DSOGaming presents a new mod for Starfield called The Pumpkin Protocol.

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Couchpotato spotted a new update for Starfield:

Starfield’s November Update is now live

Thank you to the over 15 million players who are adventuring through the stars in Starfield!

We’re thrilled that so many of you have embarked on this journey with us, and we appreciate your feedback. We are always looking for ways to improve your experience playing the game and wanted to give our community an update on the most recent adjustments we’ve made to Starfield.

Quality of Life Improvements
Starfield’s November Update is now live! In this update, we’ve made some performance and stability improvements for all platforms and reintroduced the uncapped frame rate option for Xbox Series X users. We’ve also addressed several issues that were affecting the Tracker’s Alliance quests, as well as included fixes for some other quest issues that players were running into.
For a detailed breakdown of all changes and improvements, check out the full patch notes Update Notes.

Achievement-friendly Creations
We’re happy to share that we have implemented one of your highly requested features. As of the November Update, Starfield Creations released through the Verified Creators program will have the option to be achievement friendly. This means that certain Creations will no longer block achievements.
If you already have a Starfield creation installed, we encourage you to keep an eye on the Creations menu in Starfield or Bethesda Creations page for its achievement friendly status.
Achievements will not retroactively unlock on previous game saves with Creations, even if those Creations are now achievement friendly.

[...]

Bounding into Comics posted an opinion piece about Starfield:

Opinion: After ‘Starfield’ Was A Disappointing Disgrace, I Don’t Trust Bethesda With ‘Elder Scrolls VI’

Bethesda has been the gold standard for open-world RPGs. However, after Starfield and the Shattered Space DLC, I’m not so sure they are anymore. As someone who picked up Elder Scrolls from Oblivion and continued with Skyrim, it is hard to shake the feeling that Bethesda just doesn’t have the same spark. With Elder Scrolls VI still stuck in development limbo, questions are starting to arise about whether they can even pull it off anymore.

After the disappointment that Starfield turned out to be, I and many others wonder if it is time to consider what Elder Scrolls could become in the hands of a different studio. 

Starfield was an endless void. Not just space-wise, but content-wise. Marketing behind Starfield presented it as a vast, rich, universe worthy of exploration, taking Bethesda’s formula to a new level, but it fell painfully flat. (Kind of like No Man’s Sky.) 

[...]

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Bethesda reacts to negative reviews:

Bethesda's Creative Director Responds to Starfield DLC's Negative Steam Reviews - IGN Daily Fix

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Game Rant reviewed Starfield: Shattered Space:

Starfield: Shattered Space Review

It may not have made quite the same impact as Fallout or The Elder Scrolls, but I still had a lot of fun with Starfield. In fact, Bethesda's open world sci-fi RPG was easily one of my favorite games of 2023. I devoured it, completing every faction quest and spending hours going on space adventures with my crew in my customized ship. For me, Starfield captured sci-fi magic in a way that few other games have, and so I have always been excited to jump back into its world with the Shattered Space expansion. Unfortunately, Shattered Space is not exactly Starfield at its best.

[...]

At times, I was blown away by Starfield: Shattered Space's beautifully rendered new areas, but other times, my immersion was ruined by the annoying progression-killing quest bugs and weird graphical oddities. The DLC is uneven to say the least, and that's something Starfield fans should take into consideration when deciding if they should spend $30 on the expansion.

$30 for a four-hour main quest sounds a bit steep, but the new weapons and side quests may make it worth the investment for diehard Starfield fans that simply want more - once the bugs are ironed out, anyway. Future updates will likely make it a lot easier to recommend Shattered Space, but for now, fans may want to hold off until its more egregious bugs and glitches are addressed.

Final Score: 5/10

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Couchpotato spotted a Starfield: Shattered Space review on Wccftech:

Starfield: Shattered Space Review – May the Great Serpent Save Us

Starfield is, without a doubt, one of the most controversial games ever made by Bethesda. While it is undoubtedly a solid role-playing game that offers a vast world to explore and some gripping stories, it suffers from a certain lack of focus, evident in some of its elements, such as subpar exploration and traversal, the procedurally generated elements which end up being very repetitive, and a generally dated feel mostly represented by the loading screens that separate different areas.

While I still generally enjoy the experience, my opinion of Starfield has soured a bit in the past year or so. After re-experiencing Cyberpunk 2077 with the 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion, it has become difficult to look past some of the game's archaisms, the lack of engaging activities, average quest design, combat, and progression systems with very limited options. All these issues are, in my opinion, exacerbated by the Shattered Space expansion, which offers, for better or worse, more Starfield while also taking somewhat of a step back in regards to what sets the game apart from every other RPG developed by Bethesda.

[...]

The Starfield Shattered Space expansion leaves a lot to be desired. While it introduces a more focused and engaging story compared to the base game, the average map and quest design, along with the lack of new features, turn the adventure in Va'Ruun'kai into a bit of a slog rather quickly. Although the tighter focus is welcome, the Starfield experience as a whole needs something more substantial to reach its full potential.

Score: 6/10

GameSpot looks back at one year of Starfield:

Starfield Is Going Through An Identity Crisis

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Couchpotato spotted two Starfield: Shattered Space reviews:

GamingBolt: Starfield: Shattered Space Is DISAPPOINTING - What The Hell Happened? [REVIEW]

IGN: Starfield: Shattered Space Review

Eurogamer reports about the Starfield: Shattered Space launch:

Starfield's Shattered Space DLC has a lukewarm take off

Launch break.

Shattered Space, Bethesda's first major expansion for Starfield, released a few days ago, but has unfortunately been met with middling PC player numbers and lukewarm reviews.

Over on SteamDB, Starfield currently has a 24-hour peak concurrent player count of 17,074, and a current player count of 9,740. In contrast, Bethesda's much older release The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Edition has a 24-hour player peak of 21,494, with 13,772 of us currently making our way through the fantasy world.

Shattered Space's Steam reviews, meanwhile, currently sit with a "mostly negative" average. Many of these reviews claim the expansion is not worth its price tag, with several accusing the developer of being "lazy" with the storytelling and overall content.

"They say less is more, and with Shattered Space it's true. Bethesda's giving you less while asking for more money," reads one Steam review.

"Incredibly mediocre," another adds. "Was willing to give Starfield a lot of grace due to it being a new IP but now I've seen what they're doing to build on it, it's not worth it."

One positive review, meanwhile, is a very clearly backhanded compliment: "The story is boring af. Would recommend if you have insomnia and need to work the next day."

[...]

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The Guardian reviewed Starfield: Shattered Space:

Starfield: Shattered Space review – much Va’ruun for improvement

The firstt story expansion for Bethesda’s big, bold, rickety space RPG arrives after a year’s worth of incremental updates that have already ironed out the game’s most egregious flaws. Those quest-breaking bugs have been squished, there are now vehicles to make planet-side travel less of a chore, city maps are at least partly useful these days, and there’s now a 60fps mode for those playing on Xbox Series X. But Starfield’s fundamental problems remain – turgid, rubbery NPCs; the baffling profusion of loading screens – but just as the Phantom Liberty expansion finessed Cyberpunk 2077 in its entirety, Shattered Space arrives poised to improve upon what came before.

[...]

Perhaps the next package of extra content will lean more into Starfield’s strengths, rather than amplify its weaknesses. But it really does feel at this point as if most of Starfield’s imperfections are baked in at the technological and conceptual level, and only a full-blown sequel, rather than continued updates, would be able to address them. It’s only because there is a such a bright kernel of brilliance here that it’s so disappointing to see Starfield’s galactic potential remain cosmically unfulfilled.

Score: 2/5

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Mortismal Gaming checked out the DLC Starfield: Shattered Space:

Starfield: Shattered Space - DLC Review

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The expansion Shattered Space is now available:

Starfield: Shattered Space - Official Launch Trailer

GamingBolt checked out Shattered Space:

A YEAR LATER, Can Shattered Space Change Starfield's Fortunes?

