Former Bethesda Dev Comments on the Potential of a Starfield Sequel

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Former Bethesda Dev Comments on the Potential of a Starfield Sequel

Key Takeaways

  • Starfield System Designer Bruce Nesmith expects that Bethesda’s latest game will get a sequel.
  • Nesmith believes Starfield 2 will be a great game that will build on its predecessor’s foundation.
  • Bethesda is currently working on TES 6 and has already confirmed Fallout 5 will be its next project afterward. Starfield 2 hence isn’t likely to arrive before the late 2030s at the earliest.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation and excitement when it comes to the potential sequel of Bethesda’s latest offering, Starfield. Having witnessed the evolution of their games from Daggerfall to Skyrim, I’ve seen firsthand how subsequent titles build upon their predecessors’ foundations, becoming even more polished and immersive.

According to ex-Bethesda developer Bruce Nesmith, it seems that we might expect Starfield 2 at some point in the future. Moreover, this seasoned gaming expert is quite optimistic about the upcoming sequel of Starfield.

Ted Nesmith is a game designer who spent over two decades at Bethesda, with two separate periods of employment. During this time, he was involved in the creation of all mainline Elder Scrolls games from Daggerfall onwards, and also contributed to Fallout 3, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76. After departing Bethesda in 2021, he decided to pursue a career as a fantasy novelist. However, even in his new role, he found time to work on the system design for Starfield.

In a recent chat with VideoGamer, Nesmith expressed his thoughts on Bethesda’s upcoming game, Starfield. He believes that this title will function as an outstanding blueprint for future RPGs. Expanding on his viewpoint, the ex-developer noted that initial installments in a series often have rough edges but display “sparks of genius,” serving as crucial foundations for franchises to truly excel later on. This is what he anticipates for Starfield. Excitedly, he mentioned, “I can’t wait for Starfield 2!” and expects it to be an exceptional game.

Starfield Took Longer To Develop Because It Was Made From Scratch

In discussing iterative development, the seasoned professional highlighted that having previously developed Morrowind was a significant advantage when creating Oblivion, and this advantage extended to Skyrim as well. If Bethesda had been required to start anew each time they developed another 3D fantasy RPG, Oblivion and Skyrim might have needed “an additional two or three years” to complete. Interestingly, Starfield, on the other hand, took over seven years to develop, much longer than Bethesda’s typical titles.

I’m looking forward to Starfield 2. I think it’s going to be one hell of a game.

Nesmith admitted that some players had issues with Starfield, but he believes that future installments of the series will rectify many of these concerns. As he put it, “Often, a second or third iteration of the game is necessary to fully enhance all aspects.

Starfield 2 Likely Isn’t Happening Anytime Soon

It seems clear that Nesmith believes there will be a sequel for Starfield, but it’s highly improbable that this will happen in the near future. This is particularly true if Bethesda plans to develop the game internally. Right now, The Elder Scrolls 6 is still in its early stages of development, and Bethesda is also busy creating post-launch content for Starfield, as well as maintaining Fallout 76. Once The Elder Scrolls 6 is completed around 2029, Bethesda will likely move on to develop Fallout 5, which they have previously confirmed. If we assume that AAA game development cycles don’t extend any further, Fallout 5 might be released around 2034. Given this timeline, even if Bethesda were to start Starfield 2 immediately afterward, it wouldn’t likely come out until the late 2030s at the earliest.

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2024-10-27 21:13