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 the EU's European Commission would oversee Microsoft's acquisition tentatively by March 5, 2021. Rumors suggest that once this deal is complete, Microsoft would host a Bethesda-related event, which could set the stage for Starfield.
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, a Bethesda-related event is 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 to Starfield.
Bethesda's Enigmatic Starfield
While there are plenty of unannounced Bethesda titles that could take the center stage, the title that would undoubtedly have the most impact is none other than Starfield. 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.
Recent Starfield leaks, 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 in Fallout 4 and carried over extensively to 2018's Fallout 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 surrounding Starfield has 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 hype Starfield is bringing to Xbox's first-party lineup.
What's even more interesting is that a rumor suggested that Starfield might 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 a Starfield exclusivity deal doesn't seem far-fetched, as Deathloop and GhostWire: Tokyo are both PS5 timed-exclusives.
However, given how that deal went south and Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda came 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 Starfield brings even 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 been home to some incredible western RPGs over the years. While it's easy to quote Fable as 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-gen Fable, The Elder Scrolls 6, The Outer Worlds 2, and quite possibly a sequel to Wasteland 3, titles such as Starfield and Avowed are 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 on Starfield started right after Fallout 4's final DLC, Nuka World released 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 that Starfield is a 2021 title. This makes Starfield's appearance on this Bethesda-related event all the more important.
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 Infinite is also releasing this fall, as was confirmed by 343 Industries. While Halo would be a major talk of the town during this holiday season, Starfield having 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 both Halo Infinite and Starfield. 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 anticipated Horizon Forbidden West. Sony's Jim Ryan recently confirmed that Horizon: Forbidden West is still targeting the 2021 window. While both Starfield and Horizon: Forbidden West are largely different games and have different sets of audiences, they both share a common trait: They are both open-world RPGs.
Horizon Zero Dawn and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild released on different consoles but their sales were affected by each other. Such a thing could happen here as well. Surprisingly, details on Horizon: Forbidden West are pretty scarce at the moment. What with a no-show at the latest 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 benefit Starfield and set the stage for the people looking to spend countless hours in a big open-world RPG this holiday season.
Given how Starfield is an entirely new IP and not a sequel to cult classic franchises such as The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, 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 promoting Starfield with a Bethesda Charity Auction. If this is any indication, a reveal at this rumored Bethesda event could really give Starfield the spotlight it needs.
Starfield is currently in development.