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Todd Howard explains the creation of large game worlds at BAFTA:

How Todd Howard and the Bethesda team create the massive worlds in Starfield and Skyrim | BAFTA

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Couchpotato spotted a new Starfield trailer on IGN:

Starfield - Official The Settled Systems 'All Must Serve' Animated Trailer

Related:

Starfield: Everything Added Since Launch (Before Shattered Space)

Couchotato spotted an update for Starfield.

GamingBolt checked out Starfield: Shattered Space:

Starfield: Shattered Space - 10 Things You Need To Know Before You Buy

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Mortismal shares more details about Starfield: Shattered Space:

Starfield: Shattered Space - Deep Dive Details

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Couchpotato spotted a Starfield: Shattered Space overview:

Starfield: Shattered Space DLC - Official Deep Dive

NME reports that Shattered Space will add 50 new locations to Starfield.

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Couchpotato spotted some new details about Starfield - Shattered Space on Wccftech:

Starfield Turns One Today and Bethesda Has Shared Some New Shattered Space Details

Today, Bethesda Game Studios celebrates the one-year anniversary since the release of Starfield, its first new intellectual property in 25 years, as well as its first-ever sci-fi franchise. On Twitter/X, the team thanked all the millions of players (14, last we heard in June) that made this first year 'incredible' for Bethesda. At the same time, they said there's much more on the way, starting with the Shattered Space expansion set for a debut on September 30.

They then took the opportunity to share a few new tidbits about what will be in Starfield Shattered Space:

• Over 50 new locations to discover and explore across Va'ruun'kai.
• New grenades to craft that stem from organic material you gather (and it's gross).
• Formidable new enemies - be on your guard for Redeemed and Vortex Horrors...
• You haven't seen the last of Zealots, Spacers, or the Crimson Fleet... As you explore the planet, be on the lookout for those taking advantage of the situation.

[...]

Insider-Gaming asks the following question:

One Year Later, Will Shattered Space Save Starfield?

It has been a year to the day since Starfield was released on Xbox and PC, taking the world by storm but landing a relatively mixed reception after a few days in the open. It was in development for a staggering amount of time, and when it finally hit the market, it wavered in its ability to live up to the hype.

The game is now one year old, and the first major expansion for the title – Shattered Space – will be released at the end of the month. With that in mind, it’s a critical time to take a look at the game’s performance and determine if anyone is still playing Starfield.

[...]

The Gamer interviewed Creative Producer Tim Lamb about Starfield:

Starfield's Creative Producer On Shattered Space, Mods, And Fan Feedback

Starfield has had an odd first year. It hasn’t set the world on fire in the ways Skyrim and Fallout 4 did, and has fans looking more critically at Bethesda’s game design than ever, but it’s far from a failure.

“We were really proud of Starfield,” says lead creative producer Tim Lamb. “It’s been a great release for us”.

That, however, doesn’t mean that Bethesda isn’t aware of the criticism it’s faced.

“I understand. We listen to the community, we hear the feedback,” says Lamb. “There's justification to that. But for us, we're our own toughest critics. So, we hear what the community says, we're looking at what we're interested in, and we have plans going forward.”

Part of those plans is Shattered Space, Starfield’s first major expansion. As Lamb and I speak at Gamescom, Bethesda is going all in on promoting this expansion; revealing a new trailer, and at long last, a release date - September 30.

From what we’ve seen, this is going to be a very different experience than the base game, responding to some of the criticism about its space-faring exploration.

“It's a pendulum shift,” explains Lamb. “You have this giant galaxy, hopeful optimism, and traveling worlds and experiencing different cultures [...] and now you have this more secluded, focused, mysterious location.”

This is quite the change of pace for Starfield, but it’s one that excites the developers.

“I think during development there's always conversations that ebb and flow. And it's like, what resonates with the dev team, what gets us excited? What is something we feel that would be a shift, something different?

“That really excites the team. And when the team is excited, that's when we do our best work,” he continues. “There's something about spending so much time in one location that attaches you to it, [...] The base game of Starfield is jet-setting. You're going from here to there. And [in Shattered Space], everything happens in this location.”

We want to continue to support the game for a long time.

[...]

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Tech 4 Gamers thinks Starfield is getting better:

Starfield Getting Up On It’s Feet Was As Simple As Adding Vehicles It Seems

Starfield was essentially incomplete at launch, even lacking basic features like vehicles, which are now being added to the game post-launch, making the experience way better.

Story Highlight

• Bethesda’s first new IP in over two decades, Starfield, was a major disappointment, launching in an incomplete state.
• The recent addition of the Rev-8 ground vehicle has significantly improved exploration, demonstrating the RPG’s potential.
• With future updates and the Shattered Space expansion, Starfield has a chance to redeem its name and make up for its disappointing launch.

Bethesda’s first new IP in over two decades wasn’t exactly what we expected. What we thought to be one of the biggest Xbox exclusives turned out to be a failure. The RPG was an incomplete release, lacking many basic features.

Fortunately, more updates are being added to the title, improving its state and even boosting its player base, but Starfield is still far from being redeemed. It was already unfortunate that Bethesda didn’t support 60FPS on consoles at launch, but the worst part was the fact no vehicles were available to traverse an open universe featuring over 900 planets.

[...]

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Couchpotato spotted some Starfield - Shattered Space previews:

Wccftech: Starfield: Shattered Space Adds New Gameplay Mechanics, Has a Lot of Densely Packed Content

TSA: Starfield: Shattered Space Preview – Getting back to what Bethesda does best

Rock Paper Shotgun: Starfield: Shattered Space looks like a wise return to Bethesda basics

Fandomwire: “This all sounds fantastic”: The Starfield Shattered Space Early Previews Reveal Some Very Interesting Details Regarding Bethesda’s Expansion

Fextralife checked out Shattered Space:

First Look at the NEW Starfield DLC Shattered Space Preview

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Gamingboulevard interviewed lead creative producer Tim Lamb about Shattered Space:

Interview: Starfield: Shattered Space with Tim Lamb – Gamescom 2024

During Gamescom, I was able to interview Tim Lamb, lead creative producer Starfield, to talk about the upcoming Shattered Space expansion. Want to learn more about this addition to the vast Starfield world? Let’s jump in!

What can you tell us about the inspiration behind this DLC? What made you want to expand Starfield in this particular direction?

Tim Lamb: Well, after the main game launched, we got a ton of feedback from the community. Players loved the vastness of space and the freedom to explore, but we also heard a lot of requests for more narrative-driven content. They wanted stories that felt personal and impactful, something that would draw them even deeper into the universe. So, that was really our starting point. We wanted to create a DLC that expanded the universe in a meaningful way, but also delivered a narrative experience that felt rich and engaging.

So, what can players expect in terms of storyline? Any hints or teasers about what they’ll be getting into?

Tim Lamb: Definitely! While I can’t spoil too much, I can tell you that this DLC is going to take players to a brand-new sector of space; one that hasn’t been explored in the main game. It’s a region that’s been shrouded in mystery, with a deep and complex history that players will uncover as they go. This area is strongly tied to the Va’Ruun House, a faction that many players were intrigued by in the main game. The Va’Ruun are devoted followers of the Great Serpent, a religious belief that shapes everything they do. In this DLC, players will dive deeper into their culture, their motives, and the power struggles within the House.

[...]

Fextralife checked it out, too:

First Look at the NEW Starfield DLC Shattered Space Preview

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Starfield gets vehicles in the expansion Shattered Space:

Starfield: Check Out the Rev-8 Vehicle In Action (Gameplay)

Starfield: Shattered Space - Game Overview | gamescom 2024

Starfield - Official Shattered Space DLC Release Date Trailer | gamescom 2024

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Wccftech reports that Starfield land vehicles shown in leaked video.

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DSOGaming presents the mod Trackers Alliance for Starfield:

New Starfield Fan Expansion Adds Free Content & 3 Quest Storylines

Modder ‘Nell Drakebane’ has released a new fan expansion for Bethesda’s space RPG, Starfield. This mod, called Faction Story Expansion – Trackers Alliance, brings new free content to the game. Moreover, it adds three new quest storylines. So, let’s dive in and see what’s in store for you.

The first destination or the starting location of the mod is Tau-ceti VIII-b, where a Quarter of Trackers Alliance is located. There, in the building of the Quarter, you can find a “box” on the table of chief person of the Quarter. The box contains a slate of “Bounty 01”. The slate shows the first mission and its location.

