Bethesda's Todd Howard Will 'Stay the Course on Starfield,' Says Composer, Who Believes 'People Were Just Not Ready For It' at Launch

According to the game's composer, Bethesda's Todd Howard is committed to continuing work on Starfield, aiming to transform the ambitious space game into a legendary title over time. In an interview with RPGsite, veteran video game composer and frequent Bethesda collaborator Inon Zur suggested that Starfield was ahead of its time when it launched in 2023, receiving a more subdued response compared to the studio's usual hits like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.

Since its release, Bethesda has introduced the Shattered Space expansion in 2024 but has otherwise kept a low profile. However, the company recently invited dedicated Starfield fans to its studio before Christmas to preview upcoming content, indicating more is on the horizon—though fans have noted it's not a major overhaul akin to Cyberpunk 2077's version 2.0 relaunch.

Zur praised Howard's leadership, describing him as persuasive and visionary. "He knows how to balance creative freedom with steering projects toward his vision," Zur said. "This applies to Starfield too. When it released, I believe people were just not ready for it. Todd is strong-willed and has stated, 'If you don't like it, you don't like it, but this is what we're doing, and we're sticking to it.'"

He added that Howard's track record shows people eventually come to understand his vision, and he has no doubt Starfield will become legendary in time. Zur's insights likely stem from his close involvement with Bethesda, having composed music for Starfield, Shattered Space, Fallout 76, The Elder Scrolls: Blades, parts of The Elder Scrolls Online, and the Fallout TV series theme.

Looking ahead, Bethesda has confirmed plans to enhance Starfield's space gameplay, making travel more rewarding. Datamined code hints at a more streamlined experience, allowing travel within star systems but not between them or directly from planet surfaces to orbit, unlike in No Man's Sky. A recent retail leak suggested new content might arrive alongside a PlayStation 5 version, reportedly set for release on April 7 with Standard and Premium editions.

Howard himself has teased that "a lot of Starfield content" is coming soon, with announcements expected shortly. In a chat with Kinda Funny, he mentioned the studio is entering a phase to showcase what's next for the game.

Meanwhile, Bethesda is also focusing on The Elder Scrolls 6, which Howard says will mark a return to the studio's classic style after experiments with online and sandbox gameplay in Fallout 76 and Starfield. However, it's not expected to launch soon. Additionally, a Fallout 3 remaster is reportedly in active development, with Bethesda aiming for a polished release similar to last year's successful The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which Howard expressed satisfaction with in an IGN interview.