Starfield is a “Really Exciting Project”, Features “Major Engine Rewrite” – Todd Howard

ZeniMax Media and Bethesda being acquired by Microsoft is arguably one of the bigger stories of the year, especially in how it opens up titles like Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 to potentially be timed exclusives. While both projects are still a ways off from release, Starfield is definitely closer. In a recent podcast which featured Bethesda’s Pete Hines and Todd Howard along with Xbox’s Phil Spencer and Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb, Howard said that it’s a “really exciting project.”

Asked about it by Nelson, Howard responded that, “I think it’s getting really good hype for a game no one has seen.” He did confirm that Microsoft has seen a few things and added that “It’s a really exciting project that we’ve been doing for a long time. Once we got on the new systems, the things we found we could do — and so it’s a major engine rewrite on that game.”

When can the general public see it? Howard said, “People who know me know I like to wait as long as possible to show stuff — so we’re closer to showing it than we were at the beginning of this conversation. I think it’s going to be something really, really special and we’re excited to work with Xbox on that.” It should be noted that “beginning of this conversation” likely refers to when Starfield was first announced. Sure, it doesn’t pin down exactly when the game will be showcased but at least development is happening.

All we know about Starfield currently is that it’s an RPG with a space setting. Microsoft has hinted at the game being available for Xbox Game Pass at launch while other rumors swell regarding its exclusivity to Xbox Series and PC. As always, we’ll just have to wait for more information.