When you finish each dungeon (eliminating the Boss and a Fraud Capitalist), you will find a relatively neat room, which belongs to the fraud capitalist. In the room, you can find a black crate that contains the next bounty and its destination. You will also find a special Laredo-based weapon.

[...]

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TwistedVoxel reports that based on the latest rumor Starfield - Shattered Space will be released in September.

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IGN speculates that Starborn could be a Starfield expansion.

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Couchpotato spotted a video about the latest Starfield update:

Starfield - Official June 2024 Update Video

Starfield is the latest open-world RPG developed by Bethesda Game Studios. Players can get the overview on the latest June 2024 update including official mod support via Creations, new features for bounty hunting, quests and a plethora of improvements to melee weapons. Starfield's June 2024 Update is available now for Xbox Series X|S and PC.

Couchpotato spotted a trailer for the Starfield expansion Shattered Space:

Starfield: Shattered Space - Official Trailer

Wccftech reports that The Wayward Realms devs think that Starfield would be better with Daggerfall-like generated content:

Starfield Would Have Benefited from Daggerfall-Like Proc-Gen for Dungeons Instead of Reusing Premade Ones, Says OnceLost Dev

With Starfield, Bethesda Game Studios produced its first science fiction IP and decided to make a game with over a thousand explorable planets (100 of which with life on them) to sell the idea of a proper space adventure.

To do so, the developers of Starfield had to extensively employ procedural generation, which Bethesda had used in some capacity ever since Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. That game featured over fifteen thousand cities, villages, towns, and dungeons, with a playable area estimated at around 161 thousand square kilometers (real-life Great Britain is 209K square kilometers).

Some of the developers behind Daggerfall are now making a spiritual successor called The Wayward Realms, currently on a Kickstarter campaign for funding ahead of an early access debut slated in 2025. In a recent interview with Wccftech, the developers at OnceLost Games shared their belief that Starfield would have benefited from sticking more closely to the Daggerfall procedural generation formula, especially for dungeons.

[...]

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IGN checked out the current performance of Starfield:

Starfield May Update: Xbox Series X|S & PC Performance Review

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Henriquejr spotted Starfield update 1.11.36:

Starfield’s latest update is here and it’s bringing several new features with it!

• Improved surface maps - We’ve heard your feedback, and we’ve made some big improvements to surface maps, so you’ll always know just where to go and no longer “get lost” on the way to your parents’ place (and they weren’t buying that excuse anyway, you should really go visit them).
• New gameplay options - For those of you who like a bit of an extra challenge or want to make some aspects of the game easier, you can customize your experience with brand new options in the Settings menu. Want to make ground combat harder but ship combat easier? You can do just that!
• Added Ship Decoration mode to the interior of Ships – now you can decorate your ships just like you can with Outposts!
• Added Tabs to Container menus to make managing your inventory easier.
• Added the ability to change Traits and appearance after entering the Unity.
• Added Dialogue camera toggle in the Settings.
• Added Display settings for Xbox Series X to prioritize Visuals or Performance, adjust Frame Rate Target, and toggle VSync (Series X).

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Read on for a full list of fixes and improvements!

[...]

Couchpotato spotted a new Starfield update:

Starfield - Official May Update

Couchpotato spotted a mod for Starfield called TGs Galactic Colonies Expanse at DSOG:

Burning Flames (2024) Episode 25 English SUB

Starfield just got a DLC-sized expansion mod, allowing you to create whole colonies with giant mechs, defense turrets, a farming system and more

Modder ‘Tank-girl444’ has released a must-have DLC-sized expansion mod for Starfield, called TGs Galactic Colonies Expanse. This mod will allow you to create entire colonies, and it comes with new assets for you to use. So, let’s take a closer look at it.

This mod aims to greatly expand the game’s outpost system, production features, and more. The goal is to transform the outposts into a detailed space colonization simulator, drawing from the game’s own lore and story. It’s a highly ambitious mod.

[...]

TechRaptor reports that Starfield will get regular updates:

Starfield Will Get New Ways to Travel, City Maps, FSR3 and XeSS Support, and More Via Updates

Bethesda has teased regular updates coming to Starfield every six weeks, including new ways of traveling, city maps, more quest fixes, FSR3 and XeSS support, and more.

Today Bethesda teased quite a few interesting elements coming to its popular RPG Starfield over the next few months. 

Posted on Reddit by a representative of the developer, we hear that the developers are hard at work on many issues signaled by the community. 

An update coming in early 2024 will include FSR3 and XeSS Support, on top of a number of "in progress" quest fixes. This will allow players to resume bugged quests they have already started without having to resume their adventure from a previous point.

That being said, that's not all we're getting. besides official mod support, which we already knew about, the folks at Bethesda are working on features demanded by the community including city maps, "all-new ways of traveling," and more.

On top of that, the developers are planning a regular cadence of updates roughly six weeks apart, but smaller hotfixes like the one released yesterday fixing the pet asteroid are also possible in between the bigger patches. While some updates may take time, it's because Bethesda is playing it safe, testing every change thoroughly, no matter how small.

Starfield is currently out for PC (both on the Windows Store and on Steam) and Xbox Series X|S. A Game Pass subscription will also provide you with access to the game if that's your cup of tea. A couple of weeks ago, Phil Spencer himself announced that the game has passed 12 million players.

[...]

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Eurogamer reports how Bethesda's customer support is responding to negative Starfield reviews:

Bethesda responding to negative Starfield reviews on Steam

A Sa-turn of events.

Bethesda's customer support team has been responding to negative Starfield reviews on Steam.

Starfield had a strong start, becoming the "biggest Bethesda game launch" of all time. Those numbers rose over the first few days of release, with Starfield's concurrent player count previously beating Skyrim's concurrent player record on Steam.

But despite these initial player numbers, Starfield currently sits with a 'Mixed' review status on Steam. At the time of writing, 69 percent of the game's 80,365 reviews on the platform are positive. The rest are, obviously, less generous.

Perhaps in a bid to turn these negative Starfield takes into a positive for the game, members of Bethesda's customer support team have started responding to certain reviewers on Steam.

As spotted by social media account JuiceHead, the team has taken the slightly unusual step of explaining to the people leaving these negative reviews that the game is good, actually. It has then asked them to consider the amount of effort that went on behind the scenes to make a game of such scale.

In response to one user that called Starfield's story "generic" and the gameplay "boring", one member of Bethesda's customer support staff replied with a post highlighting everything players can experience in the game.

"You can fly, you can shoot, you can mine, you can loot!" it wrote. "Starfield is an RPG with hundreds of hours of quests to complete and characters to meet. Most quests will also vary on your character's skills and decisions, massively changing the outcome of your playthrough."

It then suggested the reviewer gives the game another chance, but this time tries different characters with different backgrounds.

"You will feel like you are playing a totally different game," it said. "Put points in different skills from a character you've previously created, and you are now faced with completely different decisions to make and difficulties to encounter."

[...]

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Couchpotato spotted update 1.8.86 for Starfield:

Starfield Update 1.8.86 Notes - November 20, 2023

Our latest update for Starfield is now available. Thank you to all who participated in our Steam Beta and provided feedback. We will continue to make improvements and adjustments to the game and appreciate all the support.

Thanks for playing!
______

Update Highlights

Nvidia DLSS Support
This update introduces Nvidia DLSS support for our PC players. Compatible Nvidia graphic cards can now use DLSS Super Resolution, Deep Learning Anti-aliasing (DLAA), Nvidia Reflex Low Latency, and DLSS Frame generation.

Let Them Eat!
By popular request, we have added the ability to ingest food and drink items upon finding them in the environment. You can enjoy those Chunks immediately or save them for later. The choice is yours.

[...]

Xfire reports that Starfields Steam ratings are going down:

Starfield's Steam rating has hit rock bottom

The user rating for Bethesda's space exploration RPG is now so much worse than Fallout 76.

Starfield is supposed to be Bethesda's candidate for Game of the Year. Unfortunately, recent user reviews on Steam have fallen to record lows in recent weeks.

