A Bethesda developer has confirmed that Starfield is receiving a new story DLC, alongside free updates and gameplay improvements. Starfield’s first story DLC, Shattered Space, was released in September 2024. The expansion received high praise from fans, though it did not manage to revive the game’s dwindling player count in any meaningful way. Depending on the reception of the second DLC, that might just change.
Bethesda has been hinting at the existence of a second expansion for Starfield for some time now, as Todd Howard himself confirmed plans for “Year 2” updates for the title all the way back in June 2024, which included a DLC. The company has remained tight-lipped about the exact nature of what it will entail. However, a patent filed for the name “Starborn” recently surfaced online, leading many to believe that this may be the title of the upcoming expansion, potentially revealing where the focus of the story lies.
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New Starfield Expansion Confirmed
In a developer spotlight, Starfield’s lead creative producer, Tim Lamb, revealed that developers at Bethesda are working on “free updates, features the players have been asking for, as well as a new DLC story,” reassuring fans that new content for the sci-fi RPG is on its way. He added that “a part of the team is focused on space gameplay to make the travels there more rewarding,” and confirmed that new Starfield Creation mods were also in the pipeline.
Lamb did not lock in a release date, but according to rumors from industry insiders, Starfield's second expansion won’t arrive before 2026. Interestingly, recent leaks also suggest that Starfield might be coming to PlayStation 5 and Switch 2 sometime in spring 2026. Considering the timeline, it would make total sense for Bethesda to release a major story DLC at the same time to sell more copies.
Recently, a rumor has been floating around in the community suggesting that Starfield may be revamping ship travel in an upcoming update, as modders who dug deep into the game’s recent updates uncovered traces of a yet-to-be-implemented feature called “cruise mode.” Lamb’s statement seemingly corroborates this rumor, as his mention of making space travel “more rewarding” could be pointing to exactly that. Currently, Starfield uses loading screens during space travel, and the teased changes may aim to replace them with a more interactive alternative.
Taken together, this announcement is heartening news for fans, as Bethesda’s commitment to pushing out new content is a reassuring sign for Starfield’s future. While many studios discontinue support if profits dip, many feel that Bethesda’s choice to stand by the game despite its mixed reception is admirable. The upcoming expansion is Starfield’s best chance yet to emerge as a long-term success story that overcame a rocky start.
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