Bethesda wants Starfield to be part of its "big three," the third piece of the studio's RPG identity, up there with The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. It's a noble aim - a studio primarily known as the beloved steward of other peoples' IP finally getting the chance to hold up its own work alongside those iconic games. But no matter what you might think of Starfield, unless something changes dramatically at Bethesda, that aim feels like a pipe dream.
In an interview last week, Starfield design director Emil Pagliarulo told GamesRadar+ that the studio's public perception has changed over time. "Bethesda used to feel like the studio of Elder Scrolls," he explained, pointing to a time when its only output was Morrowind and Oblivion (and a largely-forgotten drag racing game). After the release of Fallout 3, it started to become "the studio you'd associate with Elder Scrolls and Fallout." That remained true for 15 years, until 2023 completed "Bethesda Game Studios' Big Three" with Starfield.
