Will There Be a Starfield 2? Former Bethesda Designer Weighs In on Sequel Prospects

If you have been holding your breath for a Starfield 2, you might want to exhale. According to former Bethesda systems designer Kurt Kuhlmann, the future of the studio’s ambitious sci-fi RPG looks increasingly uncertain. While the game was a major release for Xbox, Kuhlmann suggests that its performance simply did not hit the mark required to justify a dedicated sequel.

Why a Starfield 2 Seems Unlikely

In a recent interview, Kuhlmann expressed his skepticism regarding the possibility of a follow-up. The primary issue boils down to commercial and critical momentum. While Starfield was reportedly profitable, earning an estimated $300 million against a $200 million budget, it failed to capture the cultural zeitgeist in the way legendary titles like Skyrim did.

• The game lacks the long-term engagement required for a major franchise expansion.
• Bethesda is currently prioritizing its heavy hitters, The Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout.
• Xbox has shifted its corporate strategy to lean into established, high-performing intellectual properties.

The Missed Opportunity for Evolution

Despite his skepticism, Kuhlmann notes that cancelling the series would be a missed opportunity. He believes that the studio learned invaluable lessons during development, and a potential sequel could have finally realized Todd Howard’s original vision for the game. By iterating on the core mechanics, Bethesda could have turned a flawed initial release into a refined masterpiece.

Systemic Flaws and Integration Issues

One of the biggest criticisms Kuhlmann highlights is the disjointed nature of the game’s mechanics, specifically regarding the outpost-building system. According to the veteran designer, these features often felt like standalone additions rather than deeply integrated parts of the core gameplay loop.

The outpost building was added almost arbitrarily. It is a cool system on its own, but it never felt like it was truly part of the wider Starfield experience.

Kuhlmann argues that this disconnect has plagued Bethesda titles before, noting that the studio struggled with similar integration issues in Fallout 4. Without a sequel to polish these rough edges and better weave those systems together, these mechanics may remain as isolated features rather than pillars of a cohesive sci-fi universe.

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