Starfield: How Long has Development Been?

Starfield is Bethesda's newest IP in 25 years, but has it been in development that long?

Image via Bethesda

Starfield is Bethesda’s first new foray in 25 years, to say the collective hype is large is an understatement. Of course, it takes a long time to build a universe as large as what Bethesda are promising with Starfield. How long has Starfield been in development, you might ask? We have the answer.

How Long has Starfield Been in Development? Answered

Originally announced in 2018 at E3, Starfield has actively been in development for seven years. That’s almost twice the period of Fallout 4 and other titles from the developer. This can be attributed to a few variables, most notably the new universe needed to be fleshed out from top to bottom. Along with new lore, hundreds of planets, species, and quests, the technology jump that occurred during the development cycle also added to it’s total time. Two major delays pushed the release date back further, with the latest being lauded by fans after seeing the game’s development progress.

While seven years seems prolonged, it’s still a far cry from the Guinness Record Holder for longest development. That title goes to Ubisoft’s Beyond Good & Evil 2, which has over 15 and half years in development with no specific release date in sight. Along with the protracted development period for Skull & Bones, it seems like the studio is attempting to set multiple records.

Seven years may be a long time to wait, but Starfield’s development time is almost over and the release date is just around the corner. Landing on Xbox Series X|S and PC on September 6, 2023, we’ll finally be able to join Constellation and explore the stars.

About the author

Ashley Erickson

Ashley, otherwise known as Glitchiee, is an avid gamer of RPGs, TTRPGS, farming sims, The Sims, and a variety of games in between. Playing on the NES and SNES, collecting 1st gen Pokemon cards, and playing on her Gameboy color are some of her favorite memories from early childhood. Combined with a passion for writing, Ashley is focused on bringing the best news, guides, reviews and lists the industry has to offer.