Although theStarfieldDirect presentation provided gamers with a treasure trove of new information about Bethesda Game Studios’ highly anticipated RPG, one previously established point that its creators kept returning to was how grounded the sci-fi game’s technology was in the real world. Even though the developers have rarely called out the subgenre by name when describing the game, the influence of hard sci-fi onStarfield’s “NASA-punk” aesthetic is impossible to ignore. In a medium filled with fantastical sci-fi titles ranging fromDestiny 2toDead Space, Bethesda’s grounded approach to the world ofStarfieldasrevealed at the Xbox Games Showcaseowes a similar debt to scientific realism as Stanley Kubrick’s groundbreaking film,2001: A Space Odyssey.
This grounded approach to technology in the game can be seen throughout theStarfielddirect presentation. From having to balance practical considerations like how additional weight will affect travel distance when customizing your ship, to being able to choose from realistic player backgrounds like a homesteader or diplomat inStarfield’s character creator, nearly every inch of the game appears to have one foot firmly planted in the real world. This focus on realism also extends toStarfield’s massive galaxy, which is populated with planets where everything from the gravity to the way light filters through the atmosphere is grounded in actual science.
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Tech in Starfield Finds a Balance Between Realism and Fun
When describing its unique NASA-punk aesthetic during theStarfieldDirect presentation, art director Istvan Pely explained how the game’s design language seeks to create a world “where the tech is advanced, yet still looks grounded and relatable.” One of the most visible examples of the approach can be seen inStarfield’s customizable ships, where adding or removing different components directly affects the ship’s performance. The interiors ofStarfield’s spaceships are also grounded in realism, looking like natural evolutions of the spaces seen inside the International Space Station or modern naval vessels.
One of the highlights ofStarfield’s early trailers for many players was the appearance of a talking robotic companion, later revealed to be a repurposed industrial machine named Vasco. Although the chatty robot may appear to be an unrealistic but eye-catching sci-fi creation dreamt up specifically for the game,Starfield’s Vascowas based on actual NASA robotics. That doesn’t mean Bethesda didn’t take some liberties with the design, though, withsenior concept artist John Gravato explaining duringStarfieldDirect how he elongated Vasco’s limbs to make the robot feel more human and “give him a little personality.”
Starfield’s Massive Galaxy Plays Home to Some Remarkably Realistic Planets
The hard sci-fi aesthetic of Bethesda’s latest RPG also extendstoStarfield’s massive galaxy, which features over 1,000 planets for players to explore. Although the planets inStarfieldare procedurally generated, Bethesda has designed a system to ensure that each one feels both unique and scientifically plausible. The biomes, available resources, and even the gravity of each planet will differ just as would be expected when exploring space in real life.
These differences between planets will come into play as gamers begin to create outposts during their travels. Much like the game’s ships, outposts inStarfieldcan be customized by the player to suit specific needs. Players can choose from a variety of different modules to add on to their outposts, including resource extractors that can be used to harvest the unique raw materials available on the planet. Those more interested in using their outpost as an oasis may prefer to find the perfect spot to build a window-lined lounge and take in the stunning sunsets made possible by each planet’s unique, realistically modeled lighting. Based on everything revealed about the game so far,Starfieldlooks like it will walk the fine line between gritty sci-fi realism and broadly accessible fun when it releases later this year.
Starfieldreleases September 6 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