The honeymoon phase for Bethesda's space exploration RPG has long passed. Gamers have now been scrutinizing Starfield with a fine-tooth comb, giving fair and insightful feedback on what can be improved with the game. Player ratings on Steam has hit an all-time low for Bethesda's biggest release as a result.

Starfield now has a 64% positive score on Valve's storefront. The new rating is significantly lower than Fallout 76, Bethesda's most-panned title before the release of Starfield. The rating for the space ARPG is defined as Mixed rating on Steam.

Players on the Starfield subreddit have weighed on the record-low ratings for the game. While most gamers enjoy their time in the game, many agree that Starfield hasn't captured the magic of Skyrim or Oblivion. It doesn't help that Starfield shipped with quest-breaking glitches and technical issues.

One user pointed out that Bethesda added too many planets that are devoid of quality content. The user said that if Bethesda opted for a lower number of planets that condensed the content it would have been better for the game. Being overly ambitious in terms of scale has hurt the overall gameplay.

[...]

Kotaku looks back at one month of Starfield:

Starfield, One Month Later

Once a distant star on the horizon, Starfield arrived on Xbox and PC on September 6, with a five-day early access period for those who shelled out for the deluxe edition. It’s now been in the hands of gamers worldwide for a little over a month, with folks pouring over its vast world and searching every nook and cranny for loot, side quests, and more.

As expected, a game as massive as Starfield has a ton of stuff going on (there’s 1,000 planets, remember) so a month later, folks are still discovering all sorts of unique quirks, charms, and more than its fair share of weak points to point out, celebrate, and critique.

Whether or not Starfield will be as memorable as Skyrim or Fallout remains to be seen, but within its first month, here are some of the highlights.

Starfield earns praise, with some caveats
Following its announcement in 2018, the hype for Starfield was real. Promising a scale way beyond what Bethesda delivered with Skyrim and Fallout 4, Starfield would mark the first original franchise for the studio since the ‘90s and take the Bethesda RPG format to a place it’s never really been before: space.

Since the highly anticipated game launched, the reactions have been largely positive, but there are some fair criticisms of its structure and the meat of more than a few of its premiere questlines. In Kotaku’s review of Starfield, I praised its scale, scope, and capacity for gorgeous vistas, but criticized a pervasive shallowness in the game’s settings, narratives, and woefully repetitive environments.

In general, Starfield really hasn’t convinced us that it’s a vision for the future of games, and in fact, it seems to be little more than an iterative improvement on what Bethesda has delivered before, for decades now at this point. But whether you see that as a reliable go-to experience of the kind we know from Skyrim and Fallout or a failure to improve upon a tired formula is what makes Starfield 2023’s gaming Rorschach test.

The game currently sits at a Metacritic score of 84, sharing similar ground with well-received titles like August’s Armored Core VI, but falls quite shy of bigger blockbusters like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

[...]

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AIAS interviewed Todd Howard about the development of Starfield:

Making Starfield with Bethesda's Todd Howard | The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook Podcast

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GameSpot summarizes the history of space exploration:

The Real History of Starfield | Space Exploration

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Eurogamer reviewed Starfield:

Starfield review - a game about exploration, without exploration

Liminal space.

Starfield does not begin well. You start this game of space and exploration in an elevator, trundling down through walls of rock to a subterranean mining tunnel. In this one early place Bethesda always likes to keep things tightly coordinated, characters delivering their programmed line of dialogue to you without looking up from their job as rock-shooter and drill-watcher. It's all so precisely on cue, as you walk by, that they feel a little like animatronics on a Disneyland dark ride, the echoes of that same line faintly echoing down the corridor as the next tour boat bobs along past Captain Jack Sparrow.

Your tour guide, mining supervisor Lin, eventually leads you to a deeper tunnel, where you're told a little bluntly to go and pick up something giving off a weird gravitational signal from the deep. This is an Artifact, a mysterious lump of scrap metal, and it teleports you, via seizure-slash-religious-experience, to the character creator.

Clunky as it sounds, absolutely none of this stuff is a problem. In fact really, it's actually classic Bethesda, and much as I'm being a little harsh about the cave puppets' patter I am more than on board with this part: it's the run-up to arguably the best moment of any Bethesda RPG, the "walkout moment", where our typically wordless chosen one begins somewhere dark and claustrophobic - the sewers beneath Cyrodiil's Imperial City, the prison escape through the caves of Skyrim, the vaults of Fallout (so apt, when you think about it, it's almost like that whole series was conceived before Bethesda even had rights to it, just for the studio to have the perfect walkout scenario) - only to emerge out into the grand expanse.

[...]

But the moments where it doesn't are too frequent, and in those there's a sense that this elaborate, clockwork universe has been built without anything human to give it purpose. There's even a scientist, in one of Starfield's many audio logs, that sums this up quite perfectly, using an impossibly powerful supercomputer just to recreate the sound of all the world's ducks quacking in unison. He's fascinated by this, despite his supervisor explaining they have the supercomputer precisely so they can work on the most meaningful research in the history of humankind.

In this world, this mode of thinking that Bethesda occasionally seems to slip into with Starfield where its ambition overrides its purpose, the technical capability is the game - 10,000 milk cartons modded into space! Look what it can do! - but this is not a world I think Bethesda should be aiming to build, unless we want our games to play like that Matrix tech demo for Unreal Engine 5. Technology for technology's sake, or scale for the sake of scale, is a trap. In video games like any other medium, the technical craft, however exquisite, exists to serve meaning, not to be it. In Bethesda games in particular that meaning comes in the form of a deep submersion into new worlds, via the studio's ability to create a famously unparalleled, impossibly absorbing sense of place. Note, for a blunt example, the way Bethesda's games are typically named after their settings, over their people. Starfield's problem is its lack of one. It's a non-place, formless, joined entirely by menu screens and hyperlinks replacing the almost divine sensation of direct experience. Rather than being built in service of presentness and a sense of place, Starfield is set entirely in their absence.

Score: 6/10 - Starfield pairs near-impossible breadth with a classic Bethesda aptitude for systemic physics, magnetic sidequests, and weird vignettes. But in sacrificing direct exploration for the sake of sheer scale, there's nothing to bind it together.

FudgeMuppet analyzes Starfield's build in NG+ feature (spoiler alert):

Is Starfield New Game Plus Worth It? - NG+10 & Level 100

IGN looks back at Elite - the original galaxy space game:

How Elite Influenced Starfield and 40 Years of Space Games

The godfather of Starfield and No Man’s Sky.

“One of the first things I wrote in machine code was an expanding starfield. Just literally flying through it, and I found it mesmerizing. I thought ‘It has to be a game.’” That was the moment David Braben, co-creator of Elite and founder of Frontier Developments, changed space games forever. It was video games’ equivalent of the Big Bang, the birth of an idea that would eventually go on to shape four decades of space games and, eventually, Starfield.

In the early 1980s, space games were pretty rudimentary and there was little more to them than flying a ship and shooting aliens. David Braben, who at the time was an undergraduate at Cambridge University, had the idea that a game set in space could be so much more.

“We had Space Invaders, we had Galaxian, we had Williams’ Defender, but they all had a very similar format, i.e. three lives, a score that goes up, you get a new life at 10,000 [points], you get a smart bomb or something games-specific at 1,500,” explains Braben. “Pac-Man was there. And I know it sounds silly, but even then they were starting to become a little bit samey.”

[...]

Gamingbolt reports that Starfield has overtaken Skyrim:

Starfield Hits Over 313,000 Peak Concurrent Users on Steam, Surpassing Skyrim’s All-Time High

The sci-fi RPG has enjoyed Bethesda's biggest game launch to date, with 6 million players across all platforms as of the day of its release.

Starfield has got off to a flying start, having enjoyed the biggest launch ever for a Bethesda game with over 6 million players across all platforms on the day of its release. Unsurprisingly, the numbers have kept steadily climbing over the course of the weekend as well, as evidenced by its figures on Steam.

As per SteamDB, Starfield’s peak concurrent user count on Steam has now hit 313,993 players. In doing so, the space-faring RPG has also surpassed the highest ever concurrent user count for The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, which stands at 287,411 players, by quite some margin.

