Bethesda Game Studios Reassures Starfield Fans Amid Layoffs

Following the recent layoffs at Xbox, which saw 1,600 staff members cut from Microsoft’s gaming business, and an additional 1,600 expected to follow this year, fans were quick to point out that Starfield was absent from Bethesda’s new priority list. Despite the game’s mixed response upon its 2023 launch and subsequent updates, which failed to significantly boost its player base, Bethesda’s development chief, Todd Howard, has reaffirmed the studio’s commitment to the game.

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Starfield’s Player Base and Future Plans

According to Howard, Starfield has seen over 17 million players, logging almost a billion hours to date. This impressive player base has led Howard to confirm that Starfield ‘remains an important part of our future.’ The studio is planning to continue expanding the game’s Settled Systems with new stories, targeted gameplay improvements, and additional updates. Furthermore, they are preparing for the launch of new Starborn content in 2027.

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Howard’s message to fans reads: ‘With over 17 million players logging almost a billion hours to date, Starfield remains an important part of our future. As we enter Year 3, we’ll continue expanding the Settled Systems with new stories, targeted gameplay improvements, and additional updates, while preparing for the launch of new Starborn content next year.’ He also mentioned that more than 40% of players already customize their experience through Creations, and the studio will continue investing in creators and giving players new ways to make Starfield their own.

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While the news of Starfield’s future is reassuring for fans, the lack of a Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game and any word of a Starfield sequel remains unclear. The Elder Scrolls 6, currently in development, is reportedly at least two years away, and Bethesda has confirmed that Fallout 5 is in pre-production. This raises questions about whether Starfield 2, if made, would be developed by another Xbox studio or Bethesda itself.

Bethesda’s Response to Layoffs and Shift in Strategy

Bethesda boss Jill Braff has addressed the recent layoffs and change in strategy, stating that ‘the layoffs and change in strategy reflect the realities of our industry and business.’ Braff emphasized the need for the company to ‘strengthen our business, return to sustainable growth, and ensure we can continue investing in our franchises and our players.’

Braff also mentioned that the company is shifting from a planning model primarily centered on individual studios to one that focuses on their strongest franchises and determines the content roadmap that best serves their players and Bethesda as a whole. This change in strategy aims to position the company for future growth by aligning the right talent, technology, and resources across the organization to deliver on their priorities.

Starfield was released on PS5 earlier this year, but analysts believe the game sold poorly on Sony’s console. This might have been different had the game had a day-and-date release on PlayStation back in 2023.