Bethesda Sport Studios has reassured followers that Starfield “stays an essential a part of our future,” teasing Starborn DLC in 2027.
Studio improvement chief Todd Howard issued a be aware to followers as we speak following the enormous layoffs at Xbox that noticed 1,600 workers lower from Microsoft’s gaming enterprise, and phrase that one other 1,600 will comply with throughout the present monetary 12 months.
BGS was affected by the layoffs, though Bethesda has insisted The Elder Scrolls 6, which is the studio’s present focus, is unaffected.
Following the announcement of the Xbox layoffs, followers have been fast to level out that Starfield was absent from Bethesda’s new precedence checklist. Starfield largely failed to satisfy fan expectations upon its 2023 launch, and subsequent updates and expansions have not actually moved the needle both. Nonetheless, a few of the sport’s extra hardcore followers had hoped that Starfield would go on to no less than get extra expansions, and possibly even a sequel, establishing itself as Bethesda’s third franchise.
Howard stated as we speak that Starfield has seen over 17 million gamers, which is a big quantity for any sport and, you’ll assume, sufficient to justify additional funding regardless of the combined response.
“STARFIELD CONTINUES,” Howard’s message reads. “With over 17 million gamers logging nearly a billion hours thus far, Starfield stays an essential a part of our future. As we enter Yr 3, we’ll proceed increasing the Settled Methods with new tales, focused gameplay enhancements, and extra updates, whereas getting ready for the launch of latest Starborn content material subsequent 12 months. Greater than 40% of gamers already customise their expertise by Creations, and we’ll proceed investing in creators and giving gamers new methods to make Starfield their very own.”
Does “getting ready for the launch of latest Starborn content material subsequent 12 months,” imply a brand new, full-on enlargement is in the works for Starfield? Fans actually hope so. There’s no point out of a Nintendo Swap 2 model of Starfield both, after it was reportedly stated to be in the works. And there isn’t any phrase of a Starfield sequel, which maybe is not stunning given The Elder Scrolls 6 remains to be reportedly no less than two years away, and Bethesda Sport Studios simply confirmed Fallout 5 is in pre-production. Is Starfield 2 have been to be made in any cheap timeframe, maybe it must come from one other Xbox studio, reasonably than Bethesda itself.
Bethesda boss Jill Braff has informed workers that the layoffs and alter in technique “replicate the realities of our business and enterprise – and our duty to make sure Bethesda is working from a extra steady basis.”
“To achieve success in the future, we have to change course,” Braff continued. “We should strengthen our enterprise, return to sustainable progress, and guarantee we will proceed investing in our franchises and our gamers. I do know that does not make a day like as we speak any simpler.”
With out naming video games, Braff stated “to greatest place Bethesda for future progress, we’re shifting from a planning mannequin primarily centered on what’s subsequent for every unbiased studio to 1 that focuses on our strongest franchises and figuring out the content material roadmap that greatest serves our gamers and Bethesda as a complete.”
“From there, we’ll align the proper expertise, know-how, and assets throughout the group to ship on these priorities,” Braff added.
Starfield was launched on PS5 earlier this 12 months however analysts consider the sport bought poorly on Sony’s console, one thing that won’t have occurred had the sport had a day and date launch on PlayStation again in 2023.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.