It’s still currently a ways off the peak hit by Fallout 4, which was 472,962 concurrent players upon its release in 2015, though it’s also worth noting that Starfield is also available via Game Pass, which, of course, splits the player base.

[...]

Gameluster shares their Starfield experience:

It Took 20 Hours, But I Finally Started Liking Starfield

When looking up the aggregate review score from a site such as Opencritic of Bethesda’s recently released Starfield, you’ll see the game standing at a more than commendable 87% as of writing this, with a bright orange border around its box art signifying the mostly positive scores the game has received from critics. Delve into the individual reviews, and you’ll see a slew of perfect scores, a number of nearly-perfect scores, and a handful of above-average scores. Yet, an ongoing notion permeates throughout some of the gaming community that the game is somehow “divisive.” Crosshairs could be pointed at both IGN and GameSpot, arguably the two largest (or at least most widely known) outlets, who both gave the game the dreaded “7/10,” which in this industry may as well be considered a “mediocre” score as far as the public is considered—thank you North American academic grading system. Though that may be a tad unfair as I think the conversations surrounding Starfield have been muddled for a while now due to the otherworldly expectations shackled upon Bethesda’s shoulders.

I will say, however, that when actually reading the critical reviews from both ends of the spectrum, it isn’t easy to gauge a through-line in terms of Starfield’s quality. Irrespective of whatever score the reviewer gave, their words painted a story that confused me. Still, two things seemed to be clear. Firstly, Starfield is a Bethesda RPG through and through, which may be great for some, but not so much for others. Secondly, Starfield gets better the more time you invest into its universe, making Bethesda’s head of publishing, Pete Hine’s statement of how the game “doesn’t get going until after you finish the main quest” more than just a marketing ploy. It’s this very point that, though I had read from multiple trusted critics, didn’t fully understand. But now I’m twenty hours into the game, and not only am I beginning to realize what Hines and critics alike meant, but am starting to feel that Starfield might just be the first time I go from detesting a game, to possibly loving it; making for the aforementioned notion that this is a “divisive” video game to be actually (somewhat) true.

[...]

IGN explores Bethesda's RPG Definition over their past games:

From Elder Scrolls to Starfield: How Bethesda Defined the RPG

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Couchpotato spotted this opinion piece about Starfield and Baldur's Gate 3 on PC Gamer:

Baldur's Gate 3 has ruined Starfield for me

Bethesda's latest can't help but feel shallow by comparison.

When The Outer Worlds was first announced in 2017, I was super excited. A new Fallout-like game from the studio behind all-time classic New Vegas? What a pitch! But when we all got to play it two years later, the experience was muted, and I ended up putting barely a few hours into it before realising I just didn't care enough to continue.

It wasn't that it was a bad game, but it wasn't a very innovative one, and that meant its timing couldn't be worse—because just ten days earlier, Disco Elysium had arrived and absolutely blown the doors off the RPG genre. As Fraser noted at the time, The Outer Worlds could only seem limp by comparison.

Now I'm getting the exact same feeling playing Starfield right after Baldur's Gate 3.

BG3 is the kind of RPG you dreamed was possible as a kid. A rich fantasy adventure with the freedom of a D&D campaign—it feels like you can be whoever you want to be and do whatever you want to do, and the world will always be one step ahead of you with a clever and surprising reaction.

On the face of it, Starfield's pitch is even more the stuff of childhood daydreams: an RPG where you can jump in a spaceship, fly anywhere in the galaxy, and set foot on hundreds of different planets. A hugely ambitious prospect—but if any studio has the resources and the experience to make something so enormous, it should be Bethesda. What we've got in Starfield, however, is an oddly bland and compromised version of that idea—and where Baldur's Gate 3 is a huge step forward, Starfield feels deeply stuck in the genre's past.

[...]

RPG Site has reviewed Starfield:

Starfield Review

The promise of Bethesda Game Studios titles is always that of infinite possibilities in a reactive, deeply engaging world. It’s a formula that has been iterated on several times since 2002’s Morrowind, and Starfield now offers the best-ever version of this most potent concoction - even in the face of a smattering of trifling issues.

Starfield is at its best when narratives accidentally unfurl before you. For example, in the early hours of my adventure, I set my sights on a simple goal: I wanted a bigger, better spaceship. I decided to ignore the main quest and take on any side quests and jobs I found with the simple aim of amassing cash to spend in the ship customization suite - or perhaps, if I was really flush, on a pre-built ship from a vendor. So, off to space work I went.

[...]

The question for the public is, I think, more simple than this monster-length review suggests. This is another one of those games. This is indeed Space Skyrim - but with more new systems and mechanical depth than I’d anticipated. But it’s also space Skyrim in a warts-and-all way - many of those same flaws and foibles remain. For those who have tired of this formula, who feel that it has had its time - Starfield may well be a swing and a miss. For me, however - I disagree. 

This is absolutely the evolution I never knew that I wanted from the RPG subgenre probably best nebulously described as a ‘Bethesda game’. For the first time, I’m actually truly attached to my character and their life in one of these games - and that’s been transformative. That’s been achieved through a number of changes, some of them imperceptibly small - but they work. That’s the real story here. Starfield works - even though it’s so big that I doubted that it ever could.

Score: 9/10

ComputerSluggish Tutorials explains the graphic settings of Starfield:

FIX Starfield Blurry & Pixilated Graphics Issues On PC

The space RPG Starfield has been released:

Starfield

Starfield is the first new universe in over 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.

In the year 2330, humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. You will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of space in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.

Tell Your story
In Starfield the most important story is the one you tell with your character. Start your journey by customizing your appearance and deciding your Background and Traits. Will you be an experienced explorer, a charming diplomat, a stealthy cyber runner, or something else entirely? The choice is yours. Decide who you will be and what you will become.

Explore Outer Space
Venture through the stars and explore more than 1000 planets. Navigate bustling cities, explore dangerous bases, and traverse wild landscapes. Meet and recruit a memorable cast of characters, join in the adventures of various factions, and embark on quests across the Settled Systems. A new story or experience is always waiting to be discovered.

Captain the Ship Of Your Dreams
Pilot and command the ship of your dreams. Personalize the look of your ship, modify critical systems including weapons and shields, and assign crew members to provide unique bonuses. In deep space you will engage in high-stakes dogfights, encounter random missions, dock at star stations, and even board and commandeer enemy ships to add to your collection.

Discover, Collect, Build
Explore planets and discover the fauna, flora, and resources needed to craft everything from medicine and food to equipment and weapons. Build outposts and hire a crew to passively extract materials and establish cargo links to transfer resources between them. Invest these raw materials into research projects to unlock unique crafting recipes.

Lock and Load
Space can be a dangerous place. A refined combat system gives you the tools to deal with any situation. Whether you prefer long-range rifles, laser weapons, or demolitions, each weapon type can be modified to complement your playstyle. Zero G environments add a chaotic spectacle to combat, while boost packs give players freedom to maneuver like never before.

Rock Paper Shotgun rates Starfield:

Was Starfield Worth The Wait?

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Sector interviewed composer Inon Zur about his work in the video game industry:

Inon Zur: Crafting the Emotional Pulse of 'Fallout,' 'Syberia,' and 'Starfield'

During the interview, he told us more about the process of composing iconic music for Bethesda's games, revealed his love for Syberia, and explained why he approached Starfield as a philosophical work and not just a game set in space.

Inon Zur has left an indelible mark on the world of video game music. The Israeli-American composer who is known for his immersive scores for iconic franchises like Fallout, Syberia and Dragon Age, recently captivated audiences by opening Gamescom in Cologne with his performance of the main theme from Starfield. His unique blend of orchestral and electronic music has not only earned him numerous awards but also cemented his reputation as one of the industry's leading composers. We had the opportunity to talk to him during the Digital Dragons conference in Krakow where he had a talk about building a memorable and signature score for an “Out of this World” game. During the interview, he told us more about the process of composing iconic music for Bethesda's games, revealed his love for Syberia, and explained why he approached Starfield as a philosophical work and not just a game set in space.

How did your journey as a composer start, and what led you to video game music specifically?

