WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS for Starfield ahead. Proceed at your own risk.
Summary
WhenStarfieldfinally made its way to Xbox and PC in September after years of eager anticipation from gamers the sci-fi RPG included an unexpected twist in its story that few saw coming. The introduction of a multiverse during the latter half of the campaign not only came as a surprise givenStarfield’s hard sci-fi setting, but it also unexpectedly opened the door for Bethesda to turn its latest open-world RPG into its own franchise. This narrative hook gives Bethesda the opportunity to take players to drastically different versions of familiar worlds in a potentialStarfieldsequel, but this sort of timeline-hopping tale could feel like more of the same in a media landscape already awash with multiverse stories.
Thanks to the multiverse at the center of its story,Starfieldis perfectly positioned to be turned into a franchise.Starfield’s New Game Plus modealready offers players a glimpse of other paths the universe could have taken, but future sequels could double down on this to introduce some drastic alterations to the game’s sci-fi setting. But even though this could allow Bethesda to makeStarfieldinto its next big franchise, the multiversal mechanic it relies on could prove to be a tough sell at a time when the concept has become an all-too-familiar trope in sci-fi media.
Starfield’s Multiverse Creates Endless Opportunities for Storytelling
After making their way throughStarfield’s campaign and becoming a Starborn, players are free to restart their journey with the skills and knowledge from their last run intact. While the overarching events of the story remain largely consistent no matter how many times players choose to be reborn, Bethesda occasionally introduces some truly unexpected twists to these parallel worlds. Thesealternate universes inStarfieldrange from comical to depressingly bleak, but each one serves as a taste of the types of scenarios that could show up in a sequel.
Thanks to the multiverse at the center of its story,Starfieldis perfectly positioned to be turned into a franchise.
From a sequel set in a universe where the members of Constellation are more concerned with conquest than exploration to a ruined version of the cosmos overrun withStarfield’s fearsome Terrormorphs, the storytelling options for sequels and spin-offs are endless. But even though the multiverse at the heart ofStarfield’s story gives Bethesda the creative freedom to deliver countless permutations of the universe it created, the sci-fi storytelling mechanic may have worn out its welcome for some players. No matter how inventive the storyline or eye-catching its alternate worlds may be, aStarfieldsequel wholly reliant on the multiverse could turn some gamers away.
Multiverse Fatigue Could Make Starfield Sequels a Tough Sell
The Overabundance of Multiverses in Media Could Hurt Starfield Sequels
WhileMarvel’s use of the multiversein its movies helped cement the theory’s place in pop culture, its current ubiquity in media has led many to quickly grow tired of the concept. This could prove problematic for aStarfieldsequel that leaned heavily into the storytelling mechanic, potentially turning some players away before they even had a chance to experience the game. Making things more challenging for Bethesda is the fact that, much like their big-screen counterparts, many recent games have made the multiverse a core part of their story.
No matter how inventive the storyline or eye-catching its alternate worlds may be, aStarfieldsequel wholly reliant on the multiverse could turn some gamers away.
From the brutal and bloodyMortal Kombatfranchise to the interconnected cartoon worlds ofthe HoYoverse Multiverse, multiverses have become just as popular in games as they have in TV and film. For a multiverse-centeredStarfieldsequel to stand out in the crowd Bethesda would have to deliver a fresh take on the popular trope, giving players alternate versions of the game’s universe that have more to offer than just surface-level changes to its story and setting.
By expanding on the multiverse-hopping mechanic introduced in New Game Plus, Bethesda has the opportunity to makeStarfieldits next big franchise. If they can deliver alternate versions of the game’s universe that feel truly unique, rather than just serving up the same locales with different set dressing,Starfieldsequels could see players exploring the game’s galaxy for years to come.
Starfield
WHERE TO PLAY
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
