Speculation about a potential Bethesda-related event by Microsoft have been significantly rising in the weeks leading up to the finalization of the deal. Earlier this year, it was announced that theEU’s European Commission would oversee Microsoft’s acquisitiontentatively by July 23, 2025. Rumors suggest that once this deal is complete, Microsoft would host a Bethesda-related event, which could set the stage forStarfield.
Discussions regarding such an event started once Games Beat' Jeff Grubb discussed what could happen once Xbox and Bethesda deal is finalized. According to him, aBethesda-related eventis being planned for mid-March. Keeping everyone’s expectations in check, Grubb further mentioned that this won’t be as big as Nintendo Direct event. There may not necessarily be any big announcements, but it could formally introduce fans toStarfield.
RELATED:What to Expect From Microsoft’s Rumored Bethesda Event
Bethesda’s Enigmatic Starfield
While there are plenty ofunannounced Bethesda titlesthat could take the center stage, the title that would undoubtedly have the most impact is none other thanStarfield. Bethesda Game Studios' first new IP in over 25 years,Starfield, has been shrouded in mystery ever since it was revealed back at E3 2018. Not much about the game has been revealed since then, other than the fact that it’s Bethesda’s biggest game yet.
RecentStarfieldleaks, that included screenshots from an early build of the game gave a glimpse of what players could expect from this enigmatic sci-fi epic. This includes space travels, jetpacks, an O2 meter, and settlement building features that originated inFallout 4and carried over extensively to 2018’sFallout 76. While there’s no confirmation on whether the leaks were real, the sheer detail on each one of them seems to indicate that they are.
As such, the mysterious aura surroundingStarfieldhas made long-term Bethesda fans all the more excited to know what the game is all about. The numerous mentions of the game from Xbox head Phil Spencer, at every turn, is also a clear indication that Microsoft is acknowledging the hypeStarfieldis bringing to Xbox’s first-party lineup.
What’s even more interesting is that a rumor suggested thatStarfieldmight have been a PS5 exclusive. This info was revealed last year by a prominent journalist, something which many other industry insiders backed up as well. Sony approaching Bethesda for aStarfieldexclusivity deal doesn’t seem far-fetched, asDeathloopandGhostWire: Tokyoare both PS5 timed-exclusives.
However, given how that deal went south andMicrosoft’s acquisition of Bethesdacame into the picture, Starfield may very well be now the wild card Xbox needed. This sudden transition from being a new IP from a popular third-party studio to a new IP from an Xbox first-party studio changes things entirely and as such, the enigmatic Starfieldbringseven more attention to itself.
Setting the Foundation for Next-Gen Western RPG’s on Xbox
While Xbox boasts some of the best shooter franchises in history, it also has beenhome to some incredible western RPGsover the years. While it’s easy to quoteFableas one of the defining RPG franchises on Xbox, it’s also important to acknowledge how prominent Bethesda RPGs have been on this platform. One of Bethesda’s all-time greats,The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, was timed exclusive on Xbox 360 and PC, while the PS3 users waited over a year to get their hands on it.
With the next-gen Xbox consoles and PC, Xbox seems focused on yet again being the home to some of the crowning RPG’s franchises in history, while also giving room to new IPs to make their presence felt. While dedicated fans are excited about next-genFable,The Elder Scrolls 6,The Outer Worlds 2, and quite possibly a sequel toWasteland 3, titles such asStarfieldandAvowedare set to entice an entirely new audience that would make their way to the Xbox ecosystem.
While most of the aforementioned titles are still pretty early in development,Starfield(being true to its name) should be the guiding star. Development onStarfieldstarted right afterFallout 4’sfinal DLC,Nuka Worldreleased back in 2016. As such, the game has spent over 4 years in the oven, a similar development cycle for other Bethesda RPGs as well. Moreover, a recent rumor that surfaced over at ResetEra by popular insider NateDrake also suggests thatStarfieldis a 2021 title. This makesStarfield’sappearance on this Bethesda-related event all the more important.
RELATED:10 Story-Heavy Sci-Fi Games To Play While Waiting For Starfield
Leading the Holiday Lineup
Like every year, 2021’s holiday season will see the release of a multitude of big titles, from both annual and non-annual franchises.Halo Infiniteis also releasing this fall, as was confirmed by 343 Industries. WhileHalowould be a major talk of the town during this holiday season,Starfieldhaving the edge of being a new IP could also garner all sorts of attention.
Moreover, Xbox could positively benefit from a diverse first-party holiday lineup that includes bothHalo InfiniteandStarfield. If PlayStation’s track record is anything to go by, there could be a big first-party title targeting the late summer window or early fall. As of now, that title seems to be the highly anticipatedHorizon Forbidden West. Sony’s Jim Ryan recently confirmed thatHorizon: Forbidden Westis still targeting the 2021 window. While bothStarfieldandHorizon: Forbidden Westare largely different games and have different sets of audiences, they both share a common trait: They are both open-world RPGs.
Horizon Zero DawnandThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildreleased on different consoles but their sales were affected by each other. Such a thing could happen here as well. Surprisingly, details onHorizon: Forbidden Westare pretty scarce at the moment. What with a no-show at thelatest State of Play event, so far there hasn’t been any indication from Sony or Guerrilla Games on when fans could get a glimpse of the game. As such, a solid marketing tactic that includes an early reveal could greatly benefitStarfieldand set the stage for the people looking to spend countless hours in a big open-world RPG this holiday season.
Given howStarfieldis an entirely new IP and not a sequel to cult classic franchises such asThe Elder ScrollsandFallout, the game needs an extensive showcase and deep dive to remove skepticism and induce excitement. Fortunately, Bethesda is already moving ahead with its plan to start promotingStarfieldwith aBethesda Charity Auction. If this is any indication, a reveal at this rumored Bethesda event could really give Starfield the spotlight it needs.
Starfieldis currently in development.
MORE:Starfield Needs One Feature Fallout and TES Fans Have Wanted For Years
