Pay for your PC in installments (up to 12 payments)Starfield : release date, gameplay, story and everything you need to know about Bethesda’s incredible RPG
Starfield: Bethesda’s space odyssey
Starfield presents itself as an open-world role-playing game, offering players a classic formula that blends combat, exploration, dialogue and character building. However, this title promises to bring in subtleties that refresh this well-known recipe.
Exploration and combat make up a large part of the gameplay. Players will have the chance to visit more than a thousand planets, each with its own fauna and flora. These worlds aren’t just set-dressing, but operate like real orbital systems, reminiscent of the realism of games such as Outer Wilds. Some of these planets will host key cities to the story, like New Atlantis, the first human colony in space.
Alongside exploration, players will be able to take part in dynamic combat, with options such as jetpacks to hover over enemies. Some fights will even take place in zero gravity, offering a truly unique experience.
Starfield and Bethesda: an odyssey through the history of video games
Origins of Starfield
Starfield is Bethesda’s first brand-new franchise created in 25 years. After shining with popular series like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, anticipation around this new title is massive. Fans are hoping to see the studio return to its very best form, especially after disappointments like Fallout 76.
Acquisition by Microsoft
Bethesda has been part of Microsoft for two years, following the US giant’s purchase of Zenimax Media for $7.5 billion. This acquisition raised questions about the future of Bethesda games on Sony consoles. For Starfield, Microsoft appears to have exclusivity, with three Xbox exclusive titles in the works at Bethesda.
Delays and Challenges
Starfield’s initial release was planned for 11 November 2022. However, given the scale of the work still remaining, Bethesda decided to delay the release date. In addition, in January 2023, several Bethesda developers were laid off as part of a Microsoft restructuring plan. These challenges cost Starfield its first place among the most anticipated games on Steam.
Partnership with AMD
AMD announced a partnership with Bethesda to optimise the game on its processors and graphics cards, especially the Ryzen 7000 and Radeon 7000 series.
Anticipation and Reception
Despite the challenges, anticipation for Starfield is enormous. Early impressions are mixed, with some players encountering bugs. However, the game’s scale and depth promise a unique experience for sci-fi fans.
Starfield: Release Date and Anticipation
Initial Release Date
Starfield’s initial release was planned for 11 November 2022. However, due to the scale of the work still remaining, Bethesda decided to push the release date back to a later date.
Current Release Date
Starfield will be available on our consoles and PC starting 6 September 2023. For the most impatient, early access opened on 1 September 2023. This early access allowed a first speedrun record to be set in under 3 hours.
Anticipation and Expectations
Starfield is one of the most anticipated brand-new licences, especially after the success of Bethesda’s popular series such as Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. Anticipation is even higher following disappointments like Fallout 76. Despite the multiple delays and challenges that came along, anticipation around Starfield remains enormous. However, the situation has cost Starfield first place among the most anticipated games on Steam.
Challenges and Controversies
In January 2023, several developers at Bethesda Game Studios were made redundant as part of Microsoft’s wide-ranging restructuring plan, which chose to lay off more than 11,000 employees worldwide. This situation, combined with repeated delays, has affected expectations around the game.
Competition and Comparisons
As the release date approached, a rivalry emerged between would-be Starfield players and those of Baldur’s Gate 3.
Leaks and Spoilers
It should be noted that Starfield clips were already circulating on platforms such as YouTube and Reddit before the official release. Players are therefore encouraged to stay vigilant to avoid getting spoiled.
Starfield: Price and Editions
Standard Edition :
- PC : €69.99
- Xbox Series X/S : €79.99
Premium Edition :
- PC : €104.99
- Xbox Series X/S : €114.99
Constellation Edition :
- PC : €299.99
- Xbox Series X/S : €299.99
Details on the Physical Editions : In physical form, only the Xbox Standard Edition will include the game disc. The other editions, as well as all PC versions, will contain only a download code in addition to their respective benefits.
Availability on Game Pass : Starfield will be available from day one on Game Pass. This means you can play it at no extra cost with a subscription. However, Microsoft has removed the €1 trial offer, so you’ll need to pay the full price (minimum €10) to take advantage of it.
Official Starfield Accessories : Microsoft plans to release official controllers and a wireless headset in Starfield colours. The prices are as follows:
- Limited Edition Starfield wireless controller : €79.99
- Limited Edition Starfield wireless headset : €124.99
Starfield: Availability on Platforms
Launch Platforms
Starfield will be available exclusively on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC. It’s not yet clear whether this exclusivity is definitive or whether Microsoft plans to bring the game to other competing consoles in the future.
Performance on Xbox
Xbox players may experience slightly lower performance compared with the PC version. The game will run at only 30 FPS on console.
