Starfield’s Longevity Goal is Promising, But it Should Differ From Skyrim

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Starfield's Longevity Goal is Promising, But it Should Differ From Skyrim

Key Takeaways

  • Starfield’s Shattered Space expansion launches on Sept. 30, promising new locations and deeper narrative.
  • Bethesda aims for Starfield to thrive for as long as Skyrim, but it will hopefully do so without hindering future projects.
  • The game’s longevity should rely on a balance of official DLC releases and strong modding community support, avoiding the frustrating re-releases of Skyrim.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that I’ve seen it all – from the rise and fall of game franchises to the endless cycles of expansion packs and re-releases. Having played my fair share of Skyrim and eagerly awaiting Starfield, I find myself both excited and cautiously optimistic about Bethesda’s post-launch plans for their upcoming space epic.

Initially, Starfield captivated players due to its vast array of content at launch. However, it’s evident that Bethesda still has much more planned for their sprawling space epic. Not only are there minor content enhancements that have already been implemented, but the anticipated Shattered Space expansion is scheduled for release on September 30. This expansion promises fresh locations and a more immersive exploration of the game’s House Va’ruun faction’s storyline.

As of now, the long-term plans for Starfield following its launch are still uncertain, but Bethesda has expressed a desire for it to have a lifespan similar to Skyrim, which has continued to release post-launch content for over a decade. The vast game world and rich lore of Starfield suggest potential for numerous DLCs in the future. However, it’s crucial that the game avoids the post-launch issues that Skyrim experienced, which may hinder the development of any future projects.

Starfield’s Post-Launch Plans Should Not Overstep the Mark

The upcoming expansion for “Starfield,” titled “Shattered Space,” appears set to be a fantastic enhancement to the game, allowing players to delve into the grittier aspects that the series is capable of portraying, and providing further details about one of its least exploited factions. Given the quality of this expansion, it’s plausible that the franchise might see similar large-scale expansions in the future, even though no additional ones have been officially confirmed. Each faction could potentially receive their own standalone DLC in such a scenario.

In many aspects, Skyrim followed a comparable path with its additional content following launch, delving deeper into elements initially introduced in the initial game. Yet, there were several drawbacks to how Skyrim handled its post-launch content, leading it to develop a reputation for multiple iterations over time. To date, there have been seven distinct versions of Skyrim that surfaced across various platforms, and it’s clear these releases have impacted potential Bethesda projects negatively.

The significant attention that Bethesda has given to Skyrim over time contributes, in part, to the lengthy wait fans have experienced for The Elder Scrolls 6. Now, it’s been 12 years since the debut of Skyrim, and despite Bethesda announcing The Elder Scrolls 6 in 2018, there hasn’t been a single update on the project. Regrettably, any timeline for the release of this much-anticipated game remains undisclosed.

Mods Could Be the Key to Starfield’s Longevity

It might be beneficial for Bethesda to take a more relaxed stance towards the development of Starfield, aiming to offer players an ample amount of new content while avoiding overburdening their resources. Overextending themselves in this way could potentially interfere with future projects such as Fallout or The Elder Scrolls series, and even impact potential sequels for Starfield itself.

Starfield’s vast scope might not require a follow-up, as Bethesda could extend its lifespan similarly to Skyrim through active community modding support. This year, they introduced full modding capabilities for Starfield, which has significantly transformed the gameplay experience, and it seems sensible that they would capitalize on this once all planned expansions are launched. By collaborating with Starfield’s community and providing robust modding support, Bethesda could ensure a prolonged post-launch existence for the game, without overstretching resources destined for future projects. A judicious blend of official DLC releases and nurturing the modding community would enable Starfield to maintain its popularity for years to come, potentially even surpassing Skyrim’s longevity, without constant remakes or updates.

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2024-09-17 21:33