Bethesda is a game studio that probably needs no introduction. The phenomenal series The Elder Scrolls and the Fallout franchise are works that brought the company global recognition but also limited the studio’s focus on other brands for many years.
Starfield is a breakthrough – the first entirely new project in 25 years, marking the beginning of another franchise, with enormous player expectations!
When will the new Bethesda game be released? What do the different editions mean, and how do the game prices compare? And most importantly… what’s all the fuss about? We’ve got the answers!
Trailer and Announcement
The idea of a cosmic odyssey was born in the mind of Todd Howard (Bethesda’s Director and Executive Producer) in the 2000s, but the project began to “materialize” only a few years later. The creators admit that shortly after the release of Fallout 4 (2015), they started the initial project work on what Howard affectionately referred to as “Space Skyrim.”
The first announcements and a short teaser appeared at E3 2018, and three years later, at E3 2021, a promising in-game trailer was presented. It was announced that the latest Bethesda space game would be available on PC and Xbox Series S/X on November 11th, 2022, which coincided with the eleventh anniversary of the release of the studio’s most successful project – Skyrim. This significant date is also featured in the first official teaser trailer from June 13th, 2021.
However, at the beginning of 2022, the creators informed players and critics about a delay – the game was set to release in the first half of 2023, and for a long time, this information was considered final.
Release Date
On March 8th, 2023, there was another change, and the official release date was set for September 6th of the same year. As of now, there are no planned changes on the horizon, meaning the release of this title is just a few weeks away!
Mainstream access to Bethesda Starfield will begin on September 6th, 2023. However, for some gamers it will be available five days earlier, starting from September 1st. This bonus, though, is only available to a few players who have purchased the Premium or Constellation Editions of the game.
Storyline and Lore
You already know about the studio’s journey before the game’s release, as well as the price, but the most important question remains: What is Starfield, actually?
As mentioned earlier, the game’s creator describes it as “Space Skyrim,” and this description is quite accurate. The game is an epic, expansive RPG set in the future, filled with sci-fi elements.
In the year 2310, a bloody conflict erupted between two factions in the Settled Systems – the United Colonies and the FreeStar Collective, which was soon resolved, bringing about an apparent peace. The events of Starfield begin 20 years later. Players take on the role of a member of the Constellation – an organization that explores the galaxy. Our task is to explore the farthest reaches of space and various planets, delving into the mysteries of the Universe and humanity.
Gameplay Mechanics
Similar to other projects by the studio, the game can be played from a first-person or third-person perspective. The gameplay combines all the typical RPG elements: world exploration, resource gathering, crafting, combat, character skill and ability development, as well as completing main and side quests.
The game starts, of course, with creating our character (more on that in the next paragraph), and subsequently, we can start our extensive adventure! During the game, we will visit and explore over a hundred planetary systems, each filled with unique planets and moons – some inhabited and highly developed, while others wild and untamed. Some will be friendly and almost magical, while others will be full of dangers that we will have to face using our combat skills (ranged or melee), stealth, or charisma.
In addition to the two main factions – the United Colonies and the FreeStar Collective – players will also have the opportunity to encounter several other smaller groups, whose interests and goals may significantly differ from the others. It’s up to us to decide the nature of our relationship with these factions (whether we join them, remain neutral, or engage in conflict). This mechanic is not new and can be observed in games like Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, and the last three instalments of The Elder Scrolls series.
A similarity to Bethesda’s previous games is the companion system, where NPCs can travel with us. Companions will naturally join our character due to positive relationships, gratitude, or a small fee for their company. However, in this title, the NPCs accompanying us are expected to have more depth and backstory. In addition to companions, we can also recruit crewmates who are more generic characters helping us on our spaceship. It’s worth noting that we can explore the world on foot, using a small spacecraft, or by utilizing large space shuttles that transport passengers to the farthest corners of the Galaxy.
Among the mechanics that Bethesda couldn’t do without, are pickpocketing and lockpicking, as well as the ability to build outposts, as seen in Fallout 4.
Character Customization
Character creation in Starfield is highly elaborate and should satisfy those who love advanced customization and immersion associated with playing as their perfectly replicated avatar.
We start by selecting a Biometric ID, which serves as the base model that we will further modify. The character editor allows us to choose the skin color, eyes, hair (including hairstyle), and define the body’s build and size (thanks to a circular grid system made up of three key areas: muscular, heavy, and thin, allowing for nearly 100 possible combinations), head and face shape, facial hair, and all other appearance features. Interestingly, similar to games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur’s Gate 3, we can create non-heteronormative characters by selecting the pronouns with which our character identifies.
At first glance, Starfield lacks the classic fantasy RPG choice of races and classes, but it’s replaced by the ability to choose the character’s background, which defines their skills and special abilities. For example, we can be a born diplomat, possess combat/medical skills, or be a beast hunter.
Another factor defining our character and their personality is the selection of traits, of which we can choose up to 3 (reminiscent of customization in The Sims 4). This allows us to determine whether our character is introverted, religious, etc. Traits and background make it so that when we start the game, we are, in our own way, grounded in the world, such as by having our character’s parents present in the game or owning a house. However, it’s important to note that each trait, in addition to its benefits and bonuses, also comes with a set of drawbacks and associated issues/obligations (e.g., having to repay a mortgage for a house or giving away 10% of earned gold to family).
Moddable
One of the most heavily modded games in the world is Skyrim, which has been transformed into an entirely new title by the most talented modders. Bethesda has been supporting both modding and the modding community among its players for years.
Based on the information available at this time, Starfield will be no different. This is confirmed by Todd Howard himself: “Our plan is to have full mod support like our previous games. Our modding community has been with us for 20 years. We love what they do and hope to see more make a career out of it.”
System Requirements
At least initially, upon release, the game will be available on Xbox Series X/S consoles and PC. To run it on a computer, the minimum requirements are:
- Intel Core i7-6800K 3.4 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 2600X 3.6 GHz
- 16 GB RAM
- 8 GB graphics card GeForce GTX 1070 Ti / Radeon RX 5700 or better
- 125 GB SSD
- Windows 10
However, to enjoy smooth gameplay, high-resolution graphics, and the smallest details, you’ll need a PC equipped with:
- (4K) AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz
- 32 GB RAM
- 20 GB graphics card Radeon RX 7900 XT or better
- 125 GB SSD
- Windows 10/11