Starfield 2 may never happen, according to Kurt Kuhlmann, the former Bethesda Game Studios lead systems designer who says the original game was not successful enough to justify a sequel.
Kuhlmann made the comments in an interview with FRVR, as reported by Video Games Chronicle. Asked whether Bethesda would make another game in the series, Kuhlmann said he would be “very surprised” and added: “I don’t think Starfield was anywhere near successful enough to do a Starfield 2.”
Starfield 2 would have had room to improve
Kuhlmann said a sequel could have moved closer to the original vision for Starfield after the team had learned from the first game. He described the game as an ambitious combination of explorable planets, a large story, companion characters, modular ships and player-built outposts, but said those systems did not always feel connected.
His example was the outpost system. Players can build bases across the game’s planets, but the feature is largely separate from the story and missions. Kuhlmann compared it with Fallout 4’s settlements, which were introduced through the narrative and tied more clearly to the wider game.
He also said Starfield needed a larger development team to deliver the amount of content its scope demanded. That is a view of the production process from one former developer, not an official explanation for any future sequel decision.
Bethesda is still supporting Starfield
The comments do not mean Bethesda has formally cancelled Starfield 2. The studio continues to release updates and downloadable content for Starfield, while much of its development focus remains on The Elder Scrolls 6. Bethesda has also discussed more work for Starfield, so the immediate future of the existing game is clearer than the long-term future of the series.
A sequel would also be a long way off even if Bethesda approved one. The studio has not announced Starfield 2, and there is no release window, platform plan or confirmed development team. For now, Kuhlmann’s comments are an assessment of the game’s commercial performance and unrealised design ambitions, not a statement of Bethesda’s plans.
Starfield remains available on Xbox and PC, with the recently announced Starfield PS5 release providing another route for players to revisit the original. A second game, however, remains hypothetical.
Has Bethesda officially cancelled Starfield 2?
No. Bethesda has not announced Starfield 2, but it has also not issued a cancellation. Kuhlmann’s comments are his assessment of the game’s prospects.
What did the former developer think Starfield needed?
Kuhlmann said the game needed a larger team and better integration between its major systems, particularly outposts, missions and the story.
What is Bethesda working on instead?
Bethesda’s main development focus remains The Elder Scrolls 6, while the studio continues to support Starfield with updates and downloadable content.
