It’s confirmed: Starfield is releasing this year, if you’re a fan of RPGs, space exploration, or simply the way Bethesda puts together games – this is going to be the standout title for you in 2023. It feels like we’ve been waiting for Starfield forever, even though it was announced relatively recently, and there’s a lot of information out there about what we can expect when we take our first steps into the wider galaxy.
If you’re not sure about Starfield or just need more details to whet your appetite before the release, here’s everything you need to know.
Starfield Release Date and Platforms
Originally slated for a November 11, 2022 release (which would put it exactly 11 years after Skyrim), the game was pushed back a couple of times. Most expected it to appear in the first half of 2023 but the latest announcement showed off the September 6, 2023 release date. You can expect to get your hands on Starfield on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
Starfield Gameplay – How does it play?
Starfield is an open-world RPG that steps beyond Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls series to experience a vast galaxy filled with explorable planets. Customization is at the forefront, you’ll be able to customize your character both at the start of the game and when leveling up, your spaceship, and even your guns. In addition, you’ll be able to establish outposts throughout the galaxy as you explore this slice of the universe.
Combat will play a huge part in Starfield, with many enemies to take down from bandits to more organized groups of foes. You’ll also be engaging with the conversation system, making decisions that will impact your adventures and how you’re perceived throughout the galaxy.
Players familiar with the Elder Scrolls may see some mechanics that make them feel at home too, pickpocketing, lock picking, persuasion minigames, NPC companions, factions, and the base building will all be present, albeit with a sci-fi twist.
Starfield Character Creation
In June 2022 Bethesda showed off the game’s character creation tools, with plenty of options for body types and skin tones. In addition, you’ll select a background that comes with starting skills that help you define how your character begins their adventure.
These ‘classes’ are termed things like combat medic, professor, homesteader, or bouncer, which each gives you certain starting skills. These skills will be instantly familiar to anyone who’s spent time in a modern RPG, as they cover areas like persuasion, bargaining, medicine, and of course because we’re in space – lasers.
When you level up you’ll be able to customize your character more, choosing new skills and upgrading them by using them or completing certain challenges. You’ll also have access to traits that will give you bonuses – but many also come with negatives you’ll have to take into account. For example, ‘Spaced’ makes you more robust in space but less tough on the ground. ‘Dream Home’ gives you a wonderful house but you’ll need to pay for upkeep on it. ‘Kid Stuff’ brings your character’s parents into the game, allowing you to visit them – but 10% of your money will go to them. If you’ve played Oblivion before you’ll recognize the adoring fan you get from ‘Hero Worshiped’ who’ll annoy you and give presents in equal measure. Each of these will give you problems to solve that will help define your RPG character
Starfield’s Open Galaxy
Bethesda has gone on the record stating that there will be over 1,000 planets in Starfield’s galaxy and you’ll be able to land on and explore them all. These will be generated through a mix of procedural generation and hand-creation, hopefully giving us a nice mix of barren planets and others with more crafted experiences.
The game will take place in an area known as the ‘Settled Systems’, a region of space that spans 50 light years around Sol. Two factions vie for supremacy over this area, the United Colonies and the Freestar Collective who at the start of the game are enjoying a period of tenuous peace.
Will Starfield be a Multiplayer?
There is no multiplayer announced for Starfield, meaning this is set to be a single-player experience the kind of which Bethesda specializes in. That said, we do not know if there will be multiplayer elements present in the game in some form. All we know is that in everything announced so far, single-player has had focus.
Starfield Mod Support
Todd Howard from Bethesda has stated unequivocally that Starfield will be moddable, much like Fallout 4 and Skyrim. In a 2021 interview, he said that their plan was to have full mod support, something many of us will be glad to hear as modding has often been the big draw with Bethesda games. That said, Starfield will feature a brand new game engine – Creation Engine 2 – so we’ll see how fast mods start appearing once the game has been released.
Starfield Trailers
Way back in 2018, we got our first look at Starfield with an announcement trailer:
In 2021 that was followed up with the official teaser trailer:
Bethesda has also released several videos going in-depth with the locations, such as Akila City:
Neon:
And New Atlantis:
If you want to get more info on Starfield, here’s the first episode of the Into the Starfield series:
