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WhenStarfieldlaunched in September 2023, it’s a fact that there were a lot of expectations riding on it. The game was alleged to be in production sinceFallout 4′s release in 2015 and Bethesda Game Studios made a lot of promises that it had to deliver on.
As Bethesda’s first new IP in decades, the game left a lot to be desired when it first came out. And that’s not to say that our expectations were too high, because even Phil Spencer admitted in 2023 that the goal was that it would last 12 years likeThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Starfielddoesn’t seem like it’ll have the long tenure thatSkyrimhas.
At launchStarfieldbecame the biggest Bethesda game launch within a week with a Steam peak of 330,723 players, surpassingSkyrim’s 287,411 in 2011. Despite this, the decline has been steep for the game because, by December 2024,Starfieldsees peak player counts of around 7,921 whileSkyrimstill gets monthly peaks of around 3,300 after 13 years.
As of this morning,#Starfieldhas already surpassed 6 million players, making it the biggest Bethesda game launch of all time.pic.twitter.com/4yZa1lAYjW
This isn’t to say thatStarfieldis a bad game. It’s a good, but flawed experience that has carried a lot of expectations on its back. Not just from its players but also its creators. Phil Spencer’s confidence in the game’s long-lasting success was evident when he spoke at the2023 Comic Con Experiencein São Paulo.
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The game’s performance on platforms like Steam further highlights its struggles. As of late 2024,Starfieldhad fewer active players thanBaldur’s Gate 3andElden Ring, both of which launched around the same time. Even older space exploration titles likeNo Man’s Skyhave pulled more players. ThoughNo Man Skyhas easily madethe best comeback in gaming history.
TheShattered SpaceDLC that was released just earlier this year in September was Bethesda’s chance to pull off the start of a comeback. Unfortunately, the expansion met with mixed to negative reviews. Many players found the content lackluster and unintuitive.
Bethesda has already pulled off a comeback withFallout 76so who knows?
Despite these challenges, Bethesda has expressed hope for the game’s future. Creative producer Tim Lamb said toThe Gamerin September 2024 that the team is committed to supporting the game long-term, with additional expansions and updates planned. Some leaks suggest a second DLC titledStarbornmay be in development.
WhileStarfieldmay not yet be the 12-year marathon runner that Phil believed it was, you can never say never. Bethesda has a history of turning games around, as we’ve seen withFallout 76, and gamers always love a good old-fashioned comeback. But the studio needs to buckle up andrecognize the game’s mistakes.
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The upcoming expansions and DLCs need to be better, not in terms of size but in quality. A yearly cycle of updates as we saw with theShattered SpaceDLC might be a bit slow, but we don’t want rushed content either so once again, quality over quantity.
Finally, the community has to be more involved. If there’s anyone who knows a game’s issues, it’s the players. And we don’t mean that one Twitter user demanding something, we mean the entire community. Only thenStarfieldcan have a claim to a lasting legacy such asSkyrim.
For now, the stars remain just out of reach. Do you think Bethesda can do it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Daniel Royte
Gaming Writer
Articles Published :1370
As part of the FandomWire team, Daniel has followed the hero-shooter genre closely with a focus on titles like VALORANT, Apex Legends, and Marvel Rivals. You can also find him providing insight on the latest AAA titles from Elden Ring to GTA 6 and exploring the world of gacha games like Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves. With more than 1,000 articles under his belt, you’ll need to look no further for a unique insight into every situation.If he’s not looking for the latest video game news, you’ll find him cheering on Ferrari in the race tracks of Formula 1 or at the theatres for the latest MCU releases.
