentrated most of their energy on that. The Civil War. The problem we have here is entirely too many people began to identify with either side, Imperials and Stormcloaks. This was something very good for business however will hurt TES VI because there is no reasonable way to bridge the intense conflict and deeply rooted hatred between both sides.
I know everyone including myself to some extent is tired with discussing the Civil War however, this is something that should not be ignored. Nevertheless, aside from fallout from the Civil War itself, we have the Conundrum of deciding who the winner will be, if any.
Personally, I feel compelled to end the discussion about the Civil War at this point. I'm only trying to pin points of interest. However, one proposed solution and really the only reasonable conclusion, if that, would be the Apocalypse is the outcome.
With the Empire steadily losing control from the end of Oblivion and between that time and Skyrim, the Empire is trying to adapt and survive. The Civil War is just one challenge it faces, along with the arrival of the Dragons. The Dragons themselves can't cause an Apoc because of the Dragonborn however another party, namely the Thalmor, most certainly could.
Skyrim itself in TES V, is doing well and is like taking a trip back in time to the glory days of the Empire. Skyrim was for the most part, spared the horrors of the Great War with the Empire still fighting to survive. And so, if the Empire were to make it, what of the Stormcloaks? Quit pro quo ~ Which means some kind of extreme negative event would unfold which kills the ending of Skyrim and makes all things new, with TES VI bringing us the "Fallout" of whatever happened at Skyrim.
And so, it is my conclusion based on current findings that TES VI will take place on some End of the World scenario, similar to Fallout 3. In Fallout 3, America was in a similar position as the Empire. Fighting LOTS of Civil Unrest, Fighting China (Thalmor), attempting peace which never lasted, the Empire quells the Civil Unrest and actually starts to win against China, the bombs drop and 99.9% of the population (outside the vaults) is wiped out or twisted into monsters.
It could be something crazy like Thalmor and Akaviri against Empire or Empire wins the Civil War and the next Great War ends in mutually assured destruction for all parties. Kinda like with what happened to Morrowind. Empire is gone, Thalmor are gone, very few cities and functioning Govs left. And my High Elf or Breton starts out in the middle of say Hammerfell or even Cyrodil again. Where there's factions trying to rebuild and people trying to get resources and such.
It seems that's kind of the theme for Skyrim, however you're in the best part of Tamriel. Isn't the same. Solstheim is in that direction though. Hammerfell is mostly desert so that might not work unless we're going for a New Vegas affect. Then that would work just fine. No... I think it would have to in Cyrodil. We'd walk thru the ashes of Cyrodil after the 2nd Great War and then they could do a Hammerfell expansion like New Vegas.