That's a very weird story because I actually did not plan to do video games at all. From 1995 I started working at the Fox Family channel as a staff composer and I composed hundreds of TV episodes for Power Rangers and others like BeetleBorgs and Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot and lots of other shows. And I thought TV was great. But then one thing is that you always have to work really fast and you hardly record any live instruments and it was always tense. 

And then one day I got a surprising phone call from an agent who said that he's an agent for composers for video games. And I said, “What? Composers for video games? Is there something like that?" Well, it was 1996, so I said I'm not interested. But then he said, “You've got to try it! It's very interesting and they record live orchestras and they have good budgets.” And I tried once and here we are today.

So you haven't thought about switching to a different medium, maybe doing movies or series?

Here and there I did movies. In 2013, I actually did a pretty big movie with Lionsgate and I'm doing a lot of trailers also for movies. But video games are probably my main thing for the last 26 years. Although next year I'm also scheduled to score a live action TV series.

[...]

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ACG reviewed the upcoming Starfield:

Starfield Review "Buy, Wait, Never Touch?"

Couchpotato spotted some video reviews for Starfield:

Starfield: Review After 100% @ Mortismal Gaming

Starfield Review (No Spoilers) @ Fextralife

Starfield Review @ Gamespot

The first reviews for Starfield are out:

Gamespot: To Infinity, But Not Beyond. Score: 7/10

Gamesradar: The best thing Bethesda's done since Oblivion. Score: 5/5

Polygon: Starfield sterilizes the final frontier. No Score

Forbes: It Is What You Wanted It To Be.Score: 9.5/10

Destructoid: Ground control to Major Todd. Score: 10/10

PC Gamer: It's Bethesda's biggest RPG by far, but nowhere near its best. Score: 75/100

IGN: Alright everybody, strap yourselves in. This is gonna be a bumpy ride. Score: 7/10

Videogamer: A stellar effort. Score: 90/100

Games Hub: Across The Universe. Score: 4/5

Game Rant: Bethesda's epic-scale sci-fi RPG Starfield delivers on all its promises, offering a Skyrim-level experience that will be played for years to come. Score: 5/5 

The Verge: Starfield is a stellar sci-fi refresh of the Bethesda RPG formula. No Score

GameSpot's introduction to Starfield:

Starfield Everything to Know

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IGN interviewed Todd Howard about Starfield:

Starfield - Game Overview with Todd Howard | Xbox @ Gamescom 2023

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GamingBolt thinks Starfield will be the biggest game of the year:

Why Starfield Will Be The Biggest Game of the Year

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AndyReloads gives an overview over the upcoming sci-fi RPG Starfield:

EVERYTHING you NEED to know about Starfield before launch...

Starfield producer Jamie Mallory talks about his work ath Bethesda and faction quests in Starfield:

Say “Hi” to Jamie Mallory, producer on Starfield at Bethesda Game Studios!

[...]

Do you have a favorite aspect (quest, character, moment, theme) of the game you’re currently working on so far?

Most of the content we are currently working on is behind the scenes to the player such as optimizations, etc. But let me tell you about my recent playtesting adventures. Lately, I've been diving deep into the quest lines of all the different factions, and I've been pleasantly surprised by the incredible variety in their storylines. It's like unlocking a treasure trove of captivating narratives that many folks might not even realize exist. While some may rush through the main golden path storyline, those intrepid explorers who venture off the beaten path and delve into the faction quests are in for a real treat.
The amount of content packed into these faction storylines is truly astonishing. It's like embarking on a grand adventure within an adventure, where every choice you make and every interaction you have shapes the course of the tale. The character development, the plot twists, the moral dilemmas—I've been completely hooked! These quests offer a chance to delve deeper into the game's rich lore and uncover hidden gems that add layers of depth and excitement to the overall experience.
So, my fellow gamers, I urge you to take a detour from the main storyline and explore the fascinating world of faction quests. Trust me, the rewards are well worth the extra time and effort. Prepare to be enthralled by the intricate storytelling and immersive gameplay that awaits you. It's like unwrapping a surprise gift within the game itself—a gift that will leave you with unforgettable memories and a renewed appreciation for the boundless creativity of the designers and game developers. Happy questing!

[...]

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Couchpotato spotted some trailers for Starfield:

Starfield - Official 'The Settled Systems: Supra Et Ultra' Animated Trailer

Starfield - Official 'The Settled Systems: The Hand that Feeds' Animated Trailer

Starfield - Official 'The Settled Systems - Where Hope is Built' Animated Trailer

PC Gamer discusses quantity vs. quality in RPGs:

Starfield and Baldur's Gate 3 have reignited the 'quantity vs quality' debate around RPGs that promise a billion hours of gameplay, but I think they can actually deliver

Stop me if you've heard this before: "Our game has more words than the Lord of the Rings and the Bible put together! It's a billion, kajillion hours long! You can't finish it! No one can finish it!"
 
There's an RPG liker's apocalypse looming on the horizon: Baldur's Gate 3 and Starfield are launching within a month of each other, and each is looking like a whopper. 

Bethesda has a long history of long-ass games, with Starfield allegedly set to be the long-assest, while Baldur's Gate 3 dev Larian declared that BG3 will be a huge game, taking at least 75 hours to beat and having "174 hours of cinematics, making it more than twice the length of every season of Game of Thrones combined." In theory, that's what I want from a roleplaying epic, but games that promise to be unreasonably long often end up making a case for being, well, more reasonable.

This is the enduring struggle of the RPG player: we understandably idealize the notion of a "forever game," a sprawling world we can inhabit for months, but again and again we are disappointed by games that make this promise.

A very good commentator on this conundrum is former BioWare writer David Gaider, who mused on the subject on Twitter, and in response to a commenter questioning PC Gamer's occasionally-critical pre-launch coverage of Starfield, Gaider remarked, "The skepticism probably comes from the promises of endless content but also meaningful content… things which haven’t really been compatible to date. I guess we’ll see!"

[...]

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IGN presents some info about Starfield:

Starfield Direct: The Debrief | Unlocking Starfield

Bethesda’s Starfield Direct presentation on June 11th gave us our most in-depth look at the space RPG yet. After our watch party in partnership with Lucozade, we sat down with Xbox On’s Bex Donald and presenter, writer, and IGN alumni Alysia Judge to discuss creatures, crew-building, ship and character customisation… and sandwiches. Lots of sandwiches. Sponsored by Lucozade.

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Cycu1 compares Starfield's graphics from 2022 to 2023:

Starfield 2022 vs 2023 Early Graphics Comparison

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WePC thinks Starfield is the next Skyrim:

Starfield is the next Skyrim

Can we still be a stealth archer?

Recently, Bethesda Studios held a broadcast where they highlighted the many aspects of their upcoming action role-playing game, Starfield. Starfield has been in development for the past eight years, but the game has content that could keep players engaged for the next decade. In a recent interview with IGN, Todd Howard gave details about Starfield that have us thinking that this may be more than a singular RPG.

Howard said, “Starfield is like five or six games in one, right? It’s the spaceship game, it’s the on the ground game, it’s the dialogue game, it’s the outpost game, it’s the crafting game… It does all of these things. It is always tricky for us to get a good game flow where those things don’t feel like they are separate games.”

To put the size of Starfield’s world into perspective, there are 338 locations accessible via the map in Skyrim. However, there are nearly 700 unique locations in the game in total. 

Compare this to the aforementioned 1,000 planets – Not 1,000 locations – 1,000 planets. Each with its own cities, peoples, and stories. This doesn’t even include the ships and anomalies you may encounter while flying through outer space. 

With this level of scope, Starfield will be the next Skyrim in terms of playability in the coming years.

[...]

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Rock Paper Shotgun checked out Starfield:

12 Exciting New Things We Learned From The Starfield Direct

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ACG talks about procedual generation in Starfield:

Starfield's Procedural Tech Ideas Are built on Daggerfalls Success - Walking the Walk

Gamingbolt reports that Starfield took inspiration from Red Dead Redemption 2’s immersion:

Starfield Took Inspiration from Red Dead Redemption 2’s Immersion, Director Says

Bethesda's Todd Howard talks about how Starfield has taken cues from Rockstar's Wild West open world epic.

