Starfield, the all-new space RPG from Bethesda, is one of the most anticipated games of 2023. This all-new license promises an unprecedented experience, combining exploration, combat and storytelling within a vast universe that is fully visitable. With this file, we will try to answer your questions about the game: what is its release date, its history, its gameplay mechanics, on which platforms? On track.
“In this next-generation role-playing game set among the stars, create the character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom on an epic adventure to solve humanity’s greatest mystery”. That’s how Bethesda sums up Starfield, its brand new RPG.
With this title, the American studio, now owned by Microsoft, is embarking on an ambitious and risky challenge. In effect, Starfield is the first brand new license created by Bethesda in 25 yearshaving shone (depending on the episodes) on popular series like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls.
Expectations are therefore high, especially on the side of fans who hope to see the studio return to better shape after the Fallout 76 fiasco. look at this ambitious title, which promises a unique journey within a vast and detailed universe. In this file, we will answer the many questions that players may have about Starfield: release date, story and universe, gameplay mechanics, platforms concerned.
🗓️ When is Starfield coming out?
While the release of Starfield was initially scheduled for the end of 2022, Bethesda announced very bad news in a tweet published on May 12. Indeed, the editor explains that he made the decision to postpone the launch of the game to the first half of 2023. A wise choice, given the disproportionate ambitions of the title.
In addition, we suspect that Bethesda does not want to find itself in the shoes of DICE or CD Projekt RED, two studios marred by the catastrophic launches of their latest games, namely Battlefield 2042 and Cyberpunk 2077.
🎮 Starfield will be available on which platforms?
As you know, Bethesda has been owned by Microsoft for two years now, when the American giant bought Zenimax Media for a whopping $7.5 billion. In fact, the future of future Bethesda games on Sony consoles was more than uncertain. Regarding Starfield, Microsoft intends to grab the lion’s share.
In fact, Starfield will only be available on Xbox Series X and Series S, as well as on PC. We don’t know at this time if it’s a definitive exclusivity, or if Microsoft then intends to release the title on competing machines. Anyway, it’s fair game, when you look at the exclusives to come on PlayStation 5 like God of War: Ragnarok or even Forspokento name but a few.
🗒️ History and lifespan of Starfield
Starfield will invite you to discover a rather distant future, since the adventure will take place in 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system and colonized many planets, quickly establishing itself as one of the conquering species of the galaxy. You play as a minor who has chosen to join Constellationa group of explorers whose primary objective is to get your hands on rare artifacts across the galaxy. It must be said that these mystical objects could provide the answer to the greatest mystery of humanity.
During your journey, you will be taken to collaborate (or not) with several factionss. The Colonial Union, for example, will represent the idealized future of an interstellar Republic, while Ryujin Industries will evoke the gigantic corporations that employ and exploit millions of people across the galaxy.
Side life, Bethesda announced that it will take between 30 and 40 hours of play to complete the main frame of Starfield. As you will have understood, we do not count the multiple side quests, which will push the lifespan to a hundred hours at the very least. According to Todd Howard, head of the studio, it is the longest title ever created by Bethesda. It must be said that the game will invite you to visit more than a thousand planets and four gigantic metropolises like New Atlantis, the headquarters of Constellation.
🕹️ Starfield Gameplay
If you’re familiar with older Bethesda productions like Fallout, you’ll be on familiar ground with Starfield. At first sight anyway. In effect, the game will present itself as an open-world role-playing game, with a relatively classic formula mixing fights, exploration, dialogues and construction of your character. Nevertheless, some subtleties will come to upset this well-known recipe.
Exploration and battles
Combat and exploration are a big part of Starfield’s gameplay. Like a Fallout in space, you will be led to visit more than thousand planets. Each of them will be able to house a local fauna (hostile or not), and you will be able to make unexpected encounters as players were able to discover via the long 15-minute extract shared by Bethesda.
From what we have seen, the clashes promise to be intense and dynamic, with the possibility of repositioning thanks to a dorsal jet pack. And unsurprisingly, the arsenal promises to be substantial, with its share of assault rifles, shotguns, energy weapons and other sniper rifles.
While exploring a planet, the player can also collect certain minerals and raw materialswhich will be essential to improve your equipment, your weapons, your ship or to build outposts.
Home Sweet Home
As in a certain No Man’s Sky, the player can build outposts on the planets they visit, to conduct research, harvest and store resources, restock or protect themselves from potentially fatal weather. We imagine that these advanced bases will then serve as fast travel pointso that you can easily return to each planet explored.
A character in my image
Role play requires, the player will be free to create the character he wants. According to Bethesda, this is the most complete character editor ever created by the studio. Whether it’s physical attributes, walking style, haircut and hair color, it’s up to you to create the explorer of your dreams… or your worst nightmares.
You can then choose a background, or an origin if you prefer, such as Combat Medic, Bounty Hunter, Diplomat, or Gangster and Explorer. Each profile will grant you three starting skills. will come next choice of character traits, which will allow you to benefit from certain bonuses and penalties. In addition, you can then develop your character’s abilities as you see fit via five skill trees : Physics, Social, Combat, Science and Tech.
Don’t touch my ship
One of Starfield’s most exciting new features is the ability to build his spaceship piece by piece. Indeed, the title will embed a complete dedicated editor thanks to which the player will be able to assemble the Millennium Falcon of his dreams. The exterior, like the interior, can be fitted out as desired, provided you have the necessary parts and resources, of course. Note that it will also be possible to build your own crew.
Once in control, you will have to be ready to defend your building in the event of bad encounters. And yes, space combat will also be an important component of Starfield, and it will be up to players to manage the power of weapon systems, engines and shields to emerge victorious from these confrontations. According to Todd Howard, the Bethesda teams sought inspiration from Faster Than Light (FTL for short), an independent game that has become cult since its release in 2012.
So much for this first overview of Starfield. Of course, we will update this file according to presentations and announcements from Bethesda. The studio still has a lot to reveal about this ambitious title, before its launch in the first half of 2023.
