"Starfield 2 Release Years Away, Promised to be Stellar"

Starfield, released in 2023, has already sparked conversations about a potential sequel. While Bethesda has kept quiet on the matter, a former developer has shared insights on what fans might expect from Starfield 2.

Starfield 2 Will be “One Hell of a Game,” According to Ex-Bethesda Dev

Former Bethesda Designer Believes the Foundation has been Set for a Great Sequel to the Spacefaring RPG

Former Bethesda lead designer Bruce Nesmith, known for his contributions to titles like Skyrim and Oblivion, recently made headlines with his assertion that Starfield 2 could be "one hell of a game." Having left Bethesda in September 2021, Nesmith emphasized in an interview with VideoGamer that the sequel could significantly improve upon its predecessor, leveraging the foundational work already done. He highlighted how sequels often refine and expand upon the original game, citing examples like Skyrim from Oblivion, and Oblivion from Morrowind.

Nesmith expressed optimism about Starfield 2, stating, "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. '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 drew parallels with other franchises like Mass Effect and Assassin’s Creed, which refined their concepts over multiple iterations. "It takes, sadly, sometimes a second or third version of the game in order to really enrich everything," Nesmith remarked.

Starfield 2 Release Date Could be Years Away, a Decade Even

The first Starfield received mixed reviews, with some critics pointing out issues with pacing and content density. However, Bethesda has expressed a commitment to nurturing Starfield into a franchise comparable to The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. In an interview with YouTuber MrMattyPlays, Bethesda’s Director Todd Howard mentioned plans for annual story expansions for Starfield, aiming to support the game "for hopefully a very long time."

Howard emphasized Bethesda's approach to game development, stating, "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."

Bethesda is known for its lengthy development cycles. The Elder Scrolls VI, which entered pre-production in 2018, is still in its early stages, as confirmed by Bethesda’s head of publishing, Pete Hines. Howard further told IGN that Fallout 5 would follow after The Elder Scrolls VI. Given this timeline, fans might need to wait until the mid-2030s for Starfield 2, as Xbox's Phil Spencer suggested The Elder Scrolls VI is "at least five years out," pointing to a 2026 release at the earliest.

While Starfield 2 remains speculative, fans can look forward to continued support for the original game. The first DLC, Shattered Space, was released on September 30, addressing some of the initial game's shortcomings, with more DLC planned for the future.