Starfield Update: Years to Release, Promises Epic Gameplay

While Starfield's 2023 launch is still fresh, anticipation for a sequel is already building. Although Bethesda remains officially silent, a former developer has offered insights. This article explores their comments and what they might mean for a potential Starfield 2.

Starfield 2: A Promising Sequel, According to a Former Bethesda Developer

A Strong Foundation for a Stellar Sequel

Former Bethesda lead designer, Bruce Nesmith, recently predicted a spectacular Starfield 2, declaring it will be "one hell of a game." A veteran of Bethesda, with significant contributions to titles like Skyrim and Oblivion, Nesmith (who departed in September 2021) believes the sequel will not only build upon its predecessor but potentially surpass it. He attributes this potential to lessons learned and the robust groundwork already established.

Nesmith, in an interview with VideoGamer, highlighted the advantages of sequel development, drawing parallels to the evolution of Skyrim from Oblivion, and Oblivion from Morrowind. He suggests Starfield's foundation could streamline the sequel's creation. While acknowledging Starfield's impressive scope, he pointed out that much of it involved building "from the ground up" with new systems and technology.

"I’m looking forward to Starfield 2. I think it’s going to be one hell of a game because it’s going to address a lot of the things people are saying," Nesmith stated. "‘We’re quite there. We’re missing a little bit.’ It will be able to take what’s in there right now and put in a lot of new stuff and fix a lot of those problems."

He further compared the situation to franchises like Mass Effect and Assassin's Creed, noting how their initial entries, while good, were refined and expanded upon in later, iconic sequels. "It takes, sadly, sometimes a second or third version of the game in order to really enrich everything," Nesmith observed.

Starfield 2: A Long-Term Horizon

Starfield's initial reception was mixed, with critics offering varying opinions on pacing and content. However, Bethesda's commitment to Starfield as a major franchise alongside The Elder Scrolls and Fallout is evident. Bethesda's Director, Todd Howard, confirmed to YouTuber MrMattyPlays in June their intention to release annual story expansions for "hopefully a very long time."

Howard emphasized Bethesda's deliberate approach to game development and franchise management, aiming to maintain high standards. "We just want to get it right and make sure that everything we’re doing in a franchise, whether it’s Elder Scrolls or Fallout or now Starfield, that those become meaningful moments for everybody who loves these franchises as much as we do," Howard explained.

Bethesda's lengthy development cycles are well-known. The Elder Scrolls VI, in pre-production since 2018, remains in "early development," according to Bethesda's head of publishing, Pete Hines. Howard confirmed to IGN that Fallout 5 will follow The Elder Scrolls VI. Considering Xbox's Phil Spencer's 2023 statement that The Elder Scrolls VI was "at least five years out," a 2026 release at the earliest seems plausible. If Fallout 5 follows a similar timeline, a new Starfield game might not arrive until the mid-2030s.

While Starfield 2 remains speculative, Howard's commitment to the franchise is reassuring. The recent release of Shattered Space, a DLC addressing some initial concerns, and the planned future DLC, further supports this commitment. Fans eagerly await both future DLC and the potential arrival of Starfield 2.