It is very hard to rehabilitate the image of a video game once it has had a bad launch. Despite this, there have been a few cases where developers have managed to rescue a game from a disappointing launch and turn it into a beloved title played for years. One of the most notable examples of this happening occurred with Hello Games and No Man's Sky. Although it had a lackluster launch in 2016, developers consistently supported the game and redeemed it, and it now continues to find attention on the latest platforms. This is something that Bethesda Games should pay attention to and attempt to apply to Starfield.
The game has been in development for years, and Bethesda will naturally want to see a big return on its investment. By borrowing some of Hello Games' strategies, Bethesda can ensure Starfield is seen on store shelves for years to come.
No Man's Sky's Road to Redemption
Before its release, No Man's Sky was highly anticipated, as it promised to be an immersive space exploration game. Unfortunately, when it launched, it failed to meet the expectations of gamers. Furthermore, some features that were promised never made it into the final product. It would have been easy for Hello Games to abandon No Man's Sky and attempt to rebuild a fan base with a new game. Instead, the studio decided to get back to work on No Man's Sky after its disastrous launch and support it with all the content needed to make it the game it was always envisioned to be.
Since launch, No Man's Sky has received several updates and DLC that have drastically improved the gameplay and added more content to the game. It has been ported to current-gen systems where it continues to sell well, and it also received a VR mode for the PS VR2. Consequently, although the game is over five years old, it still enjoys an active player base, and it remains a title that must be mentioned if open-world sci-fi games are being discussed.
Starfield Should Have a Lifespan at Least as Long as No Man's Sky's
Starfield has been in development for many, many years. The game's roots can be traced all the way back to 1997 when Bethesda made its first attempt at sci-fi with the canceled game The 10th Planet. Gamers got their first glimpse of Starfield in 2018 when a short teaser was revealed at E3. Since then, the wait has been agonizing, and just as it seems like the game is around the corner, it keeps getting pushed back. The latest delay has slingshotted Starfield to the latter half of 2023, which has upset many gamers.
After such a long development period, Bethesda likely doesn't want to release Starfield and move on to the next project. By continually providing new content for Starfield, Bethesda can ensure that the game is played for years to come and that there are always reasons to return to The Settled Systems. With over a thousand planets to explore, Bethesda certainly has a big enough canvas to unleash its creativity.
If handled correctly, Starfield could be a lucrative product that benefits Bethesda in the long term. In addition to drawing more gamers to Xbox's gaming ecosystem, it could also, like No Man's Sky, be a title that endures for years and is frequently re-released on new platforms. For this to work, however, The Settled Systems has to be a place worth exploring.
Starfield is scheduled to release on September 6, 2023 on PC and Xbox Series X/S.