Starfield Can Have A Skyrim-Like 10-Year Lifespan, Phil Spencer Says

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer believes Starfield will have a Skyrim-like long lifespan. Speaking to IGN, Spencer said Starfield will "absolutely" be supported for a long time after launch. The hope, as Spencer sees it, is for people to still be playing Starfield in the year 2033.

Unsurprisingly, Spencer said he would not disclose what Bethesda Game Studios is thinking about in terms of ongoing support. However, he said he hopes Starfield can have the kind of "legs" that Skyrim had--and continues to have--thanks in part to the modding community.

"Our hope is that it is another game that's around a decade plus longer, later after it launches, and people are still enjoying it," Spencer said.

Starfield has very big shoes to fill to live up to Skyrim. With 60 million copies sold since it launched in 2011, Skyrim is one of the best-selling games in history. Bethesda has released the game on pretty much every platform imaginable, and that's because people just keep buying it.

In 2018, Bethesda's Todd Howard said with a laugh, "If you want us to stop releasing it, stop buying it."

Skyrim received three paid expansions over its lifetime, including Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn. One Starfield expansion, Shattered Space, has been announced so far.

Starfield releases on September 6, but people who buy the $100 Constellation Edition or purchase a $35 upgrade can start playing beginning 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET on August 31. That's also the day that Starfield reviews will begin to appear online.

Keep checking back with GameSpot for lots more on Starfield in the days and weeks ahead.