With the announcement of Starfield's release date on September 6, there is much excitement and anticipation for Bethesda's new space RPG. The game offers extensive customization options for ships and guns, allowing players to design and modify their spacecraft and arsenal. Character creation includes choosing a background and selecting from a variety of skills and traits. Traits come with advantages and disadvantages and can be resolved through side quests.

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Starfield

About Starfield Gameplay

Starfield incorporates familiar mechanics from Elder Scrolls and Fallout games, such as pickpocketing NPCs, lockpicking (referred to as "digipicking" in Starfield), and a more involved persuasion system. Players can recruit NPC companions, some of whom are romanceable, and join factions with independent questlines. Base-building is also available, similar to Fallout 4 and Fallout 76.

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Starfield Gameplay

 

Companions in Starfield come in two types: companions and crewmates. Companions have their own storylines and interactions, while crewmates are more generic characters that can be recruited to the player's starship. Romance options are available for the companions. The game incorporates some elements of space magic, allowing the player character to exhibit supernatural abilities related to alien artifacts.

Starfield will not have multiplayer, as Bethesda currently has no plans to develop competitive PvP or co-op features for the game. However, there is always the possibility that modders may introduce multiplayer functionalities in the future.

In terms of the game's setting and locations, Starfield's galaxy will feature over 1,000 explorable planets. These planets are a combination of hand-crafted content and procedurally generated elements, allowing players to land on and explore them on foot. Approximately 10% of the planets will have life on them, providing opportunities for encounters and interactions. Even the barren planets will have certain things generated for players to discover, emphasizing the sense of exploration and the beauty of the vast space.

Starfield Gameplay
Starfield's galaxy

The main story of Starfield takes place in the Settled Systems, a region of space encompassing a 50 light-year radius around our solar system. This region is divided between two major factions, the United Colonies and the Freestar Collective, who are in an uneasy peace following a recent war. Players can expect to encounter various threats, including Ecliptic mercenaries, pirates of the Crimson Fleet, violent Spacers, and the fanatical religious zealots of House Va'Ruun.

In addition to the main factions, there are several notable locations in Starfield. New Atlantis serves as the capital of the United Colonies, while Akila City serves as the capital of the Freestar Collective. Akila City is protected by walls to keep out alien predators that resemble a cross between a wolf and a velociraptor. Another interesting location is Neon, a former fishing dock that transformed into a "pleasure city" after workers caught a psychedelic fish. The area is now filled with nightclubs and entertainment venues.

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Starfield combat

The factions in Starfield play a significant role in the game's narrative and questlines. The main faction, Constellation, consists of human explorers on a quest for answers. Todd Howard, the director of Bethesda Game Studios, described Constellation as a blend of NASA, Indiana Jones, and the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. While specific details about other factions are scarce, the game's faction questlines are expected to be independently playable, similar to the structure in Skyrim. Players should be able to engage with multiple factions without being locked out of their respective questlines.

With its vast galaxy, customizable ships, deep character creation, and diverse locations, Starfield promises to deliver a unique space exploration experience. As the release date approaches, fans eagerly await the opportunity to embark on their interstellar adventures in Bethesda's highly anticipated new franchise.

What will be the price of Starfield?

In line with the recent trend of increasing game prices set by Sony, Activision, and Microsoft, Starfield will also be priced at $70 USD. This indicates that the higher price point is not just a temporary spike but rather a new normal in the gaming industry. However, there is some good news for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. Microsoft has a tradition of adding its latest AAA titles to the Game Pass library from the day of their release, and Starfield has been confirmed as a day one addition to Game Pass. This means that subscribers will have the opportunity to play Starfield without any additional cost beyond their Game Pass subscription fee.

Starfield Concept Art
Starfield

Starfield is developed using the Creation Engine 2

The trailer prominently displays the words "Alpha in-game footage | Creation Engine 2," confirming that Starfield is the first game to utilize this new engine created by Bethesda.

Although details about the specific features and enhancements of Creation Engine 2 are limited, it represents a significant step forward from the engine Bethesda has been utilizing and updating for their previous titles, including Skyrim and Fallout 76.

Starfield will offer mod support

Todd Howard, the renowned game director at Bethesda, has unequivocally stated that Starfield, like their previous single-player RPGs, will be moddable.

During a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) session in 2021, Howard expressed the company's commitment to providing full mod support, acknowledging the longstanding relationship with the modding community and their valuable contributions. Bethesda embraces the creativity of modders and hopes to see more individuals turning their passion for modding into successful careers.

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