Starfield’s Uncertain Future

A recent report from Bloomberg suggests that Microsoft’s restructuring of Xbox will see Bethesda focusing on a handful of franchises going forward. These five franchises are expected to be a priority, with at least three of them already having games in development. The franchises in question are Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake. This shift in focus has left fans of the sci-fi game Starfield worried about its future.

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Starfield, which debuted in 2023 after an extended development, was a passion project for Bethesda boss Todd Howard. Unfortunately, the game largely failed to meet fan expectations, and subsequent updates and expansions haven’t really moved the needle on that sentiment. Despite this, some of the game’s more hardcore fans had hoped that Starfield would go on to at least get more expansions, and maybe even a sequel, establishing itself as Bethesda’s third franchise.

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However, it appears that Starfield is not part of Bethesda’s priority list going forward. The game’s absence from the list has left fans mourning its potential demise. Some are even actively protesting Xbox over Starfield’s potential demise.

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“If you end Starfield, I am leaving,” said one Xbox player. “I became part of the Xbox family for this game, a game that was finally something unique instead of the same franchises regurgitated, and I won’t stay on a platform where it’s no longer possible. My wallet will stay closed.”

Others were a bit more understanding of the potential reality that Starfield may not continue. The game had a prolonged development and didn’t hit the mark for fans, making it an easy decision for Microsoft to at least put it on the back burner.

The amount of time it took to develop Starfield and the end product not hitting the mark is understandable, according to one fan. “I think we do need to get out of the 10+ year wait for the next Fallout or Elder Scrolls,” they said.

Another fan echoed these thoughts: “Starfield left a bad taste in people’s mouths, and given the time/budget they would require for a sequel, I understand why Microsoft is more eager to invest in other IP.”

“Based on its own merits, that should be a one and done. For every good design choice there is a bad one,” said another unimpressed player.

Whether or not Starfield returns decades from now remains to be seen, but it looks unlikely. The game’s poor sales on the PS5, where it was released earlier this year, may be a contributing factor to its potential demise.

Bethesda has its hands tied up with The Elder Scrolls 6, and another team like Obsidian could be set to work on a Fallout game. However, nothing has been confirmed.

Some fans are holding onto hope that Starfield will continue in some form, while others are accepting of its potential demise. The future of Starfield remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: its absence from Bethesda’s priority list is a significant blow to its fans.