The hype surrounding Bethesda’s space-faring epic, Starfield, is palpable.
From its stunning cinematic vistas to the tantalizing tidbits of lore and world-building that have been shared, fans are eagerly awaiting the game’s release.
But one of the most intriguing aspects of Starfield isn’t just the game itself, but the sheer duration of its development journey.
Starfield Development Time: How Long Has It Been?
When Bethesda took the stage at E3 in 2018 to announce Starfield, it sent waves of excitement throughout the gaming community.
Yet, while its official announcement came in 2018, the project’s roots go deeper.
That’s because at that point it was already three years into its development process, and its pushed 2023 release means Starfield has been in active development for eight whole years.
This duration is almost twice as long as some of Bethesda’s other titanic titles, such as Fallout 4.
This extensive development time can be chalked up to several factors, chief among them being the creation of an entirely new universe.
Unlike continuing an established franchise with predefined lore and mechanics, building a world from scratch requires meticulous attention to detail.
From designing the various celestial bodies, civilizations, and technological advancements to constructing a compelling narrative arc, the task is monumental.
However, the journey of Starfield’s inception stretches even further back than its active seven-year development cycle.
Todd Howard, the director and executive producer at Bethesda, has often mentioned that Starfield has been “25 years in the making.”
This intriguing statement suggests that the seeds of Starfield were sown long ago, even as Bethesda was deep into producing its other iconic franchises like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls.
Conceptualizing a game and bringing it to fruition are two distinct phases.
It’s likely that while the conceptual groundwork for Starfield was laid or toyed with over the past 25 years, it was only in the past eight that the idea truly began to take form as an actionable project.
While prolonged development cycles can sometimes make fans anxious, they often yield rich, expansive, and immersive gaming experiences.
A longer development period provides the team with the time needed to refine mechanics, enhance visuals, flesh out narratives, and test gameplay elements extensively.
All in all, Starfield is an epic saga, not just in its in-game narrative but also in its real-world journey from conception to realization.
A dream 25 years in the contemplative phase and a rigorous seven-year active development signifies Bethesda’s dedication to delivering a game that’s both revolutionary and deeply rooted in the studio’s legacy of world-building.