Acquisition by Microsoft
Bethesda has belonged to Microsoft for two years, following Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media. This acquisition raised questions about the future of Bethesda’s games on Sony consoles.
Availability on the Xbox Game Pass
Starfield will be available from launch on the Xbox Game Pass, a Microsoft staple. This will allow Game Pass subscribers to play Starfield without any additional cost from day one of its release.
Buying on PC
On PC, Starfield will be accessible via the Xbox launcher and also on the Steam platform.
Official Starfield Accessories for Xbox
Microsoft plans to release official controllers and a wireless headset in Starfield colours. The prices are as follows:
Limited Edition Starfield wireless controller : €79.99
Limited Edition Starfield wireless headset : €124.99
Optimisation with AMD
AMD has announced a partnership with Bethesda to optimise Starfield on its processors and graphics cards, including the Ryzen 7000 and Radeon 7000 series. This doesn’t mean that Nvidia graphics cards will be neglected, despite concerns from some players.
Starfield: Intrigue and History
Timeframe
Starfield’s adventure takes place in 2330, in a future where humanity has ventured beyond our solar system. It has colonised many planets, establishing itself as one of the conquering species in the galaxy.
The Player’s Role
You’ll play a miner who has chosen to join “Constellation”, a group of explorers. Their primary goal is to discover rare artefacts scattered across the galaxy. These mystical objects may hold the answer to humanity’s greatest mystery.
Factions and Alliances
Throughout your journey, you’ll interact with several factions. For example, the Colonial Union represents the idealised future of an interstellar Republic. Meanwhile, Ryujin Industries highlights the dangers of letting private companies take control of space.
Planets and Exploration
You’ll have the opportunity to visit more than a thousand planets, each with its own fauna and flora. Some of these planets, such as New Atlantis, the first human colony in space, will play a central role in the story.
Bethesda and Storytelling
With Starfield, Bethesda promises a rich and immersive narrative experience. The studio is known for its deep role-playing games, and Starfield appears to follow in that tradition. The story is described as an epic adventure aiming to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.
Starfield: Gameplay Mechanics
Exploration and Combat
Combat and exploration make up a large part of Starfield’s gameplay. Players will have the opportunity to visit more than a thousand planets, each with its own fauna and flora. These worlds work like real orbital systems, bringing to mind the realism of games such as Outer Wilds. Some planets, like New Atlantis, will play a central role in the plot.
Collecting and Resources
During exploration, players will be able to collect minerals and raw materials essential for upgrading their gear, weapons, ship, and even building outposts.
Building Outposts
Players will be able to build outposts on the planets they visit to carry out research, gather and store resources, resupply, or protect themselves from the elements. These advanced bases could serve as fast-travel points.
Character Customisation
The character editor is described as the most complete one ever created by Bethesda. Players can customise physical attributes, walking style, as well as the cut and colour of their hair. They can also choose a background for their character, such as Combat Medic, Bounty Hunter, Diplomat, Gangster, and Explorer.
Skills System
Players can develop their character’s abilities through five skill trees: Physical, Social, Combat, Science, and Tech. As they level up, they earn skill points to improve these skills.
Combat in Space
Space combat is described as both incredible and challenging. Players must manage several mechanics at the same time, such as using asteroids to evade enemies or targeting specific systems on enemy ships.
Economy and Trade
Players can collect weapons and armour from defeated enemies to sell them and earn credits. These credits can be spent on buying medicines, ammunition, and other resources.
Starfield: Required PC Setup
Minimum Configuration :
Recommended Configuration :
Importance of the SSD
It is clearly stated that to play Starfield, an SSD is mandatory, whatever the configuration of the rest of your components. This suggests that the game has been optimised for fast loading speeds and to take advantage of the benefits of SSDs over traditional hard drives.
Starfield: Conclusion
Starfield promises deep immersion in space exploration, allowing players to venture across more than a thousand distinct planets. Each of these planets can offer unique fauna and flora, leading to unexpected encounters. This depth of exploration, however, has raised concerns for some, who are wondering how the game could maintain a consistent experience across such a vast range of worlds.
In its pursuit of realism, Bethesda has assured that the game’s galaxies work the way they would in real life. So a moon you see orbiting a planet is truly in motion, not just a simple animation—reminiscent of the level of detail seen in games like Outer Wilds. Despite the scale of the game’s universe, some planets, such as New Atlantis, the first human settlement in space, will play a pivotal role in the plot, bringing players back to them on several occasions.
Despite the challenges and controversies that surrounded its development, Starfield is set to offer an unprecedented experience to science-fiction and role-playing fans, combining combat, exploration, dialogue and character progression to create an epic space adventure.
