Former Starfield designer says Bethesda’s sci-fi RPG probably won’t get a sequel, because the original wasn’t ‘anywhere near successful enough’
Kurt Kuhlmann, the former systems designer at Bethesda who worked on Starfield, has suggested that a sequel to the studio’s sci-fi RPG is unlikely. In an interview with FRVR, Kuhlmann stated he would be “very surprised” if Bethesda greenlit a Starfield sequel, citing insufficient commercial performance of the original game.
“I don’t think Starfield was anywhere near successful enough to do a Starfield 2,” Kuhlmann said. He left Bethesda following Starfield’s release and is now sharing his perspective on the franchise’s future prospects.
While Bethesda has not officially released specific sales figures for Starfield, the game is estimated to have generated approximately $300 million in revenue as of April. This represents a significant investment return, but apparently not enough to justify greenlighting another entry in the series.
Starfield’s development spanned eight years before its release, representing a considerable commitment of resources. As Bethesda’s first new intellectual property in 25 years, it carried particular significance for the studio. However, the game appears to have underperformed relative to expectations or the investment required to produce it.
Currently, Bethesda’s focus has shifted to development of The Elder Scrolls 6, which has taken creative and resource priority over any potential Starfield continuation. This suggests the studio may be less inclined to revisit the sci-fi franchise in the near term, if at all, according to Kuhlmann’s assessment.