Starfield may soon eliminate one of my biggest gripes as new updates teased

After what feels like a very long period of hush around updates, improvements, and more DLC for Starfield, Bethesda veteran Tim Lamb has just given fans of the game something to get excited about. The underwhelming space RPG appears to have some big changes and new systems on the way thanks to some free updates, including ones that'll make space travel and exploration "more rewarding." And yes, that second DLC is still in the works, despite the radio silence.

I enjoyed Starfield. There, I said it. However, did it live up to the expectations I'd set for it, given Bethesda's track record making some of the best RPGs of all time? Absolutely not. The major gaps in its space-faring fantasy, such as a galaxy stuffed with barren planets and a rather predictable main storyline, have been well documented by now, but I still found moments of fun, surprise, and wonder in Starfield. While I understand the perspective of those that want Bethesda to simply ditch it in the hopes of getting The Elder Scrolls 6 or Fallout 5 faster, I'm personally keen to see improvements and something of a redemption arc so that when the time does come to move on, Starfield isn't the disappointing outcast it currently is.

Another major problem that I've long hoped to see addressed is space gameplay. In fact, I'd say it irks me even more than the dozens of wasted planets. Exploring ships and space stations on foot, often in low gravity, is pretty decent, but sadly there is next to no reason to actually fly my spaceship around. Aside from a few forced moments in some quest lines, there's also not a massive incentive for me to engage in spaceship battles either. Well, it appears that will change in the near future.

"I'm really excited for players to see what the team's been working on," Lamb says at the tail end of a new Bethesda Developer Spotlight video. "We have some cool stuff coming, including free updates and features the players have been asking for, as well as a new DLC story. I can't go into all the details just yet, but I will say part of the team has been focused on space gameplay to make [your] travels there more rewarding. We're also adding some new game systems, and a few other smaller delights."

Music to my ears. It's been a long time since we got some significant upgrades and updates to Starfield, but it sounds like a flurry of new systems and improvements could be arriving soon.

As for how Bethesda is changing space travel and space gameplay more generally, who knows what the team has cooked up, but it'll hopefully encourage players to spend more time behind the controls of their ship, rather than exploring on foot. If there's a more engaging way to traverse between different planets and systems, rather than simply fast traveling from the map or aiming at a marker and instantly jumping there, that'd be a really big deal. But we'll have to wait and see.

As for the new DLC, I really hoped to see it arrive this year, but given it wasn't announced and shown off as part of Xbox's presence at Gamescom, I reckon it'll be 2026 before we get to experience this new story expansion. Rumors are already suggesting that'll be the case, with the DLC apparently launching alongside Starfield's inevitable PS5 port.

Until we get some firm details on these major changes, check out our guide to the best Starfield mods if you're thinking of heading back into Bethesda's sprawling galaxy. If you're convinced that Starfield isn't for you, there are plenty more great space games to try.

What would you like to see added or changed in these upcoming Starfield updates? Let us know over in our Discord server, or chat away with other community members about whatever PC games you like.