Summary

  • Starfield's Shattered Space expansion launches on Sept. 30, promising new locations and deeper narrative.
  • Bethesda aims for Starfield to thrive for as long as Skyrim, but it will hopefully do so without hindering future projects.
  • The game's longevity should rely on a balance of official DLC releases and strong modding community support, avoiding the frustrating re-releases of Skyrim.

While a huge element of Starfield's appeal at launch was the immense range of content that it possessed, it is clear that Bethesda is nowhere near finished with its ambitious space-fairing title. Alongside minor content updates that the game has already received, the title is set to launch its promising Shattered Space expansion on September 30, bringing a variety of new locations as well as a deeper narrative dive into the game's House Va'ruun faction.

Its post-launch future remains unclear as things stand, but Bethesda has claimed it wants Starfield to last as long as Skyrim, which has famously released post-launch content for more than a decade. While the concept of Starfield's massive playable area and lore will be quite conducive to a lot of DLC in the future, it seems important that the game does not fall into the same post-launch pitfalls as Skyrim in terms of getting in the way of any future projects.

starfield red mile should inspire future bethesda games
Starfield's Red Mile Should Inspire One Type of Reward in Future Bethesda Games

When it comes to Starfield, Run the Red Mile is one of the most notable side missions that should inform future Bethesda games.

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Starfield's Post-Launch Plans Should Not Overstep the Mark

Starfield's upcoming Shattered Space expansion is already shaping up to be an excellent addition to the game, giving players the opportunity to explore the darker themes that the franchise can produce while offering more insight into one of its most underutilized factions. The title could justify several large-scale expansions like this over the years, despite no more being confirmed as things stand, with each faction perhaps being the recipient of their own dedicated DLC.

Skyrim went a similar route with many of its post-launch experiences, leaning further into elements that were only touched upon in the base game. There were also a lot of downsides to Skyrim's approach to its post-launch, however, with the game developing a reputation for its numerous re-releases over the years. There have been seven distinct versions of Skyrim that have been released across a variety of platforms over the years, and it is undeniable that these have somewhat got in the way of future Bethesda projects.

The massive focus from Bethesda on Skyrim over the years is a partial explanation for the long wait that fans have had for The Elder Scrolls 6, with 12 years having passed since Skyrim's initial launch. While The Elder Scrolls 6 was famously revealed by Bethesda in 2018, there have been no updates on the project ever since, with any form of release window for the anticipated game still being off the table.

Bethesda has claimed it wants Starfield to last as long as Skyrim, which has famously released post-launch content for more than a decade.

Mods Could Be the Key to Starfield's Longevity

Picture of Starfield Combat Mod: Combat Stealth Overhaul

Bethesda should try to ease off on this approach when it comes to Starfield, ensuring that players still get a comprehensive amount of fresh content without compromising the development of any future projects. Not only could this encroach on future plans for the likes of Fallout or The Elder Scrolls, but it could even impact a potential Starfield sequel that Bethesda may want to launch further down the line.

The expansive nature of Starfield may not even necessitate a sequel, as Bethesda can rely more on community modding to give the game longevity on the same level as Skyrim. Full modding support for Starfield launched earlier this year to great success, wildly changing how the game can be played, and Bethesda may be wise to lean into this once whatever expansions it has planned have launched. Not only would this allow Bethesda to work directly with Starfield's community, but it would give the game a much longer post-launch life without pulling too many resources away from whatever comes next for the studio. With a healthy balance between official DLC releases and great support for the game's modding community, Starfield can thrive for Skyrim long-term without needing re-release after re-release.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Starfield Tag Page Cover Art
10 /10

Starfield
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Action
RPG
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Systems
PC-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
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Released
September 6, 2023
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Engine
proprietary engine
Cross-Platform Play
no multiplayer
Cross Save
no
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Genre(s)
Action, RPG
How Long To Beat
20 Hours
X|S Optimized
Yes
File Size Xbox Series
101 GB (September 2023)