Starfield Scheduled for Late 2021 Launch, Barring COVID-Related Delays

Starfield is easily one of the most highly anticipated upcoming releases, which is surprising given the fact that we’ve seen nothing of the game other than a logo. The promise of a sci-fi open world RPG developed by Bethesda is an alluring one though, and there’s been more than a few questions about when exactly we’ll see it, and then get to play it. It seems both of those things will be happening relatively soon.

GamesBeat journalist Jeff Grubb recently said during a Dealer Gaming stream that the plan for Bethesda is to follow a marketing and launch cycle for Starfield similar to that of Fallout 4. According to Grubb, there’s a 90% likelihood that the game’s going to be unveiled in full at E3, and then will launch later in the year itself. He says that that’s what Bethesda has planned right now, barring any COVID-related delays and hurdles, of course.

Other insiders have also recently suggested that launching Starfield in late 2021 is part of Bethesda’s plan, with COVID being the only potential complication.

Whenever it does launch, it’ll be interesting to see how Microsoft handles its exclusivity. Director Todd Howard has said that it would be “hard to imagine” Starfield releasing as an Xbox console exclusive, though Microsoft’s recent statements about wanting to provide exclusive content for Game Pass might contradict that.