Ethan Crossfield 
Players hoping to return to Bethesda’s space-faring RPG should temper expectations for now. Kurt Kuhlmann, a former Bethesda lead systems designer, said he would be very surprised if Starfield received a sequel, arguing that the original may not have performed strongly enough to justify one. Bethesda has not announced Starfield 2, so fans are left deciding whether to keep waiting for more updates or focus on the game’s existing content.
What changed for Starfield 2?
Kuhlmann’s comments cast doubt on the possibility of a direct follow-up to Starfield. In an interview with FRVR, the former developer indicated that the game’s level of success was probably not sufficient to support a sequel. He did leave room for Bethesda to prove that assessment wrong, suggesting that the studio could still deliver a sequel capable of matching the ambitions associated with Bethesda CEO Todd Howard.
The remarks are not an official cancellation. Bethesda has not confirmed that Starfield 2 is in development, nor has it announced that the project has been abandoned. For now, the most concrete takeaway is that a sequel should not be treated as an expected part of Bethesda’s near-term plans.
Who is affected by the uncertainty?
The update primarily affects players who enjoyed Starfield and are waiting for a larger continuation of its universe. Since its September 2023 release, the RPG has received multiple patches and two story expansions. The second paid expansion, Terran Armada, added new locations and weapons, while the Free Lanes update arrived in April 2026 with substantial changes to core systems.
Starfield also expanded beyond its initial Xbox exclusivity period with a PS5 release. However, sales on Sony’s console reportedly fell below expectations, adding to the questions around the game’s commercial performance. Kuhlmann left Bethesda shortly after launch after spending 20 years at the studio. He later joined Lightspeed L.A. as a principal world designer for Last Sentinel, though he and other colleagues were laid off in July 2026.
What should players expect next?
Bethesda has said it still has plans for Starfield, but the game has not received a major update since Free Lanes and Terran Armada. Those plans could be affected by wider changes at Xbox, which recently confirmed 268 layoffs across first-party studios and continued restructuring across its gaming division. The source does not establish that Starfield development was canceled or reduced, so any connection remains uncertain.
Bethesda’s clearest major priority is The Elder Scrolls 6, which Xbox CEO Asha Sharma described positively without confirming its platform strategy. The studio is also continuing work connected to the Fallout franchise. That leaves Starfield fans with content already available, but no confirmed sequel or firm timetable for the RPG’s next major step.
What players should know
- Starfield 2 has not been announced, and Kuhlmann’s comments are not an official cancellation.
- A former Bethesda lead systems designer believes the original game may not have been successful enough to justify a sequel.
- Free Lanes and Terran Armada are the latest major additions mentioned in the source.
- Bethesda says it still has plans for Starfield, but no specific future update or release window is confirmed.
- Xbox’s ongoing restructuring could affect Bethesda’s priorities, although its direct impact on Starfield remains unclear.
Expert View
The safest reading is that Starfield 2 is uncertain rather than impossible. Kuhlmann’s experience makes the warning worth noting, but he no longer speaks for Bethesda, and the company has not publicly defined the game’s long-term roadmap. Players should enjoy the current expansions if they are interested, while treating any sequel speculation as unconfirmed until Bethesda provides a formal announcement.
