Video game publisher Bethesda announced that Starfield will no longer launch in 2022.
According to a post on its official Twitter page, the highly-anticipated sci-fi RPG is now scheduled to release in the first half of 2023. The statement notes that developer Bethesda Game Studios requires more time to further tweak the title and ensure fans get "the best, most polished version." The post also revealed that Redfall, a co-operative shooter developed by Arkane Austin and published by Bethesda, will also release in the same 2023 window.
"We want to thank everyone for their excitement for Redfall and Starfield," writes Bethesda. "That energy is a huge part of what inspires all of us every day and drives our own excitement for what we are creating. We can't wait to share our first deep dive into the gameplay for both Redfall and Starfield soon."
Announced in 2018, Starfield is Bethesda Game Studio's first original intellectual property in over two decades. The game will see players joining the interstellar exploratory organization known as Constellation as they adventure out into the stars. Gamers will be able to explore and uncover a variety of unique factions and associate with several factions, including The United Colonies, the Freestar Collective and even violent space pirates known as the Crimson Fleet.
While Bethesda has yet to reveal any of Starfield's gameplay, the project is shaping up to be one of the studio's biggest yet. Executive producer Todd Howard revealed that the game features a script of over 150,000 lines of unique dialogue. In comparison to the studio's previous releases, Fallout 4 featured 110,000 lines while The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim had 60,000. Howard also confirmed that players will be able to select their pronouns when creating a character.
Despite the excitement surrounding the game, many fans have voiced concerns regarding Starfield's Xbox and PC exclusivity. Howard explained that while the decision to launch solely on Microsoft systems was difficult, it was ultimately the right call. "At the end of the day, your ability to focus and say, 'This is the game I want to make, these are the platforms I want to make it on,' and being able to really lean in on those is going to make for a better product," said Howard. "You don't ever want to leave people out, right?"
Starfield launches in 2023 for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Source: Twitter