Starfield 2 Release Probably Years Away, But Promised to be “One Hell of a Game”

Starfield, released in 2023, has already sparked sequel speculation. While Bethesda remains tight-lipped, a former developer offered insights. Read on to discover their comments and potential Starfield 2 expectations.

Starfield 2: "One Hell of a Game," According to a Former Bethesda Dev

A Former Bethesda Designer Hints at a Stellar Sequel to the Spacefaring RPG

Former Bethesda lead designer, Bruce Nesmith, recently predicted a phenomenal Starfield 2. A veteran of Bethesda, contributing significantly to Skyrim and Oblivion, Nesmith (who left in September 2021) believes the sequel will surpass its predecessor, building upon established foundations and lessons learned.

In a recent interview with VideoGamer, Nesmith highlighted the advantages of sequel development, drawing parallels to Skyrim's evolution from Oblivion, and Oblivion from Morrowind. He suggests Starfield's groundwork simplifies sequel development, acknowledging that the original involved building many systems and technologies from scratch.

"I’m looking forward to Starfield 2. I think it’s going to be one hell of a game because it’s going to address a lot of the things people are saying," Nesmith stated. "‘We’re quite there. We’re missing a little bit.’ It will be able to take what’s in there right now and put in a lot of new stuff and fix a lot of those problems."

Nesmith compared the potential to franchises like Mass Effect and Assassin's Creed, series initially strong but refined and expanded upon in later installments. "It takes, sadly, sometimes a second or third version of the game in order to really enrich everything," he added.

Starfield 2 Release: Years, Even a Decade Away?

Howard emphasized Bethesda's dedication to thoughtful game development and franchise management, aiming to maintain high standards. "We just want to get it right and make sure that everything we’re doing in a franchise, whether it’s Elder Scrolls or Fallout or now Starfield, that those become meaningful moments for everybody who loves these franchises as much as we do," Howard explained.

Bethesda's lengthy development cycles are well-known. The Elder Scrolls VI, in pre-production since 2018, remains in early development (Bethesda's head of publishing, Pete Hines). Howard confirmed to IGN that Fallout 5 will follow The Elder Scrolls VI. This suggests these titles will precede any further Starfield development.

Considering Xbox's Phil Spencer's 2023 statement that The Elder Scrolls VI was "at least five years out," a 2026 release at the earliest seems plausible. If Fallout 5 follows a similar timeline, a new Starfield game might not arrive until the mid-2030s.

While Starfield 2 remains speculative, fans can find comfort in Howard's commitment to the franchise. Starfield's DLC, Shattered Space (released September 30th), addressed some initial concerns. Further DLC is planned, alongside the potential future arrival of Starfield 2.