Starfield is struggling to fulfill Bethesda’s ambitions of achieving the same legendary longevity as Skyrim. After its peak player count plummeted from 330,000 to 137,000 within the first month, the numbers dipped below the 10,000 mark by the year’s end. Perhaps even more concerning for the studio is the surprisingly tepid interest from the modding community.
Skyrim, a title that has amassed a staggering 12 billion mod downloads over its lifespan, saw an influx of 21,406 new mods for its Special Edition in 2025 alone. In stark contrast, Starfield managed only 2,390. Despite having native mod support and a vast universe of empty planets designed specifically as a canvas for creators, these results remain underwhelming. This disparity highlights how much Starfield has struggled to capture the cultural momentum of its predecessors.
Top 10 Most Modded Games of 2025 (According to Nexus Mods):
- Skyrim: Special Edition — 21,410 mods
- Stardew Valley — 6,739 mods
- Fallout 4 — 6,724 mods
- Helldivers 2 — 6,132 mods
- Cyberpunk 2077 — 5,285 mods
- Baldur’s Gate 3 — 4,676 mods
- Oblivion Remastered — 3,833 mods
- Fallout: New Vegas — 3,671 mods
- Marvel Rivals — 2,686 mods
- Starfield — 2,390 mods
Currently, Starfield holds the 11th spot on the list of the most modded games in Nexus history, with a total of 11,900 submissions. To break into the top 10, it must surpass Morrowind’s 14,300 mods. While rumors of Bethesda planning a “Cyberpunk 2077-style” overhaul offer a glimmer of hope for a resurgence, it remains to be seen if the game can truly regain its footing.
Source: iXBT.games