Highlights

  • Starfield's Shattered Space DLC aims to expand the game, but an online spin-off is likely far off.
  • Bethesda's timeline for franchises suggests Starfield may need a sequel before considering an online version.
  • The future of Starfield remains uncertain, as Bethesda prioritizes The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout.

Last year, Starfield made its way onto Bethesda's growing roster as the developer ventured into the far reaches of space for its new IP. Although Bethesda had dabbled with light sci-fi in the past with its Fallout games, Starfield was a completely new approach for the studio. Although the space adventure had mixed reviews from players at first, Starfield has found a loyal following in its first year as periodical updates and an upcoming DLC have reignited interest.

The upcoming Shattered Space DLC shows that Bethesda wants to expand the base game further, but just how far it wants to take the IP is a major question looming over Starfield. The Elder Scrolls and Fallout are some of Bethesda's biggest franchises, and the latter got its first online multiplayer installment with 2018's Fallout 76. Thanks to the live-action Fallout series, there is a new interest in Fallout 76, but it also raises the question of whether Starfield should get its own online multiplayer spin-off as well. This is an intriguing prospect, but this type of Starfield spin-off is likely far off in the future.

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Starfield Needs More Time to Prove Itself as a Long-Lasting Franchise

Starfield had a rocky start when it was released last year. Although it had some great features, like in-depth shipbuilding, one of the main complaints from many players is that the game felt empty. Shattered Space will hopefully bring more excitement to the game, but there are reasons other than Starfield's divisive launch that prove why an online spin-off is probably many years away.

Comparing Starfield to Fallout

Starfield is a fresh IP from Bethesda, but the studio has been the main developer of the Fallout franchise since 2008's Fallout 3. When considering the developer's timeline for the franchise, Fallout 76 wasn't released until a decade later in 2018, and Starfield will likely have to follow a similar timeline if an online version of the game is to be justified.

The Shattered Space DLC could prove to be the extra kick that Starfield needs to go from a good game to a great game, but it will take more than that to prove that it's a worthy IP for Bethesda to spend at least a decade with. At the very least, Starfield will need one more sequel before it can even be considered for an online multiplayer spin-off. It has proven to be a fairly successful title for Bethesda, but it hasn't reached the heights of Fallout yet.

The only Fallout game not to be developed by Bethesda since it took over the franchise is New Vegas , which was developed by Obsidian Entertainment.

Bethesda Has Big Choices to Make For Future Projects

Despite the upcoming release of the Shattered Space expansion, Bethesda may steer away from Starfield. Thanks to the overwhelming success of Amazon Prime's Fallout series, the franchise has reached new levels of popularity that Bethesda would be smart to capitalize on. This means that Starfield could possibly be a one-off project that doesn't get the same long-running franchise treatment that Fallout and The Elder Scrolls do. With The Elder Scrolls 6 still looming in the distance and a fresh desire for more Fallout, there may not be much room for Starfield to grow, at least for now.

However, there could potentially be Starfield spin-offs planned if Shattered Space is enough of a success. Still, The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout will probably take priority for the next few years, so expanding Starfield past DLCs isn't likely to happen for several years. As games become more intricate and certain franchises gain popularity over others, developers have to make tough decisions on which project gets priority, and at the moment, it doesn't seem like Starfield would be considered.