Second Starfield DLC seemingly teased by Bethesda in new anniversary message

Starfield turns two tomorrow, and Bethesda's anniversary message appears to tease the next DLC for the gargantuan space RPG. We'd previously heard rumblings that the second Starfield expansion would be coming some time in 2026, but there were no indications what it could involve… until now. A new celebration post uploaded by Bethesda flickers a hidden message that seems to hint at what's next on the agenda.

The Starfield anniversary message, shared via the game's official social channels, commemorates "two incredible years." Bethesda writes, "Thank you to everyone who has explored the Settled Systems with us. We look forward to the adventures yet to come." There have long been rumblings about what the second DLC for the intergalactic RPG will entail following the launch of Shattered Space in September 2024, and this teaser suggests we could be dealing with, at my best guess, a 'Terran Armada.'

Shattered Space, much like Starfield before it, ended up falling short of expectations. What could have been the saving grace for the disillusioned space game ended up with even worse user reviews, plummeting to 'mostly negative.' Even our self-professed "Starfield fan" Alex was left unconvinced by the DLC, saying it "shows a lack of understanding about Bethesda's own legacy."

So what could be next? I've pieced together the image below from multiple frames of the Starfield anniversary video, which starts as simple text reading "happy anniversary" against a cosmic background. Yellow-tinged squares flicker in and out of view, and they reveal a hidden message that seemingly reads "TE__AN ARM_DA."

Our best guess is 'Terran Armada,' which could tie into the Terran Preservation Society that already exists in the lore. This supposedly charitable group seems to largely be more of a way for Starfield's upper-class to brag about making big donations to preserving the cultural heritage of Earth as humanity's origin point.

Of course, 'Terran' is a broader word that might refer to all manner of other things, but there's a good chance this expansion will tie back to Earth in some way. We'll have to wait for an official announcement to know for sure. We are expecting improved space gameplay in the meantime, along with other new game systems, so it seems there's still life out there yet.

If you've fancied giving Bethesda's latest RPG a go for yourself, check the latest Starfield system requirements first, and be sure to grab the best Starfield mods to get the most out of your time among the stars.

What do you think the new DLC will entail? Let us know in the PCGamesN community Discord server, and give us your thoughts on whether Bethesda can still turn Starfield's rocky reputation around.