How many years did it take to make Starfield?
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
Starfield, the highly anticipated space-themed role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios, took approximately 7-8 years to make, with production starting after the release of Fallout 4 in 2015 and the game finally being released in 2023. The development time for Starfield is significantly longer than previous Bethesda titles, which typically take around 4-5 years to develop, showcasing the complexity and scale of this new intellectual property (IP).
Introduction to Starfield Development
To understand the development timeline of Starfield, it’s essential to delve into the history of Bethesda Game Studios and their approach to game development. The studio, known for its open-world games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4, has been exploring space-themed games since the early 1990s. The concept of Starfield emerged from this long-standing interest, with the game being described by director Todd Howard as “Skyrim in space.”
FAQs About Starfield
General Questions
- Did Starfield take 25 years to make? No, Starfield did not take 25 years to make. However, it is the first new intellectual property (IP) by Bethesda Game Studios in over twenty-five years.
- How long is Starfield in development for? Starfield was in development for approximately 8 years, starting in 2015, before its release in 2023.
- How much did it take to make Starfield? The budget for Starfield was around $400 million, with a team of about 500 developers working on the game for 7 years.
Game Features
- Will Starfield really have 1,000 planets? Yes, Starfield features over 1,000 planets across more than 100 systems, offering players a vast open-world to explore.
- Does Earth exist in Starfield? Yes, Earth is present in Starfield but is not a resource-rich planet and lacks significant content, serving more as a nostalgic piece of the game’s lore.
- Has anyone beaten Starfield? Yes, a speedrunner named Micrologist has beaten the game in under 3 hours, setting a record for the fastest completion.
Development and Release
- Has Starfield gone gold? Yes, Starfield has officially gone gold, indicating that the game’s development is complete, and it is ready for release.
- How much would Starfield cost? The Standard Edition of Starfield costs $70, while the Premium Edition, which includes additional content like the Constellation Skin Pack and the Shattered Space story expansion, costs $100.
Gameplay and Realism
- Will Starfield be realistic? While Starfield aims for a grounded, “NASA-punk” aesthetic, it includes both realistic and fantastical elements, making it a blend of science fiction and realistic space exploration.
- What game took the longest to make? Duke Nukem Forever previously held the record for the longest development period, but Beyond Good & Evil 2 is now noted for its extended development time, surpassing 14 years.
Comparison with Other Games
- How many worlds will Starfield have? Starfield features over 1,000 planets across 100 star systems, with 100 of these planets being habitable, offering a vast playing field.
- Is No Man’s Sky bigger than Starfield? Yes, No Man’s Sky has a significantly larger universe, with 18 quintillion planets, far surpassing the number of star systems in Starfield.
Player Experience
- Is Starfield a success or failure? Starfield has been a commercial success, becoming Bethesda’s most successful game in its opening month, with millions of players engaged in the game.
- Why is Starfield so hard to run? The lack of Nvidia’s DLSS support on PC and the game’s optimization for AMD hardware, specifically Ryzen 7000 processors and Radeon 7000 series graphics cards, can make it challenging for some players to run smoothly.
Game Details
- How many hours of gameplay will Starfield have? The main story of Starfield is approximately 30 to 40 hours long, but completing the game, including side quests and exploration, can take up to 60 hours or more, depending on the player’s pace and level of engagement.