Did Bethesda Abandon Starfield? The Studio Had “exciting things planned” but We Saw Nothing of It in 2025

When Bethesda released a statement in March 2025, telling fans that it had “exciting things planned” for Starfield, it felt like we could finally have some hope. But it seems like that promise may have been an empty one, because we’re already in 2026, and an update to the game is nowhere to be seen.

We know you're eager for an update, and we truly appreciate your passion for Starfield. The team has been hard at work, and while we're not ready to share specific details just yet, we have a lot of exciting things planned for the game this year that we can't wait to talk about… https://t.co/XJDGkAEv8m

— Starfield (@StarfieldGame) March 6, 2025

After a rocky launch in 2023 and a mixed reception to its first DLC, it feels like the perfect time for the game to have a comeback story. But since 2025 brought no results, all eyes are now on 2026 as we wait and see what’s next for Starfield.

Bethesda’s Promise for 2025 Was Followed by Silence

Back in March 2025, Bethesda reassured its community that big plans were on the way. The studio admitted it wasn’t ready to share details, but noted that the team was working on things it couldn’t wait to talk about “this year.”

Of course, when the statement said “this year,” fans assumed 2025 would finally be the year Starfield would turn into the space epic it was always meant to be. Instead, the year passed with nothing particularly new or special.

Starfield reportedly MIGHT be getting a re-work to Space Travel in an update potentially alongside the PS5 release next year

Dataminers have found references to a “Cruise” mechanic related to space travel in development in the files

Fingers crossed it fixes the load screens🤞 pic.twitter.com/tHs1iCLdGr

— Synth Potato🥔 (@SynthPotato) August 6, 2025

The Shattered Space DLC came out back in September 2024, and it already left many players underwhelmed as they complained about the quality of its content relative to its price. By the time the gaming industry wrapped up 2025 with The Game Awards, Starfield still hadn’t received the update that Bethesda had promised.

The frustration of this delay has only grown with time. For many of us who have waited, the issue isn’t that we haven’t gotten said “exciting things.” It’s the feeling of being left in the dark after being told to expect something better. If the devs want more time for polish, that’s expected. But there’s no update from the devs regarding anything related to Starfield’s future whatsoever.

Starfield’s Future in 2026: Are We Getting an Update?

Ironically enough, just as disappointment peaked at the end of last year, we started to get some rumors that Bethesda hadn’t given up on Starfield after all. According to reports in December, there was a secret behind-closed-doors event where creators and insiders were shown what’s next for the game.

To be clear, as far as I have been able to find there's only one source for this alleged event.

The claim is: it was a behind closed doors event where they showed the 2.0 version of Starfield, but no one was required to sign an NDA (?) despite no one else is talking about it,… https://t.co/nC6A3cFj3k

— Luke Stephens (@LukeStephens) December 17, 2025

And as per these rumors, a major update is now expected in 2026, focusing on smoother space travel, fewer loading screens, and technical upgrades to the Creation Engine. On top of that, it might also include the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 ports that have been rumored for a long time.

Naturally, fans have started throwing around the phrase “Starfield 2.0,” hoping for a Cyberpunk 2077–style redemption arc. But can the game really be saved from its core issues, such as the lackluster exploration, repetitive planet system, and dated-looking combat system?

So did Bethesda abandon Starfield? Not exactly. But we’ll have to wait and see exactly what’s in store for 2026. What do you think is coming this year? Let us know in the comments!

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