When Bethesda’s Todd Howard spoke about Starfield in an interview with the AIAS Game Maker’s Notebook podcast, he made a bold claim about the game’s longevity. Drawing comparisons to the studio’s previous hits like Skyrim and Fallout, Howard suggested that Starfield was designed to keep players engaged for the long haul.
But as players have explored the “depths” of the game’s cosmos, many have found that the game’s staying power isn’t quite living up to those promises.
Starfield Mods: Picking Up Where Todd Howard Left Off
In the interview with the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), Howard elaborated on his vision for Starfield‘s enduring appeal:
…Okay, let’s pick our battles; let’s make sure everything’s really solid. Because this is a game and it’s intentionally made to be played for a long time. It’s one of the things we’ve learned from our previous games—from Skyrim, from Fallout—that people want to play them for a long time.
It’s a noble goal, and one that Bethesda has undoubtedly achieved with its past titles. Skyrim, for instance, remains a staple of many gamers’ libraries more than a decade after its release, thanks in no small part to its thriving modding scene.
But this new “25-years-in-the-making” universe—despite its grand scale and ambitious premise—hasn’t quite captured that same magic. Many players have reported feeling like they’ve seen all the game has to offer after a few dozen hours, a far cry from the hundreds or even thousands of hours that Skyrim and Fallout fans have poured into those games.
That’s where the modders come in. Even though Starfield has only been on the market for a relatively short time, the modding community has already worked its magic, adding new content, improving existing features, and generally breathing new life into the game.
From UI overhauls like the highly popular “StarUI” to performance optimization mods, the Starfield Nexus is already home to over 8,000 mods. These range from minor tweaks to major additions, like new quests, ships, and even entire planets to explore.
Shattered Space and the Future of Starborn
Of course, Bethesda hasn’t entirely left the game’s future up to the modders. The upcoming Shattered Space DLC—reportedly set to be released sooner than some expected—promises to add a substantial new questline centered around the mysterious House Va’ruun and their worship of the Great Serpent.
In addition to this new story content, the expansion is also expected to introduce a host of new weapons, gear, and ship customization options. It’s a promising sign that Bethesda is committed to expanding the content of its latest RPG post-launch.
But even with this official support, it’s hard to ignore the vital role that modders continue to play in keeping Howard‘s space opera fresh and engaging. Their tireless efforts are turning what could have been a fleeting space adventure into a truly enduring experience for every player—one that may eventually live up to the revered game designer’s lofty claims.
What do you think about Starfield‘s longevity? Have you turned to mods to keep the game interesting, or are you holding out for official updates? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
