As the first original IP from Bethesda in over 25 years, there was a lot of hype and excitement leading up to Starfield's launch. After all, following the release of 2015's Fallout 4, BGS fans had waited nearly a decade for a new single player game from the renowned RPG developer. On top of that, Starfield was even positioned as a system seller for Xbox consoles, due to it being exclusive to the platform. When the game finally launched in September 2023, however, it wasn't able to live up to everyone's lofty expectations. Though Starfield received mostly solid reviews from critics, the reception it received from fans was far more divisive, as many criticized the game for its exploration, presentation, and plot, among other things. Ultimately, what was meant to be a celebratory release for Bethesda ended up being embroiled in controversy.

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Starfield's Franchise Potential Can Only Go Up from Here

Starfield may have been divisive at launch, but the franchise only has room to grow from here on out thanks to its expansions and DLC.

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Rumors Suggest That Bethesda is Working on a New Expansion For Starfield Called Starborn

Zenimax's Recent Starborn Trademark Caught the Attention of Fans

Eagle-eyed fans on Twitter recently spotted that Zenimax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Game Studios, filed a trademark for the name Starborn on July 12, 2024. While nothing in this registration is explicitly linked to Starfield, the chances of it being associated with Bethesda's space RPG are very high, considering the fact that "Starborn" is a term used in the game itself. Even if it is indeed related to Starfield, it's not exactly clear what this trademark is for, but fans are theorizing that it might be the name for the game's next expansion after Shattered Space.

A Second Starfield Expansion is Likely in the Works

Although a second Starfield expansion hasn't been formally announced yet, there is good reason to believe that more story DLC for the game is in the works. In an interview with MrMattyPlays in June 2024, Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard shared some information about the studio's future plans for Starfield. Besides providing some additional details about the upcoming Shattered Space expansion, the developer revealed that BGS is planning a "Year 2" roadmap for its space RPG. While Howard declined to comment on what exactly fans should expect of these updates, he did state that Bethesda wants to release a new expansion for Starfield annually for as long as possible. Based off this information, it looks like fans are very likely to get more story DLC for the game in 2025.

The Title of the Rumored Starfield Expansion Could Clue Fans in on What it's About

If Starborn is indeed the name for the next Starfield expansion in 2025, then this title could give fans a clue as to what the story DLC could be about. In the game, the Starborn are an enigmatic faction that serve as both an antagonistic force and the catalyst behind Starfield's main story. Assuming this Starborn expansion is real, then perhaps it could give players further insight into the lore behind this mysterious group. Additionally, Bethesda could take things a step further by making this DLC a call-back of sorts to Skyrim's Dragonborn expansion, which featured Miraak, the First Dragonborn, as a primary antagonist.

Sadly, it'll probably be a while before Bethesda reveals what this potential Starborn expansion is about and if it even exists. There is, at the very least, a small chance that it gets teased at Gamescom 2024, as Microsoft has already confirmed that Starfield will make an appearance there.

Starfield Tag Page Cover Art
10 /10

Starfield
Action
RPG
Systems
PC-1 Xbox-1
Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
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

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL

Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.
The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.

Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Genre(s)
Action, RPG
How Long To Beat
20 Hours
File Size Xbox Series
101 GB (September 2023)