Starfield logo with a faded planetary landscape in the background.
Screenshot via Destructoid.

Starfield’s timeline shows what happens prior to the game’s story

Nothing about Earth being destroyed.

With just a few weeks left, everyone and their dog is talking about Starfield (if “woof” is canine-speak for “I’m really looking forward to Starfield“). Before then, we’re still being drip-fed bite-sized bits of information, including the story prior to the game itself.

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Over on the developer’s website, you can scroll down to a timeline of the major political events that take place before we join things. It begins in the year 2050, when humans take their first steps on Mars.

Just 50 years later, we begin living in space. Then, after just a few more years, we reach Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to Earth (about 4.3 light years away from us).

After that, the timeline gives a brief rundown of the main events that occur before Starfield kicks off. For example, there’s a little bit of information about the United Colonies, the settling of some of the major cities, some wars. All that good stuff.

We’ve truly left Earth behind

The timeline ends when Starfield begins. At this point, we can’t really say what will happen in the story. All we can safely say is that we’ll likely be playing a big part in it. It’s also quite optimistic of Bethesda to say that humanity will be able to step on our nearest planet in less than 30 years. I mean, it is possible, but who knows what the future of real-life space travel will be?

That’s why we have science fiction. At least this way we can jump into the moon boots of those who will be exploring faraway galaxies while, back here on Earth, many of us are still wondering what the hell Threads even is.

Starfield launches on September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X|S. It’ll also be available on Game Pass from day one.


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Image of Andrew Heaton
Andrew Heaton
Andrew has been a gamer since the 17th century Restoration period. He now writes for a number of online publications, contributing news and other articles. He does not own a powdered wig.