Bethesda delivered a gameplay deep dive into Starfield after the Xbox Games Showcase yesterday. In those 45 minutes, audiences saw concept art, explanations of gameplay mechanics, and developer interviews. It caught people’s attention and received a positive reception. Despite the Direct’s success, the release needs to be nailed to possibly save both Xbox and Bethesda. It might only be a single game, but it can be the savior the two companies need. Let’s discuss the importance of the upcoming sci-fi RPG to see how pivotal it is to the future of Xbox and Bethesda.
Bethesda Showcased Starfield after the Xbox Games Showcase
Extended game presentations can get dry and lose audiences quickly. However, for 45 minutes, almost any question a fan could come up with was properly answered. We got to see outpost building, character creation, combat, and a variety of planets. Each of these was highlighted by showing the surface level and then a deep dive. For example, we saw the 40 presets for character creation. But then Bethesda showed how to apply the personality the gamer wants. It is a Bethesda RPG in every sense, but this current-gen version elevates its core pieces to new heights.
Bethesda blended that mix of gameplay with interesting, personality-filled dev interviews. It was not just about Todd Howard. It gave a voice to the artists and designers behind the massive sci-fi universe. These developers showed what they preferred to do while playing Starfield. Lead weapon artist Dane Olds likes to go around punching his enemies. This led to hilarious gameplay snippets of people getting punched out. When it came to ship-making, Jamie Mallory, a producer on the project, revealed how you could make almost anything. This included her platypus-inspired ship that took her across the galaxy. The Direct showed a level of personality in both the game and its developers to illustrate what that experience will be like when the game releases this September.
Releasing a video game has a long lead-up. Companies must sell people on the idea of the game before it releases to ensure those pre-orders. Xbox desperately needs a hit AAA game like Starfield, especially after the failure of Redfall. When it comes to getting buzz, this presentation made it clear what fans should expect. It needs to run well and meet these set expectations, but the runway has been paved and looks smooth as we board the ship.
Will Starfield Save Bethesda and Xbox?
Xbox and Bethesda have faced issues in recent years, meaning Starfield needs to stick the landing. “Saves” might be too strong of a word for what it could do for both companies, but its success is relatively crucial. This upcoming sci-fi RPG needs to maintain the pacing Xbox requires to start next year with its upcoming major releases in 2024, like Avowed and Hellblade 2. Xbox and Bethesda might be hurting because of Redfall and other disappointments, but Starfield could lift them up.
The Series X|S is capable of showing just what current-gen technology can do. Starfield is going all in on taking advantage of this tech. Fallout 76 showed the age of the developer’s engine. But, for this galactic RPG, we will see an advanced lighting system to enhance its visuals. The powerful SSDs that make exploring hundreds of planets possible.
The presentation of Starfield on the Xbox stage gave almost every right answer, except for the performance. If you have played an Elder Scrolls or Fallout installment, you have experienced some kind of bug. To ensure the game runs well, it will be locked at 30 FPS. This will divide console players. According to a survey of 32,000 people by Eurogamer, 52% of voters think current-gen games should be optimized to perform at 60 FPS. Starfield‘s low frame rate could result in some hot discussions and loss of sales.
Xbox has had hits over recent years, but Starfield is necessary to keep that momentum going. It is less about saving the platform and more about ensuring a synergy between releases. Over the last two years, Nintendo went from Splatoon 3 to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet to Tears of the Kingdom, highlighting its strength in delivering consistent hits. Xbox has been far from consistent, with subpar releases like Redfall. If Starfield follows suit, it could result in a major blow to the platform and to Bethesda.
