When asked “When will Starfield be released?”, developer Bethesda has until now answered with a wink and the year 2023. We would all like to know more precisely, of course. At this point, you could try to find some vague clues in constellations or use a telescope to spy into the devs’ headquarters – though maybe we can save ourselves the trouble, because a few fans with a good nose for sleuthing have come up with a wild theory.
So put on your helmet and don’t overlook the warm ear muffs, we will dive into the wondrous expanses of Reddit together for a moment.
The connection between Starfield and the first airplane
The theory is this: Starfield should be released on March 23, 2023. Well, so far so bold – but what is the basis for this idea? Looking at the history books sheds some light: This was the date on which the Wright brothers applied for a patent for their very first airplane. Namely in 1903, exactly 120 years before the alleged release of Starfield.
But who were the Wright brothers? Wilbur and Orvile Wright were pioneering aviators who were captivated by flight from their childhood. They were convinced that people would be able to fly with the help of machines, and they invented gliders, and later engine-powered airplanes.
At first, this sounds like a rather engineered idea, though don’t turn the page to the horoscope just yet. There is actually a concrete hint of a connection in the official gameplay trailer, discovered by the colleagues from PCGamesN.
Briefly, at minute 2:16, you will see a number on the ship you are supposed to steer: SV 821,393. And this is exactly the sequence of numbers on the aforementioned patent of the Wright brothers!
Naturally, this might just be a little Easter Egg that does not have anything to do with the release date. In fact, it’s basically unclear whether the new release date was even known when the trailer was created.
The pieces of the puzzle fit together amazingly well, though. Many people in the comments point out that 3-23-23 is a sequence of numbers that Todd Howard should like quite a bit, reminding us of Skyrim’s famous 11-11-11. Actually, Starfield should have been released on 11-11-22, but was then postponed.
Is the release theory viable?
The date of March 23, 2023 is now being circulated through podcasts, Reddit threads, and comment columns, but is that even a credible date? From a purely symbolic standpoint, definitely.
That being said, the postponement would then only give the developers an extra four months, which is not too much wiggle room given the sheer size of the Starfield universe.
We would recommend marking the day on your calendar, though don’t be too disappointed if it does take longer. You can still fly some paper airplanes to pay tribute to the Wright Brothers!
