Starfield 2 Unlikely in the Offing, Says Former Bethesda Designer

Former Bethesda Lead Systems Designer Kurt Kuhlmann has cast doubt on the prospect of a Starfield sequel, telling gaming outlet FRVR that the space exploration RPG “was anywhere near successful enough to do a Starfield 2.” The comment arrives as Bethesda continues to prioritize its upcoming Elder Scrolls VI and hands the next Fallout to Obsidian, signaling that a follow-up to Howard’s 2023 launch is unlikely to materialize in the near term.

Kuhlmann, who spoke with FRVR about the state of the studio’s flagship title, offered a candid assessment of the game’s commercial and critical reception. “I don’t think Starfield was anywhere near successful enough to do a Starfield 2,” he said. The remark is hardly surprising given the game’s polarizing reception since its release, even as it has earned praise for its ambition and depth. Our own reviewer Dan Stapleton noted that “Starfield has a lot of forces working against it, but eventually the allure of its expansive roleplaying quests and respectable combat make its gravitational pull difficult to resist.”

A Game That Fell Short of Ambition

Despite the lukewarm commercial response, Kuhlmann acknowledged that a sequel could have been a worthwhile endeavor had it benefited from the studio’s accumulated experience. “It’s, in a way, too bad, because I think with the lessons learned on Starfield, a Starfield 2 could have been much closer to the game that Todd [Howard] had in mind,” he explained. The sentiment reflects a broader consensus that the title, while improved considerably since launch, ultimately underperformed relative to the vision Howard outlined ahead of its debut.

That vision has since been refined through a steady stream of updates. Starfield has improved a great deal since it first came out, and it’s still has improvements down the pipeline, but it’s pretty clear that it fell short of Todd Howard’s ambitions ahead of its release.

Support Continues, But the Focus Has Shifted

Even so, Howard has reiterated his commitment to the title. Back in July, he put out a statement saying: “As we enter Year 3, we’ll continue expanding the Settled Systems with new stories, targeted gameplay improvements, and additional updates, while preparing for the launch of new Starborn content next year.” It’s possible that despite Kuhlmann’s predictions, these updates will be able to turn Starfield around, but it’s unlikely.

Instead, it seems like Bethesda is entirely focused on getting Elder Scrolls VI out the door (even if it’s still likely a couple years away), and Obsidian has been tapped to develop a new Fallout game. Even if a new Starfield game was somehow in the works, it’d be years before we ever heard about it. It’s probably safe to assume that it’s not going to happen any time in the near future.

“I don’t think Starfield was anywhere near successful enough to do a Starfield 2.”

Kurt Kuhlmann, former Bethesda Lead Systems Designer

Looking Ahead

With the studio’s creative energy redirected toward the long-gestating Elder Scrolls VI and Obsidian’s next Fallout entry, Bethesda appears to have effectively closed the door on a Starfield sequel for the foreseeable future. While the franchise will continue to receive content through its ongoing Year 3 support cycle, Kuhlmann’s assessment suggests that a standalone follow-up is not a project Bethesda is actively pursuing. Until the studio announces otherwise, fans should expect Starfield’s story to unfold through its existing DLC and live-service updates rather than a brand-new installment.