Bethesda bills it as one of their biggest games to date
We learned about Starfield many years ago, and just like the latest Elder Scrolls game, Bethesda has been notably silent regarding many of the details of what their new 2023 release will actually entail. Thankfully we do have a bunch of info from their presentations and reveals over the years. Here’s everything we know about Starfield.
What is the premise of Starfield?
Starfield is basically, at its core, a more urgent No Man’s Sky by way of Bethesda. The idea is that in the far future of 2330, you’ll find yourself embroiled in the aftermath of a galactic war (which happened in 2310).
Here is the full synopsis from Bethesda:
“The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.”
Your job is to explore and navigate the post-war setting. Speaking to The Washington Post, Bethesda boss Todd Howard compared it to Skyrim in space. One huge element that’s getting a lot of buzz is the ability to customize your ship, down to the color scheme. The player character is also fully customizable, complete with a classic Bethesda backstory element. Stealing/pickpocketing is in too, as is a persuasive mechanic and NPC companions like Fallout New Vegas.
When was Starfield initially revealed?
All the way back in 2018, Bethesda unveiled Starfield to the world.
It broke the internet due to the fact that it’s one of Bethesda’s only original IP products in decades, moving them squarely out of their Fallout and Elder Scrolls comfort zones.
When does Starfield release?
Starfield is now releasing on September 6, 2023.
This is following a delay out of the original “Q1/Q2” window that was previously communicated.
What platforms is Starfield coming out on?
Starfield will release on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
There is no “prior console gen” version (Xbox One) planned for Starfield, nor is there a port for PS5 planned. This has been a point of contention for Sony, as Microsoft (who owns Bethesda) attempts to push through their acquisition of Activision/Blizzard.
Does Starfield have multiplayer?
Nope! It was confirmed by Bethesda that this is a fully solo game, similar to The Elder Scrolls core games. Great news for folks who ditched Fallout 76 and didn’t gel with the live service elements of the game.
Of course, that could change with future updates/expansions, but as of now, multiplayer is not part of the plan.
Does Starfield have an official Discord?
Yes! You can locate it under the Bethesda Game Studios main Discord, under the “#Starfield Chat” channel.
What engine is Starfield using? Is it new?
Bethesda has fully confirmed that Starfield will be utilizing the “Creation Engine 2,” and will be the first game that will debut with it.
The publisher notes that they’ve “spent years developing it,” to “power the next generation of immersion and exploration.”
Do we have any screens for Starfield? What does it look like?
Yes! An official gameplay reveal dropped in 2022, which provided roughly 15 minutes of footage in a vertical slice format.
You can view all of the latest 2023 gameplay screens (read: non-cutscenes) in the gallery above. Most of what has been shown thus far beyond that 2022 gameplay video is off-screen gameplay.
How much does Starfield cost?
Starfield, like many other modern AAA games, has been confirmed at a $70 price point.
Will Starfield support mods?
Yes. Todd Howard confirmed in 2022 via a Reddit AMA that the game will have mod support:
“Our plan it 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.”
When will we learn more about Starfield, and when is the June Direct/livestream?
A Starfield Direct is confirmed for June 11, 2023. This is where we’ll get a deeper dive into more of the game’s mechanical foundation, as well as some actual game footage.
