Bethesda Game Studios has reassured fans that Starfield “remains an important part of our future,” teasing Starborn DLC in 2027.

Studio development chief Todd Howard issued a note to fans today following the huge layoffs at Xbox that saw 1,600 staff cut from Microsoft’s gaming business, and word that another 1,600 will follow during the current financial year.

BGS was affected by the layoffs, although Bethesda has insisted The Elder Scrolls 6, which is the studio’s current focus, is unaffected.

Following the announcement of the Xbox layoffs, fans were quick to point out that Starfield was absent from Bethesda's new priority list. Starfield largely failed to meet fan expectations upon its 2023 launch, and subsequent updates and expansions haven't really moved the needle either. Still, some of the game's more hardcore fans had hoped that Starfield would go on to at least get more expansions, and maybe even a sequel, establishing itself as Bethesda's third franchise.

Howard said today that Starfield has seen over 17 million players, which is a huge number for any game and, you would think, enough to justify further investment despite the mixed response.

“STARFIELD CONTINUES,” Howard’s message reads. “With over 17 million players logging almost a billion hours to date, Starfield remains an important part of our future. As we enter Year 3, we'll continue expanding the Settled Systems with new stories, targeted gameplay improvements, and additional updates, while preparing for the launch of new Starborn content next year. More than 40% of players already customize their experience through Creations, and we'll continue investing in creators and giving players new ways to make Starfield their own.”

Does “preparing for the launch of new Starborn content next year,” mean a new, full-on expansion is in the works for Starfield? Fans certainly hope so. There’s no mention of a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Starfield either, after it was reportedly said to be in the works. And there's no word of a Starfield sequel, which perhaps isn't surprising given The Elder Scrolls 6 is still reportedly at least two years away, and Bethesda Game Studios just confirmed Fallout 5 is in pre-production. Is Starfield 2 were to be made in any reasonable timeframe, perhaps it would have to come from another Xbox studio, rather than Bethesda itself.

Bethesda boss Jill Braff has told staff that the layoffs and change in strategy “reflect the realities of our industry and business – and our responsibility to ensure Bethesda is operating from a more stable foundation.”

"To be successful in the future, we need to change course,” Braff continued. “We must strengthen our business, return to sustainable growth, and ensure we can continue investing in our franchises and our players. I know that doesn't make a day like today any easier.”

Without naming games, Braff said “to best position Bethesda for future growth, we are shifting from a planning model primarily centered on what's next for each independent studio to one that focuses on our strongest franchises and determining the content roadmap that best serves our players and Bethesda as a whole.”

“From there, we’ll align the right talent, technology, and resources across the organization to deliver on those priorities,” Braff added.

Starfield was released on PS5 earlier this year but analysts believe the game sold poorly on Sony's console, something that may not have happened had the game had a day and date release on PlayStation back in 2023.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].