Bethesda's mysterious new sci-fi IP Starfield made quite the statement at E3 2021. While the studio didn't completely pull off the curtains and give an extensive look at gameplay, its Starfield's in-engine alpha footage certainly set the overall vibe and tone for the game.
Fans who expected Starfield to get a full-blown 15 to 20 minutes gameplay reveal like that of Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 may have been disappointed, though it's important to note that Starfield is still 17 months away from release. Xbox and Bethesda would likely reserve an extensive gameplay demonstration of Starfield by Todd Howard for E3 2022 to steal the whole show.
Starfield's Journey from E3 2021 to E3 2022
E3 2021 just ended, and while it wasn't jam-packed with shocking new announcements, especially ones that didn't leak before the event, there were still a few notable updates and reveals that fans were excited to see. Starfield was one such title whose presence at this year's E3 showcase had long been rumored and speculated.
Starfield's presence at E3 2021 was uncertain though this won't be the case at E3 2022. If not for any unavoidable circumstances, Starfield should be a big highlight of Bethesda's E3 2022 showcase. The road to E3 2022 would be a crucial one, and it depends on how Bethesda handles the marketing and sets the expectation for Starfield until its big gameplay blowout.
E3 2022 Could Make or Break Starfield
So far, Starfield seems to be ticking all the right boxes. Bethesda promises a massive open-world ripe for exploration where players can go wherever they want, do whatever they want, be whoever they want. There also seems to more emphasis on the RPG elements which BGS' recent titles were very light on. Todd Howard describes Starfield as Skyrim in space, and while that comparison certainly lends to the game's anticipation, Starfield has to be more than just Skyrim in space to be revolutionary.
E3 2022 should be massive as the popular gaming convention presumably goes back to being an offline event. Expectations will be sky high as big video games missing from this year's E3 would aim for a big reveal in the upcoming one.
Starfield certainly has the advantage given BGS's history of crafting rich and immersive open-world experiences. Moreover, Starfield is seemingly the studio's most ambitious game ever, given its scope and size. It's also something that Todd Howard and his team have been conceptualizing for over 25 years. Starfield is a next-gen RPG developed on the new creation engine 2. E3 2022 should give an idea of what Bethesda's version of next-gen means.
Overall, Starfield seems to be shaping up exactly the experience long-time BGS fans crave, i.e, a spiritual successor to Skyrim. E3 2022 is Starfield's chance to blow everyone's mind away with a glimpse at what a next-gen Bethesda RPG would look and play like. As a matter of fact, Starfield's technical advancements from previous BGS titles would also be indicative of how The Elder Scrolls 6 could look like. As such, E3 2022 is of utmost importance not just for Starfield but for Bethesda Game Studio's future in general, and if Starfield is what Bethesda has promised thus far, it could easily steal the show at E3 2022.
Starfield launches November 11, 2022, for PC and Xbox Series X/S.