Bethesda Game Studios RPG have a very particular identity, and though different properties transport players to different locations with their own unique experiences, the studio’s DNA is prominent in each of its games. That is, of course, going to be the case in the upcoming Starfield as well, but as BGS’ first new IP in 25 years and as its first ever sci-fi game, did the studio also look at other similar games for inspiration- like Mass Effect and No Man’s Sky, maybe?

Starfield director Todd Howard was recently asked that question in an interview with IGN, and interestingly enough, he said that though there are obvious similarities to point to given Starfield’s sci-fi setting, the game that Bethesda Game Studios looked to more than the aforementioned pair was Rockstar’s 2018 open world Wild West epic Red Dead Redemption 2. According to Howard, similar to Red Dead 2, Starfield focuses on transporting players and fully immersive them in its world, in order to allow them to live out its “science fiction explorer fantasy”.

[...]

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Wccftech reports that Starfield has less bugs than any other Bethesda game:

Starfield Has Less Bugs Than Any Bethesda Game; It Was Supposed to Launch a Lot Earlier Pre-Acquistion

Starfield was the star of the show yesterday between the new trailer, the massive Starfield Direct, the opening of the pre-orders (and branded accessories), and the PC system requirements. Unsurprisingly, it was also a talking point when Microsoft Gaming executives Phil Spencer (CEO) and Matt Booty (Head of Xbox Game Studios) joined the GiantBomb crew for an interview.

The two executives revealed that Starfield was supposed to launch earlier even than the previous date of November 11th, 2022, before Microsoft closed the $7.5 billion acquisition of parent company ZeniMax. Microsoft told them to take their time to polish the game, putting a lot of QA at work, which paid off as the game would already have less bugs than any Bethesda title even if it shipped today.

[...]

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IGN answers your Starfield questions:

Starfield: Your Biggest Questions Answered

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Bethesda revealed Starfield in more details during the Xbox Games Showcase:

Starfield Direct – Gameplay Deep Dive

Timestamps:
0:00 Welcome
1:28 Your Quest
12:22 Character Creation
16:14 Skills
20:00 Ships
22:54 Companions
25:07 Space Flight
30:22 Starfield Chronomark Watch
31:35 Xbox Controller and Headset
32:49 Exploration
36:51 Outposts
38:08 Combat
41:49 Thank You

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Forbes ask the question if Microsoft has a problem with their new big studios:

But ‘Starfield’ Is Going To Be Good, Right?

The narrative around Redfall right now is that it’s not just another game came out that didn’t meet expectations. It’s that Redfall is from Arkane and Arkane is now owned by Xbox and Redfall was supposed to prove that Microsoft knows how to manage its first party studios. Fair or not, that has been the main takeaway, and now it’s shone an even brighter spotlight on the next AAA megaproject from a studio Microsoft has purchased, Starfield.

In Phil Spencer’s recent, brutally honest interview with Xcast, while he took responsibility for Redfall’s poor release, he did offer something in the way of explanation. He said that when Microsoft took over Bethesda/Arkane, Redfall was further along in development, and they figured they’d just let them keep making it rather than stepping in and trying to change/fix a bunch of things (which they now realize they should have done). But he says that Starfield was earlier in development, and as such, there was a greater chance to be involved.

[...]

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The Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct Double Feature has been announced for June 11:

Get Ready for the Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct Double Feature Airing June 11

We’re delighted to announce that the Xbox Games Showcase will be livestreamed on June 11 at 10am PT (local time zones below). Immediately after the Showcase, we’ll be airing Starfield Direct, a deep-dive into Bethesda Game Studios’ highly anticipated sci-fi RPG.

Join us for some new surprises and first-looks from our incredibly talented internal studios, and our many creative partners around the world. This is the day gamers have been waiting for to see what is coming to Xbox, PC, and Game Pass.

Starfield Direct will invite you inside Bethesda Game Studios to learn much, much more about Starfield, with tons of new gameplay, developer interviews, and behind-the-scenes insider information.

Like last year, we’ll also have our follow-up stream, Xbox Games Showcase Extended airing June 13 at 10am PT, with in-depth interviews focused on the news from our Xbox Games Showcase as well as game updates from our partners.

You’ll be able to watch our June 11 shows live through a variety of outlets, and in over 30 languages, and American Sign Language, British Sign Language and English Audio Descriptions. You can tune into one stream to watch both shows – it’s a double feature:

• YouTube.com/Xbox
• Twitch.tv/Xbox
• Twitch.tv/XboxASL
• Facebook.com/Xbox

Airtime for Xbox Games Showcase in Local Time Zones:

• PT: June 11, 10am
• ET: June 11, 1pm
• BST: June 11, 6pm
• CET: June 11, 7pm
• JST: June 12, 2am
• AEST: June 12, 3am

Our virtual and in-person FanFest events are also returning this year, with opportunities to watch our broadcast with local fans in Los Angeles, Mexico City, São Paulo, Melbourne, and Warsaw. Sign up for Xbox FanFest at aka.ms/XboxFanFest and enter to win for a chance to attend. No Purchase Necessary. Open only to registered Xbox FanFest fans. 18+. Ends 5/9/23. For country restrictions and unique Sweepstakes details, see Official Rules.

Make sure to stay tuned for more information on the Xbox Games Showcase, and Starfield Direct, coming on June 11.

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The Space RPG Starfield will be released on September 6:

Starfield: Official Launch Date Announcement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raWbElTCea8

PC Gamer reports that factions in Starfield will work similar to Skyrim's factions:

Starfield's faction quests will play more like Skyrim than Fallout 4

Lead quest designer Will Shen said players will be able to play all the faction quests independently—but won't necessarily be able to become their leader.

A central element of Bethesda's Elder Scrolls RPGs is that you, the player, can become the head of virtually every organization in the game. Seriously, if you aren't sitting atop the magic guild, the fighter's guild, the thieves' guild, and the local murder club by the end of the game, were you really even trying? 

It sounds like the upcoming sci-fi epic Starfield(opens in new tab) will take a similar, but slightly more restrained, approach: In the latest Constellation Questions video, lead quest designer Will Shen said players will have the opportunity to explore and influence all the game's factions, but won't necessarily be able to take charge of them.

Starfield has a number of confirmed factions(opens in new tab) at this point, including the United Colonies, the Freestar Collective, Ryujin Industries, the Crimson Fleet, and House Va'Ruun. Each of them has a different idea about the sort of future humanity should embrace, from an idealized republic to religious fanaticism, and it's reasonable to assume that some of those competing philosophies would be bound to collide. But Shen said players who want to do it all won't have to worry about missing out on anything.

[...]

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PCGamesN interviewed an ex-Bethesda developer about Starfield.

his person is Nate Purkeypile, founder of Just Purkey Games and a developer for 17 years, 14 of which were spent at Bethesda from Fallout 3 all the way to Starfield, as an artist on many projects. Naturally, Purkeypile wasn’t able to go too in depth about Starfield, due to contracts and the fact it isn’t out until next year, but he gave us some interesting tidbits about the space project.

When it comes to the size of Starfield, Purkeypile says it isn’t just the biggest game Bethesda has ever made, but also the one that has required the biggest team as well.

“The scope of that project is the main thing that’s different, because, you know, Fallout 3, Skyrim, Fallout 4, that was all one team. Fallout 76, that was two mostly, we had a little bit of help from Montreal, but it was mostly the Austin and Maryland [Bethesda] studios working together.

“But yeah, Starfield is a much bigger project, it’s like 500 people or something on the team, whereas I think [Fallout] 76 was maybe 200, tops,” added Purkeypile, saying that the colossal size of the development team was one of the reasons why he left and decided to make games on his own. 

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Gamesradar has collected some info about Starfield:

Starfield: Everything you need to know about Bethesda's space odyssey

Starfield is going to be one of the biggest games of 2023. There's a reason why Bethesda Game Studios' new RPG is already considering among the top upcoming Xbox Series X games, and it may have something to do with the studio's propensity for releasing some of the best RPGs ever made. After all, there's a reason we're still talking about The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim a decade on – and Xbox Game Studios will be hoping to replicate that success here as we're pushed into a sprawling sci-fi setting.

