For months, Starfield fans have wondered if Bethesda’s ambitious space RPG would ever live up to its potential. After a rocky launch and mixed reactions to its first expansion, Shattered Space, players began losing hope. But Bethesda has finally broken its silence, promising a major turnaround in 2025. Here is what we know, and what Starfield needs to win back its community.
Bethesda’s Promise: “Exciting Things” Are Coming
In a rare social media update, Bethesda responded to a frustrated fan asking about Starfield’s future. The studio wrote, “We have a lot of exciting things planned for the game this year and can’t wait to share more soon.” Bethesda announced a series of updates extending until 2025 including initial features for convenience and a substantial expansion release at the conclusion.
This vague but hopeful message has reignited discussions about Starfield’s flaws and what Bethesda must do to fix them. Players appreciate the studio’s honesty but want clearer communication. Many are asking, Will Bethesda prioritize flashy new content, or fix the game’s core issues first?
Why Starfield’s Updates Feel Slow
Unlike Fallout 76, Bethesda’s multiplayer game that gets new missions and events every few weeks, Starfield was designed as a single-player experience. The steady updates progress at a slower rate by concentrating on expansion packs instead of real-time service content. Bethesda always planned to support Starfield long-term, announcing a second DLC before Shattered Space even launched. But fans argue the studio’s silence created confusion and doubt.
The Shattered Space DLC disappointed many players. While it added new storylines and gear, critics called it shallow and overpriced. Some felt it ignored Starfield’s biggest problems, like repetitive quests and empty planets. Bethesda’s quiet period since its release suggests the studio is rethinking its strategy possibly delaying the next expansion to address feedback.
What Players Want: Fixes Before New Planets
The Starfield community is split. Some players crave more content: new star systems, alien species, or ship customization options. Others insist Bethesda must fix the game’s foundation first. Common complaints include:
- Too Many Loading Screens: Breaking up space travel and exploration.
- Clunky Menus: Making inventory management frustrating.
- Empty Planets: Beautiful to explore but lacking purpose or secrets.
Players on Reddit and Discord have begged Bethesda to focus on smoother gameplay. “I don’t need 100 new planets if the 1,000 we have feel boring,” wrote one fan. Others want Bethesda to rework faction quests or add deeper roleplaying choices, similar to Skyrim or Fallout: New Vegas.
Smaller updates could help. The addition of “city maps” by Bethesda became possible because fans highlighted the confusing nature of navigating in New Atlantis. Additional enhancements that minimize load times and enhance combat automatic responses would preserve player interest before major expansions are released.
Lessons From Bethesda’s Past Games
Since its inception, Bethesda has consistently offered ongoing support for its launched games. The gaming community supported Skyrim and Fallout 4 through modded content and fan-generated material for multiple years. Fallout 76 initial disaster transformed into a beloved game using update-driven evolution. But Starfield’s scale complicates things. Bethesda faces a challenge to maintain content expansion while improving its current gameplay systems because its game contains more than 1,000 planets. Reports indicate upcoming expansions will introduce faction warfare and alien civilizations though many fans fear they might duplicate Shattered Space’s issues.
The Road Ahead: Can Starfield Recover?
The year 2025 stands as a critical turning point for Starfield. The reputation of Bethesda as an organization that pays attention to player feedback faces an important test. The next expansion has the potential to transform Starfield into a celebrated title provided it gives engaging narratives while resolving performance problems and enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
Rumors hint at Bethesda collaborating with modders to improve the game, similar to Skyrim’s Creation Club. Others speculate Microsoft (which owns Bethesda) might push for a Game Pass overhaul to attract new players.
The mistakes Bethesda made must remain their last because another performance failure would bring severe consequences to the company. Gamers remain patient but desire meaningful content. Fans want Bethesda to do more instead of simply declaring their plans on social media.