The highly anticipated next Bethesda IP,Starfield,was finally given a release date at E3 2021, and fans have been ravenous for any information regarding the upcoming sci-fi open-world (or, rather, open-universe) game. It’s been in the works since the late ’90s when the company firstplayed with the ideaof an open-world Sci-Fi series, and it’s finally coming to fruition in 2022.
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Aside from a basic trailer highlighting the overall world and aesthetic, not much is known aboutStarfield. There have been some press releases and informational panels, but fans generally don’t know what to expect. This has led to the gaming community coming up with their own theories. Some are very believable, but others are pretty out there. If nothing else, the discourse surroundingStarfieldis a signal that hype meters are maxing out amongs Bethesda fans.
5It Subtly Takes Place In The Elder Scrolls Universe
One particularly far-fetched but semi-believable theory aboutStarfieldis that it takes place in the same universe asThe Elder Scrolls. The theory that Bethesda games all take place in the same universe is nothing new. Fans have long speculated that the world ofFalloutis set thousands of years afterThe Elder Scrolls(or perhaps thousands of years before, akin toStar Wars.)
IfStarfieldis indeed based in the same universe, it would be afar-future versionof what players see in anyElder Scrollstitle. There isn’t much evidence for this theory aside from fans dreaming up possibilities, but there is one detail that could indicate a morsel of truth.A symbol seen on a console in theStarfieldtrailerbears a strong resemblance to the western portion of Tamriel, specifically High Rock and Hammerfell. Some fans have speculated that this is just a teaser for the equally anticipatedElder Scrolls VI, though of course, nothing is confirmed.
4Faction-Based Progression Means A Better Open World
One of the few things that has been confirmed aboutStarfieldis the presence offaction-based gameplay.Player experiences will be molded from the very startbased on their choiceof factions, which can change throughout. What’s more, there are many more factions inStarfieldthan inSkyrimor evenFallout: New Vegasalready confirmed.
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One of the major criticisms of Bethesda’s recent offerings, particularly in theFalloutseries, has been the lack of a true open-world feel. Compared to older games likeThe Elder Scrolls III: Morrowindor the aforementionedFallout: New Vegas, choices don’t seem to matter quite as much in, say,Fallout 4. Hopefully,the number of factions(and their apparent effect on the progression of the world) could mean that Bethesda is returning to older development philosophies on a player-driven open world.
3Starfield Will Be Mod-Ready From The Start
If it wasn’t for theincredibly strong modding scenefor theFalloutseries andThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, these games might never have been the blockbuster industry leaders that they are today. In the past, Bethesda has not released official mod support for games upon release. With the release ofSkyrim Anniversary, and of course the Bethesda Creator Club inSkyrim SEandFallout 4, it appears that ethos has changed.
If Bethesda has learned anything from the massive popularity ofSkyrimit’s thata strong modding community can help drive sales, even if mods fundamentally change how the game is played.Starfieldwill likely have mod support from the very outset, but whether it will be in the form of the Steam Workshop or the Bethesda Creator Club (or even both) is yet to be revealed.
2It Will Be Much Harder Than Fallout 4 Or Skyrim
Todd Howard, the Executive Producer and face of Bethesda throughout the last few decades, indicated in several interviews throughout 2021 that something needs to change about their development philosophy. He indicated thatStarfieldwill feature thereturn of many classic RPG featuresthat were sorely missing from their recent titles. However, this also means that it’s likely thatStarfieldwill not hold the player’s hand.
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Games likeMorrowindandOblivionare much more difficult thanSkyrimthanks to the depth of combat systems, the breadth of player choices, and the overall lack of guidance. Even games likeFallout 3andNew Vegasfeature classic RPG systems that fundamentally force players to more carefully consider their options. If the stars align,we may even see the return of RPG “classes,” a form of “spellcrafting” for the Sci-Fi setting,and perhaps even the removal of hand-holding quest markers and organized mission journals.
1An Official Gameplay Trailer Is Coming Sooner Than We Think
The official release date forStarfieldis 11/11/22, exactly 11 years after the release ofThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Onefan on Reddit pointed outseveral similarities between the two games' release timelines, and came to the believable conclusion thata gameplay trailer forStarfieldwill come in early 2022.
Skyrimwas released on 11/11/11, and a gameplay trailer came out on February 24th, 2011 about nine months before release. The user also pointed out that Xbox doesn’t have any major releases planned for the start of 2022, and itwould be smart of Bethesdato hype up the upcoming timed-exclusive Xbox title during a slow period for the console.
Starfieldwill release on June 21, 2025 for PC and as a timed exclusive on the Xbox Series X|S.
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