Todd Howard Teases New Outer Space Features for Future Starfield Updates

New Space Features on the Horizon#

Bethesda boss Todd Howard has teased that future Starfield updates will explore outer space gameplay in new ways, according to GamesRadar+. During a recent statement, Howard mentioned the team is working on "using outer space and things in ways that we haven't" in upcoming content.

The comment has reignited community speculation about potential seamless space travel features, a frequently requested addition since the game's launch. Currently, Starfield uses loading screens to transition between planetary surfaces, orbital space, and interstellar travel. This design choice, while practical for the game's massive scope, has been a consistent point of discussion among players who compare it unfavorably to games like No Man's Sky or Elite: Dangerous, where atmospheric entry and exit happen in real-time.

What This Could Mean#

While Howard's statement leaves room for interpretation, it suggests Bethesda is actively developing new ways to leverage the game's space setting beyond the current ship combat and exploration loops. The phrase "things in ways that we haven't" is deliberately open-ended, but it points toward mechanics that go beyond simply adding more POIs or combat encounters to existing space zones.

Possibilities range from expanded ship combat scenarios with multi-stage battles or fleet engagements, to new activities in orbital zones like salvage operations, space station construction, or dynamic events that unfold in real-time. The community has also speculated about potential additions like asteroid mining with actual resource gathering mechanics, derelict ship exploration that doesn't rely on loading into separate instances, or even zero-G EVA gameplay outside your ship.

More ambitious interpretations suggest Bethesda might be working toward reducing or eliminating some loading transitions, particularly the jarring cuts between space and planetary surfaces. While fully seamless travel seems unlikely given Starfield's engine architecture and the way planetary surfaces are generated, even partial improvements like extended atmospheric flight zones or visible planetary approach sequences could significantly enhance immersion.

The timing aligns with Bethesda's ongoing support for Starfield, which has received multiple updates since its September 2023 release. The studio has previously committed to long-term development for the space RPG, similar to their approach with Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, both of which received substantial feature additions and overhauls years after launch. Starfield's first major expansion, Starfield: Shattered Space, focused heavily on ground-based content in the Va'ruun homeworld, so a pivot toward space-centric features would provide balance to the game's post-launch roadmap.

Community Reaction#

The Starfield community has consistently voiced interest in more immersive space travel mechanics since launch. Discussions on Reddit and the game's official forums frequently highlight the disconnect between the promise of a vast space exploration game and the reality of menu-driven fast travel that dominates much of the experience. Many players feel that space itself, despite being the game's central theme, often feels like connective tissue between planetary content rather than a compelling gameplay space in its own right.

Howard's hint, while vague, suggests the development team is listening to player feedback about how space itself functions as a gameplay element. The question is whether Bethesda will pursue incremental improvements to existing systems or introduce genuinely novel mechanics that redefine how players interact with the void between worlds. Given the studio's track record of iterating on their games based on community response, even modest additions could meaningfully shift how Starfield's space exploration feels in practice.