Starfield has been a tricky release for developer Bethesda. Branded as "Skyrim in space" by those eager for the game, the launch of Starfield back in 2023 has yet to produce the same hype as the Elder Scrolls chapter. Criticisms of an empty world and slow story disappointed a lot of once-excited players. Since then, Bethesda has tried to expand Starfield's reach, but it's still proving to be a challenge.

The launch of its first DLC last year, Shattered Space, also received the same heavily-mixed reviews, making the game's post-launch lifespan look shorter than it was once hoped for. Bethesda has now kept suspiciously quiet about its future plans for Starfield, leaving the future of the game a huge question mark. Starfield may not have generated the fanfare that Bethesda was hoping for, but before the developer sets the IP aside, there is still the potential for the game to produce a strong prequel.

starfield-300-new-missions-mod
Starfield Mod Adds 300 Missions to the Game

A brand-new Starfield mod adds over 300 missions to Bethesda's space RPG.

By 

The Founding of the United Colonies Could Open the Door to Some Serious Prequel Potential

Despite its Divisive Nature, Starfield Holds Interesting Lore

  • After discovering that Earth was doomed to be destroyed, the planet came together in search of a new home.
  • The United Colonies was founded on Earth in 2159.
  • By 2160, the first colony ship landed on Jemison, marking the planet's beginning as the central piece of the United Colonies.

Starfield's hard sci-fi approach may keep it from fun concepts like intergalactic battles with intelligent alien life, but the lore that makes up the game's fictional history is still fascinating in its own right. A hypothetical prequel that followed the days of the earlier settlers of the Alpha Centauri system could lend itself to more story potential than what Starfield's premise allowed.

Colonizing the Unknown Reaches of Space

In Starfield, the Alpha Centauri system has already been colonized and built into a community, but if a prequel focused on being an explorer who was in charge of settling these various planets, it could potentially be more exciting. The world of Starfield may have its downsides, but a story where players can help build an early precursor to the capital city of New Atlantis might give the franchise a compelling Wild West edge.

Just like the early days of the Wild West era, adventuring and taking over land would be essential to space exploration. Starfield showcases an idealized version of space colonization, and demonstrating that optimism from the very beginning could add an extra later to the game's overall lore.

Many gamers are also waiting for The Elder Scrolls 6 to get another update. After being announced in 2018, Bethesda has yet to reveal another trailer.

The Wait for Starfield's Next DLC Continues

  • After Shattered Space, Bethesda has yet to confirm the game's second expansion.
  • There have been rumors suggesting that the DLC could be titled 'Starborn,' but these claims should be taken with a grain of salt.

The original plan for Starfield involved yearly expansions, but after feedback to the base game and Shattered Space, it's unclear if those ambitions will continue. If there's another DLC waiting in the wings, it will hopefully be revealed at the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase.

The Xbox Games Showcase airs on June 8. Starfield has also been rumored to be getting a PS5 port. If there was ever the perfect stage to make such an announcement, the Xbox Games Showcase would be the place.

There's no way to know for sure what's on the horizon, but Starfield could possibly benefit more from the prequel treatment than attempting to expand its base story. As the wait for more Starfield news continues, it will be interesting to see if Bethesda makes any fresh announcements in the coming weeks.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Starfield Tag Page Cover Art
10 /10

Starfield
Display card tags widget
Action
RPG
Display card system widget
Systems
PC-1 Xbox-1
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget
Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
Display card main info widget
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
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Genre(s)
Action, RPG
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
How Long To Beat
20 Hours
X|S Optimized
Yes
File Size Xbox Series
101 GB (September 2023)