Unfortunately, neither Bethesda nor Microsoft has confirmed exactly when Starfield will hit store shelves by next year. This has led to plenty of speculation over the past few weeks, but one theory stands out the most. Apparently, some believe that Bethesda “teased” the release date for Starfield in the official gameplay reveal at the Xbox and Bethesda showcase. As pointed out by YouTuber, LoneVaultWanderer, the registration number on the ship in the footage is SV 821 393. This is the patent number of the Wright brothers’ flying machine, which would mark the start of the age of aviation. Now, you may wonder, what is the significance of patent 821,393? Apparently, the USPTO granted the Wright Brothers the patent on May 22, 1906, but it was filed on March 23 of the same year. Both are potential release dates for Starfield. However, March 23 is far more likely because it is a “very Todd Howard” kind of date, as pointed out by u/Balrog229. For example, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim came out on November 11, 2011, which you can also write as 11-11-11. If Starfield comes out on March 23 next year, you can write it as 3-23-23. Admittedly, this is a reach and the internet could be making much ado about nothing as it always does. Hopefully, we’ll find out more about Starfield soon. The extensive gameplay reveal we got last month was nice, but it’s far from enough to sell Starfield to people who really want to see The Elder Scrolls VI come out soon.