Bethesda is teasing the “Terran Armada” for its Xbox RPG Starfield — So what does it mean?

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On September 5, 2025, the official Starfield Bluesky account shared a celebratory post with gamers, marking exactly two years since the release of Bethesda Game Studios’ sci-fi role-playing game.

Marking our second remarkable anniversary within the realm of #Starfield! A big thank you to all who’ve journeyed with us across the Settled Systems. Excitedly anticipating the escapades ahead!”

This paraphrased version maintains the original sentiment while making it more conversational and easier to read, using simple language and engaging phrasing.

The video that comes along features the Starfield logo at first, accompanied by the message “Happy Anniversary.” However, the text starts to malfunction, showing bursts of different words before the video concludes.

Upon a close examination, frame by frame, it seems quite evident that the message contains two almost concealed phrases: Terran Armada.

Is the next Starfield DLC Terran Armada?

Right now, it’s unclear exactly what this means, but there are some obvious takeaways.

It was ZeniMax Media, Bethesda Game Studios’ parent company, who had earlier applied for a trademark on the term “Starborn.” This led many (myself among them) to guess that it might be the title of an upcoming expansion after the 2024 launch of Shattered Space.

As an analyst, I’m eager to avoid any potential spoilers for now. In the intriguing narrative of Starfield, the term “Starborn” denotes a collective group, which includes the protagonist and other significant characters.

It’s quite possible that the plans have shifted, or perhaps Starborn isn’t the upcoming Downloadable Content (DLC). Based on the prominent text in the teaser, I find it more plausible that Terran Armada could be the name of the next expansion, as referring to something else so prominently would seem unusual.

Regardless of the circumstances, it’s clear that Bethesda Game Studios is currently producing the upcoming expansion. This was recently verified by producer Tim Lamb, and additional parts of the team are also engaged in creating free updates, focusing particularly on enhancing the space gaming experience.

Previously, I had discussed this topic and proposed potential additional features that might be introduced. Among these possibilities are constructing Space Stations, enabling players to create bases in the depths of space or orbiting around moons and planets. This expansion could also introduce unexpected quests, such as protecting a station from pirate attacks.

What could this next expansion bring?

It’s worth mentioning that delving into the potential contents of the upcoming DLC might involve a few details about the main plot of Starfield, so consider yourself warned.

Still here? Okay, good.

Characters in the game originate from diverse realms across various universes. The player character too obtains the status of a ‘Starborn,’ enabling them to journey into alternate dimensions following their transformation through the Unity. This transformation serves as a narrative device to explain the recurring world feature, similar to New Game Plus, in Starfield.

Following the Unity, players will encounter multiple alternate timelines. Some of these timelines may feature significant alterations in character and faction dynamics.

Despite various changes, it is a fact that the Earth has been left uninhabited over time, with the focus shifting towards the established systems instead.

In the universe of Starfield, as far as we know, there isn’t a group referred to as the Terran Armada. The name suggests an army originating from Earth (Terra is Latin for Earth or Land), but considering the chronology of events in Starfield, it appears unlikely that this could be the case.

Pondering the possibility, might this faction be so novel because it originates from an entirely distinct dimension, possibly one in which Earth survived even after its atmosphere was devastated? If so, we may encounter a situation similar to Star Trek’s Mirror Universe, a parallel world where instead of minor alterations, things are dramatically different.

From my vantage point, it appears we might need to unite the various factions within the Settled Systems for a common defense against otherworldly attackers. The prospect of such an endeavor stirs up quite a bit of anticipation in me.

Regardless of the circumstances, I’m eagerly waiting for the release of the upcoming DLC. While it might not come out this year, perhaps it will be launched around the beginning of 2026, aligning with the scheduled major free updates mentioned earlier?

At the moment, Starfield can be played on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC via Steam and Xbox PC. Just like other Xbox first-party games, it is also accessible through the Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

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2025-09-10 15:09