Bethesda has unveiled extensive plans to build upon their hit space RPG Starfield throughout 2024, as the game’s player count recently exceeded 13 million. Major updates coming include new survival mechanics, story expansions, increased customization, and changes based on player feedback.
Starfield Sees Early Success With Engaged Playerbase
According to recent statistics shared by Bethesda, over 13 million players have experienced Starfield since its launch last month, spending an average of 40 hours each with the expansive space epic.
Early sales and player engagement figures seem promising based on the high playtime average. For comparison, Skyrim saw averages around 30 hours early after its 2011 launch. Starfield’s immersive worlds are clearly proving captivating.
Upcoming Features Target More Customization and New Gameplay
In a recent end-of-year update, Bethesda outlined some of the team’s key areas of focus for Starfield in 2024. These include:
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More robust ship building and customization – Players will have increased options for aesthetically and mechanically enhancing their ships to support different playstyles.
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New gameplay survival mechanics – Survival elements will make traversing planets more challenging, with needs like oxygen, warmth, hunger and thirst to consider.
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An overhauled character creator – Players will be able to remake their characters with more detailed customization.
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Quality-of-life improvements – Changes to make the game more accessible and enjoyable based on player feedback.
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Modding support – Players will be able to build and share their own customizations.
Major Updates Arriving Every 6 Weeks Starting February
Rather than waiting months or years for new content, Bethesda aims to update Starfield every 6 weeks beginning in February 2024.
| Date | Planned Delivery |
|---|---|
| February 2024 | First major gameplay update |
| April 2024 | Customization & crafting update |
| June 2024 | Next major gameplay update |
| August 2024 | Customization & crafting update |
| October 2024 | Final major gameplay update |
| December 2024 | Customization & crafting update |
This aggressive update schedule will allow for continuous evolution and improvement of the experience.
Interestingly, some players will even be able to beta test upcoming updates before they release to the public. Signups for the Insider Program open in January.
Massive Story Expansion Coming In 2023 Dubbed ‘Shattered Space’
In addition to the frequent updates, 2024 will also see the launch of Starfield’s first major story expansion called ‘Shattered Space’.
While details remain mostly under wraps, we know a few tantalizing tidbits:
- It will take players beyond the Settled Systems to an unexplored region of space
- The core campaign will be 10-20 hours long
- It introduces a new faction called the Nemonican Republic
For context, Fallout 4’s Far Harbor DLC brought around 10 hours of quest content, while Skyrim’s Dragonborn DLC delivered around 15. If Shattered Space hits the upper end of the 10-20 hour estimate, it could represent a sizable chunk of new story.
What Does The Future Hold?
While only the first year of updates have been formally outlined, it’s clear Bethesda plans to support Starfield for the long haul.
In an interview last April, Game Director Todd Howard compared the game’s ambitious scope to what they built with Skyrim over a decade. If Starfield can captivate players for years to come, it could see equally extensive post-launch support with regular content refreshes.
The team undoubtedly has a long roadmap in mind they aren’t ready to share. But there is no question 2024 will take the groundbreaking space RPG to exciting new frontiers.
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