Starfield will reportedly leave us free to define our own destiny out in the stars. And, honestly, it all sounds pretty wild. While Bethesda was a little slow to get information out there into the world, and was forced to delay the game into 2023 to help ensure the quality is kept high, we now have details on everything. Keep reading to find everything we know on Starfield, from character customization to ship building to combat, crafting, and so much more! 
Starfield release date

Microsoft Gaming has confirmed that the Starfield release date is set for the first half of 2023. The new RPG was originally scheduled to release on November 11, 2022, although a Starfield delay was announced back in May. At the time, developer Bethesda said that the Starfield release date had been moved as it wants to achieve its "incredible ambitions" for the game, explaining that it wants us to "receive the best, most polished version" of the experience. 

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Quest Mode checked out Starfield:

Starfield Gameplay - The Ultimate Preview

Starfield is coming out in 2023, but before then, I look at everything we know about Starfield gameplay, including what Bethesda Game Studios have shown recently, and what they've revealed since announcing the game back at E3 in 2018. From Starfield combat, to the planets and moons, to Starfield character creation, to building your spaceship, I cover it all.

MrMattyPlays chats about his impressions on Starfield's gameplay reveal video:

So.. We FINALLY Saw Starfield Gameplay - My Honest Opinion

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Redglyph spotted that Bethesda has released their official Starfield gameplay reveal:

Starfield Official Gameplay Reveal

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Bethesda's long awaited intergalactic RPG finally gets a gameplay reveal. We get a look at in-game environments, gunplay, characters, a glimpse of its story, and its in-depth character creator, including specific body trais, and even how you walk. Starfield is expected to release in 2023.

Bethesda announced on twitter that the launch of the games Starfield and Redfall are delayed to the first half of 2023.

Thanks Redglyph!

Audio Director Mark Lampert and Starfield Composer Inon Zur talk about Starfield's music and sound design:

Into the Starfield - Ep 3: The Sound of Adventure

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Bethesda Game Studios Audio Director Mark Lampert and Starfield Composer Inon Zur sit down to talk about music and sound design in our third episode of ‘Into the Starfield.’ Listen as they discuss Lampert and Zur’s artistic process, how the score affects a player’s experience and the search for answers that is at the heart of Starfield’s music.

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WolfheartFPS checked out your first companion in Starfield:

 Starfield - We Have Met Our First Companion

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A new video for Starfield which introduces Vasco.

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Get to know your favorite new companion, Vasco – Constellation’s expeditionary robot you’ll explore with throughout your travels in Starfield. Starfield arrives exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC on 11.11.22. Play it day one with Xbox Game Pass.

Enzevil collected some info about the Space RPG Starfield:

Starfield - Everything We Know So Far & Why You Should Be Excited! | News, Information, Lore + More!

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Bethesda Games is making a mini-series about their studio and its future with Starfield; the first video was released today. From an email sent by their PR:

Hi,

Bethesda Game Studios invites you to join Game Director Todd Howard, Studio Director Angela Browder and Art Director Matt Carofano as they discuss how the teams’ ambitions, passions and history have shaped the studio and how they are looking to the future with Starfield. Keep an eye out in the coming months for more episodes of "Into the Starfield."

WATCH Into the Starfield: The Endless Pursuit:

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Starfield arrives exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC on 11.11.22. Play it day one with Xbox Game Pass. 

Thanks! 

Nick

PC Gamer shows some concept art for Starfield.

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Bethesda hosted a Skyrim 10th Anniversary Concert today, but it also looked forward to its next big RPG: Starfield. At the end of the broadcast, Todd Howard introduced composer Inon Zur, who has provided scores for the likes of Fallout 76, Outriders, Dragon's Dogma and Dragon Age II. What followed was a performance of the 'Starfield Suite' by the London Symphony Orchestra. 

It's definitely worth checking out—you can watch it at 51:39 above—but arguably more exciting is the appearance of more than a dozen new pieces of Starfield concept art. I've collected them below, but since they're lightly animated, it's probably worth watching the video, too.

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GamesRadar has spotted a statement of Todd Howard during his presentation at Tokyo Game Show 2021, according to which Starfield would have over 300 actors and 150000 lines of dialogue.

Starfield has more than twice as many dialogue lines as Skyrim

Starfield boasts more dialog lines than Bethesda's previous games

Starfield has over 150,000 line of dialog, according to game director Todd Howard.

Earlier today, Xbox held a special Tokyo Game Show 2021 presentation, a showcase that was chiefly dedicated to its Japanese audience. During the presentation, Starfield creative director Todd Howard briefly appeared to reveal that the RPG would have a full Japanese voiceover, while also mentioning that Starfield boasts well over 150,000 lines of dialog (thanks, Nibel).

This puts Starfield's voice line count well above both Fallout 4 and Skyrim. The former game reportedly had 110,000 lines of dialog in total, while Skyrim had just over half that amount at 60,000 dialog lines. This is a pretty good indicator of just how big and dense Starfield actually is, although since it's a Bethesda RPG, it was never exactly going to be a small game.

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Here is the (short) presentation, found on Xbox's website:

TheGamer posted 3 new videos on the setting of Starfield, Bethesda's next RPG title. The short videos present three locations: New Atlantis, Akila and Neon.

Starfield Reveals Three New Locations And Fish That Get You High

Bethesda has revealed three locations that players will eventually be able to visit in Starfield. These ‘Location Insights’ are short videos showcasing diverse locations along with commentary by design director Emil Pagliarulo. They were a part of a reveal for Starfield’s Constellation group, which receives early access to news, and updates about the game.

Since these videos were only for Constellation members, you can’t find them without a YouTube link. But it turns out that these links have now been shared everywhere, so you can check them out below.

New Atlantis is the capital city of the United Colonies, which is the most powerful faction in the game in terms of political and military power. Like most metropolitan cities, New Atlantis is home to a number of races, creeds, and ethnicities. According to Pagliarulo, it is “a true reflection of the future of our world.”

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Akila city is the capital of the Freestar Collective which is a loose confederation of three star systems. While it’s not as flashy as New Atlantis, it is a haven for those who believe in the sanctity of personal freedom and individuality. The city is walled thanks to dangerous predators known as Ashta, which Pagliarulo describes as "a cross between a wolf and a velociraptor."

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And lastly, Neon is the place where the galaxy goes to party. It was originally built as a fishing platform on an aquatic world by a major corporation, but turned into an entertainment and pleasure hub after the discovery of a fish with psychotropic properties. The corporation eventually realised that the drug made from this fish, Aurora, could make them way more money than fishing. People from all over come to Neon to enjoy the drug, since it’s illegal everywhere else.

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Starfield has a confirmed release date of 11th November 2022. Also check out the teaser trailer.

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Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.

Launching November 11, 2022 exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC. Become a member of Constellation at StarfieldGame.com and be among the first to receive Starfield news and updates.

Blue's News reports on some leaked screenshots for Starfield that was posted on Twitter; which prompted a revelation from Jeff Grubb of GamesBeat that the game will be PC and Xbox exclusive.

...The ensuing discussion of the leaks prompted a revelation on Twitter from Jeff Grubb of GamesBeat. According to Jeff, his sources confirm that Starfield will be exclusive to PC and Xbox....

DSOGaming reports that Todd Howard has shared some more details about Starfield.

Todd Howard has shared some new details about Bethesda’s next big project, Starfield. According to Howard, Starfield will be solely a singleplayer, and it won’t have any multiplayer modes. In addition, Bethesda aims to implement major overhauls to the Creation Engine.

Going into more details, Bethesda will overhaul the rendering, animation, and Artificial Intelligence & Pathing of the Creation Engine. Moreover, it will add support for Procedural Generation (something that will help its artists create bigger worlds).

In Starfield and in future games, NPCs will play a large role. For instance, players can expect cities to be expansive and large compared to past games. Additionally, Starfield will be on Game Pass from Day 1 alongside The Elder Scrolls 6.

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Thanks Farflame!

JuiceHead put together some information about Bethesda's next RPG:

Everything We Know About Bethesda's Next Single Player RPG, Starfield Details

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