After a launch that put Starfield in the spotlight, the game seems to be experiencing a notable decline in popularity, particularly (or perhaps mainly) on PC.
Starfield, Bethesda’s latest creation, is experiencing a significant decline in popularity, now with a ‘Mixed’ rating on Steam.
Starfield no longer appeals?
Favorably received upon its release, Starfield faced a slow but steady decline in public opinion. The initial enthusiasm has worn off, and even the most passionate players are reconsidering their judgment. Recently, Starfield was ranked as Bethesda’s lowest rated game. It also received a disappointing number of Game Awards nominations, and its rating fell to ‘Mixed’ on Steam.
Checking the Starfield Steam page, we see that the “Recent Reviews” and “All Reviews” sections show a ‘Mixed’ rating. This change is notable after receiving 75,898 reviews, with only 48% positive reviews recently. In total, 69% of the reviews out of these 75,898 are positive, a fairly low result compared to the rest of Bethesda’s catalog.
This decline does not surprise many fans. A recent Reddit thread dedicated to Starfield’s new ‘Mixed’ rating is filled with reviews from players who have played up to 100 hours. Some call the game “completely uninteresting” or “too ambitious.” Similar complaints can be found in reviews on Steam, where one user even claimed to have lost enthusiasm for The Elder Scrolls 6.
The end of an epic
Other players point out technical issues, like frequent long loading screens and a feeling of wasting their time. They also criticize laborious navigation and deserted planets. Starfield’s decline seems linked to player boredom, especially in comparison to games like Skyrim and Fallout, which are considered infinitely replayable.
It remains to be seen whether Bethesda will succeed in revitalizing Starfield. The idea of the game winning Best RPG at The Game Awards, competing with titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, seems somewhat unrealistic. Fans are hoping that potential DLC or the announced modding tools could extend the lifespan of the game, even if it may already seem too late.
There is still great hope when we see what a talented community can do with modding. You just have to see Skyrim to realize this. Beyond a qualitative base material, it is a real epic in the long term. The same goes for Fallout games or old TES.