Could Starfield 2 Be the Best Space RPG Ever? A Former Bethesda Dev Thinks So
Image Credit: Starfield 2
In a recent interview, Bruce Nesmith, a long-time Bethesda designer who played a key role in shaping iconic games like Skyrim, shared some optimistic thoughts on the potential for a Starfield sequel. Nesmith, who left Bethesda in 2021, believes that Starfield 2 could be a knockout, mainly because the team would learn from the first game's challenges and player feedback.
Speaking with VideoGamer, Nesmith noted that Starfield is in a similar spot to other early entries like Mass Effect and Assassin’s Creed, which only hit their stride with sequels that refined and expanded on what came before. He’s excited about the idea of a sequel, saying, “I think Starfield 2 is going to be one hell of a game because it will address many of the things people are saying, ‘We’re quite there. We’re missing a little bit.’” In his view, a follow-up would give Bethesda the opportunity to refine what's already working while filling in some of the gaps from the first game.
Nesmith highlighted the advantage of building on existing groundwork, comparing it to his work on Skyrim, which built on Oblivion and Morrowind. “All we had to do was continue to improve and add new stuff in. We didn’t have to start from the ground up,” he said, suggesting that Starfield would benefit from the same iterative process in future entries. Starting fresh, as Starfield did, takes time and often reveals areas for improvement that can only really be addressed in later games.
Bethesda's own Todd Howard, Starfield’s game director, added another layer to the conversation, describing how Bethesda’s games often grow to “irresponsibly large” sizes due to the sheer amount of content the team keeps in. In a talk with IGN, Howard shared that his role is akin to a movie director, pulling together art, technology, and storytelling to bring Bethesda's expansive worlds to life. “There’s so many parts to our games that I’m in a really unique position to work with so many amazing people and bring all of that together,” he said.
With feedback in hand and the experience of the first Starfield under their belt, a potential Starfield 2 could be an exciting development, refining what fans loved and improving on what they didn’t.
