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Wondering if Starfield has multiplayer or co-op? Then you have come to the right place. Bethesda Game Studios’ upcoming space exploration RPG has long been touted to be massive, but perhaps it’s so big you’d like to experience it with friends?
In this guide, we’ll cover all the potential for Starfield multiplayer or co-op. If real people are cramping your style though, check out our guides to the Starfield companions and Starfield crew members, you’ll get to meet instead.
Is Starfield multiplayer?
No, Starfield does not support multiplayer for either the PC and Xbox Series X|S.From launch, there has been no multiplayer support and there are also currently no plans to include the support in the near future. A quick look at theStarfield Steam pageconfirms the game is singleplayer only – which means there is no co-operative mode either, but more on this later.
The lack of a multiplayer mode is certainly a bit of a missed opportunity. Fallout 76 and the Elder Scrolls Online showed just how fun an adventure through Bethesda’s worlds with friends can be, but also highlighted some of the potential limitations. In a2020 interview at developer conference Develop, Todd Howard gave his thoughts on a Starfield multiplayer mode, stating that “the stuff we have coming – Starfield, Elder Scrolls VI – are single player games, but I wouldn’t rule it out in the future.”
There’s two potential options in the future that could change see multiplayer come to Starfield, though keep in mind both of these are purely speculation at the moment. The first is that future DLC or updates to the game bring about multiplayer capacity for Starfield in some form. The second possibility is thatmoddersdo it themselves.
Does Starfield have co-op?
Unfortunately, no. Starfield does not have co-op mode. This means there’s no local split-screen option or anything similar available, meaning you’re going to be traversing the depths of space all on your lonesome – or at least with an AI crew. There’s not been many instances, if any, of split screen co-op in Bethesda mainline titles, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
It also makes sense that the developers went back to their tried and tested single-player formula with Starfield after the horrid reception that Fallout 76 received. However, that’s not to say that multiplayer functionality isn’t in the cards for the space faring RPG at some point in the future.
Could Starfield multiplayer be in DLC or updates?
While it still remains unlikely, it isn’t impossible that we could see Bethesda themselves implement multiplayer or co-op in some form in the future. The studio does have more recent experience with multiplayer content like Fallout 76, so it wouldn’t be something entirely new for them.
Multiplayer and online co-op could also prove a lucrative opportunity as part of a DLC. There would doubtless be plenty of players eager to show off their uniquely designed Starfield outposts, or painstakingly collected Starfield weapons to each other.
It is still fairly unlikely that we’ll see this become a reality. Bethesda prides itself on quality single player experiences, and the addition of online elements might be seen as a threat to the immersion of the game. It could also prove problematic for certain features of the game, like the main Starfield story.
Starfield multiplayer mods
This outcome still isn’t guaranteed, but it’s more likely than Bethesda implementing multiplayer. Modding communities tend to thrive on open-world sandbox games like this. On certain platforms, particularly PC, community-made mods are a quick and easy way to alter and enhance your experience while playing a game.
Although we still shouldn’t expect to see anything too soon after the Starfield release date, once places like the Steam Workshop presumably become available, there’s good reason to expect that someone out there is going to try and find a way to create a multiplayer mod for the game. We’ve seen this succeed before even in other Bethesda titles, like Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim. The one apparent downside is that this form of online play is unlikely to be very stable, and probably won’t support many players in one game.
Will Starfield ever have multiplayer?
The game is not a multiplayer game by any means, nor has it been designed by Bethesda to compliment online multiplayer, so it’s unlikely that any kind of multiplayer features will ever be coming to the game.
Starfield is a plot and experience driven game, intentionally choosing to guide the player along an ordained path. The DNA of the game, alongside gameplay mechanics, simply wouldn’t work with other people, which perhaps is something that Fallout 76 might have shown Bethesda.
That covers everything you need to know about Starfield multiplayer and co-op. While currently disappointing news, it doesn’t take away from all the things Starfield looks to be getting right. If you’re looking to learn more, check out our overview of the Starfield factions or our breakdown of some of the key systems and planets like Sol or Jemison.
Starfield multiplayer FAQ
Will Starfield have split screen?
No. There is no split screen mode in Starfield as the game is single-player only.
Is Starfield just single-player?
Yes, Starfield is a purely single-player experience much like many of Bethesda’s past creations in Fallout 3 and Skyrim.
