Starfieldis an upcoming game by Bethesda, and the first new franchise the studio has embarked upon in 25 years, having focused almost exclusively on theElder ScrollsandFalloutseries. The game is set to be an open-world science fiction space epic, and many fans will be fascinated to see how the studio handles a new franchise after so long.
Fans may be especially curious after Bethesda’s acquisition by Microsoft last week for $7.5 billion dollars, leaving the future direction of the developer less clear than ever as the landscape of the RPG market undergoes a seismic shift into the next generation of consoles. There is one big reason, however, that fans should be excited forStarfield.
RELATED:Starfield ESRB Rating Prompts Reveal Rumors
Starfield’s Leaked Images
Starfieldwill release beforeThe Elder Scrolls 6, yet Bethesda has not revealed very much about the plot or setting of either game at all, leaving fans to speculate. With the nextElder Scrollsis rumored to be set for release in 2025, fans can expectStarfieldat some point in the next few years, but Bethesda has also announced that there will be no new information released aboutStarfielduntil at least 2021.
However, three leaked images give fans some long-awaited insight into whatStarfieldmight be like as an RPG, assuming they’re real. The firstleakedStarfieldimageshowed part of the UI, which appeared to show Oxygen, CO2, and possibly gravity levels, presumably meaning that all of these factor into gameplay significantly. The second screenshot showed a spaceship, while the third showed the player character from a third-person perspective, though it is unclear if this is the primary perspective of the game or whether players can merely zoom out like inFalloutorSkyrim.
Starfieldcould be a very exciting sci-fi RPG if it has a huge open-world like Bethesda’s other games while incorporating these new survival mechanics and the new engine overhaul as indicated by the graphical quality of the leaked images. The images released so far have made the game world seem somewhat empty, focusing mostly on isolated ships and individuals in space. However it is possible thatStarfieldwill have a huge open world if it takes advantage of its sci-fi setting and the capabilities ofBethesda’s new engine.
RELATED:Rumor: Starfield Gameplay Details Leak Online
Starfield’s Future
For RPG fans who like to explore, this all points to good news. The strength of Bethesda’s games has rarely been their central narratives – the main quest inSkyrimisn’t known for the strength of its storytelling. What madegames likeSkyrimfamous however, was the degree of freedom which they offered the player, and the ability of the player to explore in any direction unencumbered by a rail-roaded narrative.
Starfieldmay be a new IP after years ofThe Elder ScrollsandFallout, but it could also be an opportunity for Bethesda to lean into its own strengths and reputation as a studio, creating a huge open-world universe for players to explore. The game could also serve as a testing ground for the engine beforeThe Elder Scrolls 6while still allowing Bethesda to take risks and experiment within the limits of its new IP.
Starfieldcould take the size of Bethesda’s explorable RPG worlds to the next level, and fans will be eagerly awaiting more news or leaks regarding the upcoming sci-fi title. With noStarfieldnews until 2021, however, patience will be key, and fans will likely only be more and more intrigued by Bethesda’s new venture and what it could mean for the future of the studio and the RPG genre itself.
