Summary
Starfieldwas an ambitious venture for developer, Bethesda, but in other ways, it felt like a retreat into safety. On one hand, giving players hundreds of planets to explore on their own ship was something new instead of theopen-world format ofThe Elder ScrollsandFallout. Still, its gameplay mechanics felt instantly familiar and outdated.
This wasn’t a fate thatSkyrimseemed to suffer, as people were constantly satisfied by what that game provided. Multiple major DLC packs were released to help justify all that exploration long after the game first hit shelves, but while that strategy worked in 2011,Starfieldmight need to neglect the idea of several new expansions, instead focusing onShattered Space, the one confirmed piece of DLC content for the new Bethesda title.
Skyrim’s Stopping Power is Unmatched
Bethesda was at the top of its game in 2011, coming off the back of the successfulFallout 3a few years before.Skyrimis one of the biggest touchstones of the RPG genre to date, resetting the bar that only a handful of titles, even today, have managed to clear. It’s still providing new experiences today as players use mods to constantly make the game feel fresh. Though an abundance of new versions on almost every platform available have made the game overbearing to some fans, others appreciate how relevant Bethesda has keptSkyrim.
The game’s success was obvious in its opening few weeks on the market, and thethree DLC expansions,Dawnguard, Hearthfire, andDragonbornbrought new content to a single-player game that people are still playing today.Starfieldis in an altogether different situation 12 years later, so it wouldn’t be wise to assume that it’ll follow in the footsteps ofSkyrimsimply because it shares the same developer.
DLC’s Place in Gaming is Different in 2023
WhenSkyrimlaunched in 2011, DLC was commonplace, and was one of the few ways developers could add to a game post-release. Now, in-game purchases, live-service offerings, and half-sequels are the primary methods of prolonging a title or reusing a gameplay loop. As such, the conventional DLC expansion in the same vein asThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dragonborn, for example, might not be necessary or even all that desired in 2023.
Multiple expansions toSkyrimreleased within six months of each other, which is something that simply isn’t viable in the current iteration of gaming where development time is significantly longer.Starfieldreceiving more downloadable content isn’t unrealistic, as going to new planets with different cultural norms to acquire unique weapons and clothing would have some appeal, but the game is more likely to follow the likes ofHorizon Forbidden WestorCyberpunk 2077with a single expansion rather than multiple.
Starfield Has a Lot Riding on its Only Confirmed DLC
Shattered Spaceis being billed as the ‘first’ piece of downloadable content forStarfield,which implies there will be more to come, but a single, well-executed expansion rather than a few throw-away ones would surely be preferable for fans, as working on multiple big additions could push back the development ofThe Elder Scrolls 6, which fans have been anticipating since it was revealed almost five years ago.
Starfield’s Legacy is Stunted
Starfieldwas one of the most anticipated games not just of 2023, but the decade. Bethesda releases a new RPG once in a blue moon, so expectations were high. Sadly, for many it didn’t reach those heights, as therecent reviews on Steam are ‘Mostly Negative.’ Bethesda plans to updateStarfieldevery few weeks, starting in February 2024, but most of the work is likely to be spent fixing, tweaking, and improving the game as it currently exists, so new content akin toSkyrimfeels like a far-away possibility.
Starfieldreceiving more downloadable content isn’t unrealistic…but it’s more likely to follow the likes ofHorizon Forbidden WestorCyberpunk 2077with a single expansion rather than multiple.
Starfield’s good grace among gamers seems to be dwindling, and though DLC might be a viable way to bring people back and nurture a possible reputation revival (much likeCyberpunk 2077did withPhantom Liberty), it could also have the opposite effect.Starfieldhas the potential for more, but it’s hard to imagine that its future will look likeSkyrim’s given how things have changed over the years and how divisive the game seems to be. WhileSkyrimwas beloved as soon as it released, justifying plenty of DLC,Starfieldhas not been as widely celebrated.
